AP US Gov Test 2/20

4.1-4.3: Legislative Representation

• Apportionment: The process of distributing seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population.

• Redistricting: The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district boundaries following the census to reflect population changes.

• Gerrymandering: Manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

• "One Person, One Vote": A principle established by the Supreme Court mandating that legislative districts across states have roughly equal populations.

• Majority-Minority Districts: Electoral districts drawn to ensure that a racial minority group constitutes a majority of the district's population.

4.4-4.6: The Legislative Branch & Lawmaking

• Bicameral Legislature: A two-chamber legislative system, as established in the U.S. by the Constitution, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Enumerated Powers: Specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution, including taxation, coinage of money, regulation of commerce, and declaration of war.

• Implied Powers: Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the Elastic Clause, allowing Congress to pass laws necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers.

• Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause): Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, granting Congress the authority to pass all laws necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers.

• Committee System: The division of legislative workload among various committees and subcommittees specializing in specific policy areas.

• Filibuster: A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate.

• Cloture: A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate, requiring a supermajority vote.

• Conference Committee: A temporary, joint body formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a particular bill.

• Legislative Oversight: Congress's monitoring of the executive branch and its administration of policy, primarily through committee hearings.

5.2: The Executive Branch – Federalist No. 70

• Federalist No. 70: An essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for a single, energetic executive as essential for accountability and effective governance.

• Unitary Executive Theory: The idea that the President possesses the power to control the entire executive branch.

5.3-5.4: The Executive Branch

• Executive Orders: Directives issued by the President that have the force of law without requiring congressional approval.

• Signing Statements: Written pronouncements issued by the President upon signing a bill into law, often outlining the interpretation or intended implementation of the legislation.

• Veto Power: The President's constitutional authority to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless overridden by a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

• Pocket Veto: A special veto exercised by the President after a legislative body has adjourned; if the President does not sign the bill within ten days, it does not become law and cannot be overridden.

• Commander-in-Chief: The role of the President as the supreme leader of the military forces of the United States.

• Executive Agreements: International agreements made by the President that do not require Senate approval.

• Cabinet: A group of presidential advisors, consisting of the heads of the executive departments and other officials designated by the President.

• White House Staff: Personnel who assist the President, including the Chief of Staff and various advisors, not requiring Senate confirmation.

6.2: The Judicial Branch – Federalist No. 78

• Federalist No. 78: An essay by Alexander Hamilton discussing the power of judicial review and the importance of an independent judiciary.

• Judicial Review: The authority of the Supreme Court to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.

• Life Tenure: The provision that federal judges hold their positions for life, contingent on good behavior, to ensure independence from political pressures.

6.3-6.5: Judicial Review – Marbury v. Madison

• Marbury v. Madison (1803): The landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States.

• Writ of Mandamus: A court order compelling a government official to perform a duty they are legally obligated to complete.

• Original Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear a case first, as opposed to on appeal.

• Appellate Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

7.1-7.4: The Federal Bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy: A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials.

• Civil Service System: A merit-based system for hiring and promoting government employees to ensure a competent and nonpartisan workforce.

• Independent Agencies: Federal organizations that operate independently from the executive departments, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

• Government Corporations: Government-owned entities that operate like private businesses, providing specific services; for example, the United States Postal Service (USPS).

• Regulatory Agencies: Independent governmental bodies established to enforce standards and regulations in specific areas, like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

• Iron Triangle: A close, mutually beneficial relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.