AP GOV Unit 4

Constitutional Authority – Powers granted to the president directly by the Constitution.
Statutory Authority (Presidential) – Powers granted to the president by laws passed by Congress.
Vesting Clause – Establishes the president as head of government and head of state.
Recess Appointment – Presidential appointment made without Senate approval during a Senate recess.
Executive Agreements – International agreements made by the president without Senate approval.
Executive Order – A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.
Executive Privilege – The president's power to withhold information from Congress or the courts.
Fast-Track Authority – Authority allowing the president to negotiate trade agreements without amendments from Congress.
State of the Union – Annual speech by the president to Congress outlining policy priorities.
Presidential Approval / Approval Rating – A measure of public support for the president.
Bully Pulpit / Go Public – The president’s ability to speak directly to the public to influence policy.
White House Staff – The president’s closest advisors who do not require Senate confirmation.
Circular Structure – A system where advisors report directly to the president, leading to more information but potential confusion.
Pyramidal Structure – A hierarchical system where only top officials report directly to the president.
Ad Hoc Structure – A flexible system where task forces, committees, and informal groups advise the president.
Cabinet – The heads of the executive departments who advise the president.
Executive Office of the President (EOP) – Offices and agencies that support the president's policy agenda.
Budget Process (OMB, CBO, Line-Item Veto?) – The process of creating the federal budget, involving the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The line-item veto was ruled unconstitutional.
Unified Government – When the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same party.
Divided Government – When the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress by another.
Gridlock – The inability to pass laws due to political stalemate.
Electoral College – The body that elects the president based on state-by-state voting.
Impeachment – The process by which a president is charged with misconduct and possibly removed from office.
Lame Duck – A president or official in the final period of their term after a successor has been elected.
Veto – The president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
Legislative Veto – Congress’s ability to override executive actions (ruled unconstitutional in INS v. Chadha).
Line-Item Veto – The power to reject specific parts of a bill (ruled unconstitutional).
Pocket Veto – When the president takes no action on a bill, and Congress adjourns, killing the bill.
Unilateral Action (Presidential) – Presidential decisions made without congressional approval.
Unitary Executive Theory – The idea that the president has total control over the executive branch.
Signing Statement – A statement issued by the president explaining how they interpret a law.

Ch. 13: The Bureaucracy

Appropriation – Congress’s formal approval of government spending.
Authorization Legislation – Laws that create or extend government programs and determine funding levels.
Bureaucracy – The system of agencies and departments that implement government policies.
Civil Servants – Government employees hired based on merit.
Committee Clearance – Informal agreement allowing congressional committees to oversee bureaucratic decisions.
Competitive Service – Hiring for government positions based on merit exams.
Oversight: Police Patrol vs. Fire Alarm –

  • Police Patrol: Congress actively monitors the bureaucracy.

  • Fire Alarm: Congress intervenes only when a problem arises.
    Discretionary Authority – Bureaucrats' power to decide how laws are implemented.
    Iron Triangle – A policy-making relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.
    Issue Network – A more fluid and informal version of the iron triangle involving multiple actors.
    Name-Request Job – A government job given to someone specifically named in advance.
    Red Tape – Complex rules and regulations that slow bureaucratic action.
    Regulatory Capture – When regulatory agencies are influenced by the industries they are supposed to regulate.

Ch. 15: Economic Policy

Budget / Budget Making – The process of determining government revenue and expenditures.
Budget Deficit – When government spending exceeds revenue in a given year.
Budget Resolution – A congressional agreement setting budget limits for spending and revenue.
Deficit – The yearly shortfall between government revenue and spending.
Discretionary Spending – Government spending that must be approved annually (e.g., defense, education).
Economic Planning – Government efforts to manage the economy through regulations and policies.
Entitlements – Programs providing benefits to individuals meeting specific criteria (e.g., Social Security).
Fiscal Policy – Government decisions on taxes and spending to influence the economy.
Fiscal Year – The 12-month accounting period for the government, starting on October 1.
Globalization – The growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide.
GDP (Gross Domestic Product) – The total value of goods and services produced in a country annually.
Keynesian Economics – The belief that government spending can help regulate the economy.
Mandatory Spending – Spending required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.
Means Test – A requirement that determines eligibility for government assistance programs.
Monetarism – The belief that controlling the money supply is key to economic stability.
Monetary Policy – The Federal Reserve’s control of the money supply and interest rates.
National Debt – The total amount of money the government owes.
Progressive Tax – A tax system where higher incomes are taxed at higher rates.
Regressive Tax – A tax system where lower incomes pay a higher percentage of their income.
Sequester – Automatic spending cuts triggered when government spending exceeds limits.
Supply-Side Theory – The idea that lowering taxes and regulations boosts economic growth.