AP GOV JUDICAL SYSTEM AND BUREAUCRACY
Federal bureaucracy | The vast network of agencies and employees of the federal government responsible for implementing laws and regulations. |
Departments | Major administrative units with broad responsibilities in a specific policy area, headed by Cabinet secretaries (e.g., Department of Education). |
Agencies | Governmental bodies with specialized functions within departments or as independent entities (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency). |
Commissions | Independent regulatory bodies that oversee specific economic sectors or public safety areas (e.g., Federal Communications Commission). |
Government corporations | Government-owned entities that provide goods or services for a fee, operating like private businesses (e.g., USPS). |
Regulations | Rules issued by government agencies that have the force of law, guiding the implementation of legislative policies. |
Deregulation | The process of reducing government oversight and restrictions on business activities. |
“Iron triangles” | Mutually beneficial relationships between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies. |
Issue networks | Informal alliances of interest groups, policy experts, and lawmakers who collaborate on specific policy issues. |
Patronage | The practice of giving government jobs and favors to political supporters and allies. |
Spoils system | A historical system where government jobs were awarded based on political loyalty rather than merit. |
Political machine | A party organization that maintains power by controlling votes, jobs, and public contracts, often through patronage. |
Civil service system | A system of hiring and promotion based on merit rather than political connections. |
Merit system | Employment and promotion based on qualifications, ability, and performance rather than political affiliation. |
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) | The federal agency that manages the civil service system, ensuring merit-based hiring and personnel management. |
Discretionary authority | The power of bureaucratic agencies to make decisions on how to implement laws. |
Rule-making | The process by which government agencies formulate new regulations or modify existing ones. |
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) | Established methods and procedures followed by bureaucratic agencies to ensure consistency and efficiency. |
Red tape | Complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get things done within the bureaucracy. |
Stare decisis | The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent. |
Judicial activism | Judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than existing law. |
Judicial restraint | A philosophy where judges limit their power by deferring to decisions made by the legislative and executive branches. |
Strict constructionism | An approach to constitutional interpretation emphasizing the text's literal meaning. |
Loose constructionism | An approach allowing broader interpretation of the Constitution, considering context and societal changes. |
Jurisdiction | The authority of a court to hear and decide a case. |
Original jurisdiction | The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time. |
Appellate jurisdiction | The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. |
Concurrent jurisdiction | Situations where multiple courts have authority over the same case. |
Litigants | Parties involved in a lawsuit. |
Precedent | A legal decision that serves as a rule or pattern in future similar cases. |
Senatorial courtesy | A tradition where senators have influence over the appointment of federal judges in their states. |
Originalism | The judicial interpretation of the Constitution that aims to follow the original intent or meaning of the framers. |
Opinion/holding | A court's explanation of its decision in a case, including the legal reasoning. |
Standing | The legal right to initiate a lawsuit, requiring a direct and substantial interest in the outcome. |
Chief Justice | The head of the U.S. Supreme Court, presiding over its sessions and administrative functions. |
The Cabinet | A group of presidential advisers, typically the heads of the executive departments. |
Marbury v. Madison | A landmark Supreme Court case that established judicial review, allowing the Court to declare laws unconstitutional. |
Federalist 78 | An essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for judicial independence and the power of judicial review. |
Bureaucratic Rule-making | The authority of administrative agencies to create rules that have the force of law. |
Oversight of the bureaucracy | The process by which Congress monitors and supervises federal agencies' implementation of policy. |
Checks and Balances | A system ensuring that no branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with oversight and control over others. |
Appointment and Confirmation | The process by which the President appoints officials with the Senate's approval. |
Judicial Philosophy | A set of ideas and beliefs guiding how justices interpret the Constitution and laws. |
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883) | A law establishing the merit system for federal employment, reducing the influence of the spoils system. |
Hatch Act | Legislation restricting the political activities of federal employees to ensure nonpartisan administration. |
The Constitution | The supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure and powers of the federal government. |
The Declaration of Independence | The document declaring American independence from Britain, emphasizing natural rights and government by consent. |
Brutus I | An Anti-Federalist paper warning against a powerful central government and advocating for states' rights. |
Federalist 10 | An essay by James Madison discussing the dangers of factions and how a large republic can mitigate them. |
Federalist 51 | An essay by James Madison explaining the need for checks and balances in government. |
Federalist 70 | An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a strong, energetic executive leader. |
Federalist 78 | An essay by Alexander Hamilton supporting an independent judiciary with the power of judicial review. |