AP Government and Politics Unit 2 vocab

1. Formal power (enumerated)- refers to the explicit authority granted to an individual or office by a governing document or law

EX: The president’s power to veto legislation

2. Informal power (implied)- the unofficial capabilities or influence that an executive

EX: The president advocates for their agenda and influences public opinion 

3. Bicameral- type of legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses 

EX: The US Congress consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate

4. Speaker of the House- presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the United States House of Representatives.

EX: The speaker controls the legislative agenda and committee assignments

1. Congressional Committee- group of members from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that focuses on specific areas of policy, legislation, or oversight

EX: The House Judiciary Committee handles bills related to the legal system.

1. Unanimous consent- is a procedural agreement in Congress, often used in the Senate, where no member objects to a proposed action.

EX: The Senate passes a bill to honor veterans by unanimous consent.

1. Filibuster- legislative tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination by prolonging debate or using other procedural means. 

EX: A senator filibusters a healthcare reform bill.

1. Mandatory spending- Expenditures that are required by law, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which do not need to be reauthorized each year.

EX: Social Security benefits.

2.  Entitlements- government programs that provide benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements

EX: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

1. Social Security- provides financial assistance to individuals in need, primarily the elderly, disabled, and survivors of deceased workers. 

EX: Retirees receive monthly Social Security payments.

2. Medicare- federal health insurance program primarily designed to provide healthcare coverage to individuals aged 65 and older, as well as some younger people with disabilities or specific diseases.  

EX: A 70-year-old receives Medicare coverage for hospital visits.

3. Medicaid- government program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families in the United States 

EX: A low-income family receives Medicaid assistance for medical bills.

4. Discretionary spending- The portion of the federal budget that is decided by annual appropriations bills, which includes funding for programs like education, defense, and transportation. 

EX:  Funding for education and national defense.

1. Pork barrel- the practice in which lawmakers allocate government funds for local projects, primarily to benefit their constituents and secure political support.

EX: A senator secures funding for a new airport in their home state.

1. Logrolling- the practice where legislators exchange support for each other's proposed legislation

EX: "I'll vote for your agriculture bill if you support my education bill."

1. Gridlock- a situation in which the legislative process is stalled due to the inability of lawmakers to reach an agreement on policy decisions. 

EX: Congress fails to pass a budget, causing a government shutdown.

2. Reapportionment- the process of redistributing the seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on the latest census data. 

EX:  A state gains a House seat after population growth.

3. Redistricting- the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation.

EX: A state redraws districts after gaining a House seat.

1. Gerrymandering- the process of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one political party over another. 

EX: A party redraws districts to favor their candidates.

1. Politico representative- a legislator who blends the trustee and delegate models of representation, acting as a delegate on issues that constituents care strongly about and as a trustee on less publicized or more complex issues.

EX: A legislator follows constituents on key issues but uses judgment on others.

1. Cabinet- group of high-ranking officials in the executive branch of government, typically composed of the heads of various departments, who advise the president and help implement policy decisions. 

EX: The Secretary of State advises on foreign affairs.

1. Pocket veto- a special type of veto exercised by the President of the United States, occurring when the President takes no action on a bill for ten days while Congress is adjourned. 

EX: A president refuses to sign a bill, and Congress adjourns, preventing it from becoming law.

2. Line item veto- a special type of veto power that allows an executive, such as a governor, to reject specific provisions or items within a bill without having to reject the entire legislation. 

EX: A state governor vetoes certain budget items without rejecting the entire bill.

1. Executive order- official directives issued by the President of the United States to manage the operations of the federal government.

EX: An executive order establishes stricter environmental regulations. 

1. State of the Union- an annual address delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress. 

EX: The president outlines policy goals in a televised speech.

2. Bully pulpit- the unique platform that the President of the United States has to advocate for their agenda and influence public opinion. 

EX: The president gives a speech to rally support for healthcare reform.

3. Agenda setting- the process by which media and political actors influence the importance placed on issues in the public agenda

EX: The president pushes for climate change legislation in Congress.

1. Judicial review- the power of courts to examine and invalidate actions of the legislative and executive branches if those actions are found to be unconstitutional. 

EX:  The Supreme Court strikes down a voter ID law.

1. Stare decisis- Legal principle that means 'to stand by things decided,' and it emphasizes the importance of precedent in the judicial decision-making process.

EX: A judge rules in favor of same-sex marriage based on prior Supreme Court decisions.

2. Jurisdiction- the authority of a court to hear and decide cases, which is determined by factors such as the type of case, the geographic area, and the level of government involved. 

EX: A federal court hears a case involving constitutional rights.

3. Original jurisdiction- the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, where a higher court reviews a lower court's decision 

EX: The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in disputes between states.

4. Appellate jurisdiction- the authority of a court to review and make decisions on appeals from lower courts.

EX: A federal appeals court reviews a district court ruling.

5. Judicial activism- the practice where judges take an active role in interpreting the law and making decisions that can create new legal precedents or change existing ones. 

EX: The Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

EX: A court refuses to overturn a law, deferring to the legislature.

6. Federal bureaucracy- the complex system of agencies and departments within the executive branch of the US government responsible for implementing and enforcing federal laws and regulations 

EX: The FDA regulates food safety.

1. Government corporation- entities created by the government to provide specific services that could be provided by private businesses but are considered too important for the government to leave entirely in private hands.

EX: The U.S. Postal Service delivers mail.

1. Issue network- the complex web of relationships among various stakeholders, including government officials, interest groups, and other entities that come together around a specific policy issue. 

EX: Environmental activists, scientists, and lawmakers shape climate policy.

2. Iron triangle- the stable, mutually beneficial relationships among three entities: government agencies, congressional committees or subcommittees, and interest groups.

EX: The Defense Department, Congress, and defense contractors shaping policy.

1. Patronage- to the practice of providing government jobs, contracts, or other benefits to individuals in exchange for their political support or loyalty.

EX: A president appoints a campaign supporter to an ambassadorship.

2. Discretionary power- refers to the authority granted to public officials and agencies to make decisions based on their own judgment within the framework of established laws and regulations.

EX: The EPA sets specific pollution limits for industries.

1. Power of the purse- constitutional power of Congress to control government spending and taxation, serving as a crucial check on the executive branch. 

EX:  Congress cuts funding for a military program.

2. Compliance monitoring- adherence to laws, regulations, and directives set forth by governing bodies or organizations.

EX: The EPA checks if companies follow pollution limits.