Terms for AP GOV

1. Republicanism

   • A democratic principle where the will of the people is reflected in government debates and decisions through their elected representatives.

2. Bicameral Structure

   • A two-chamber legislative system, consisting of the Senate (representing states equally) and the House of Representatives (representing the population).

3. Senate

   • The upper chamber of Congress, with 100 members (two per state), designed to represent states equally.

4. House of Representatives

   • The lower chamber of Congress, with 435 members, designed to represent the population proportionally.

5. Formality of Debate

   • The rules and structure governing discussions in Congress. Debate in the House is more formal due to its larger size, while the Senate allows for more informal discussions.

6. Two-Party System

   • A political system where two major political parties dominate government interactions and decision-making.

7. Term Lengths

   • The duration for which members of Congress hold office:

     • Senators serve six-year terms, with one-third elected every two years.

     • House members serve two-year terms, with all members elected every two years.

8. Enumerated Powers

   • Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution, such as:

     • Passing a federal budget

     • Collecting taxes

     • Declaring war

     • Regulating interstate commerce

9. Implied Powers

   • Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but derived from the enumerated powers through the necessary and proper clause.

10. Necessary and Proper Clause

    • A constitutional provision granting Congress the authority to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers.

11. Federal Budget

    • A financial plan created by Congress that outlines government spending and revenue collection.

12. Interstate Commerce

    • Trade, business, or economic activity conducted between states, regulated by Congress.

13. Naturalization

    • The process by which non-citizens become citizens of the United States, determined by laws passed by Congress.

14. Federal Courts

    • Courts established by Congress under its constitutional authority to create courts and define their jurisdictions.

15. Congressional Oversight

    • The power of Congress to monitor and supervise executive branch activities, including federal agencies within the bureaucracy.

16. Continuous Legislative Body

    • A characteristic of the Senate, where staggered elections ensure that two-thirds of its members remain in office at any given time.

Senate and House Structures and Powers

• The Senate has 100 members (two per state), serving six-year terms, and represents states equally. It focuses on foreign policy and broader national interests. Powers include:

  • Confirming presidential appointments

  • Ratifying treaties

  • Trying impeachments

• The House of Representatives has 435 members, serving two-year terms, and represents the population proportionally by districts. It emphasizes tax and revenue policy. Powers include:

  • Initiating revenue bills

  • Impeaching officials

Committee Referral

• Both chambers refer bills to committees for consideration.

• Committees hold hearings, conduct debates, and revise bills (markup).

• Leadership in committees is determined by the majority party.

• Committees are critical in shaping legislation before it reaches the floor.

House-Specific Rules and Procedures

• Speaker of the House: Elected by a majority of members; presides over legislative work.

• Revenue Bills: Must originate in the House.

• Rules Committee: Sets debate rules for bills, including time limits.

• Committee of the Whole: Allows the House to expedite debate on bills with fewer procedural restrictions.

• Discharge Petition: A rarely used mechanism where a majority of House members can force a bill out of committee for floor debate.

Senate-Specific Rules and Procedures

• Unanimous Consent: Most bills are brought to the floor with unanimous consent agreements to streamline debate.

• Holds on Bills: A Senator can place a hold to delay or prevent a bill from reaching the floor.

• Filibuster: A tactic used by Senators to prolong debate and block a vote on a bill.

• Cloture Motion: A procedure requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster and proceed to a vote.

Conference Committees

• When a bill passed by both chambers has differences in wording or content, a conference committee is formed.

• Members of both chambers meet to reconcile those differences, producing a final version of the bill that must be voted on again by both chambers.

Legislative Process Differences

• The House is more formal due to its size (435 members), with rigid rules set by the Rules Committee.

• The Senate is less formal (100 members), allowing for extended debate and greater individual influence.

Enumerated Powers of Congress

Congress has specific powers granted by the Constitution, including:

1. Passing federal budgets, raising revenue, borrowing money, and coining money

2. Declaring war and funding the armed forces

3. Regulating interstate commerce

4. Establishing naturalization laws

5. Creating federal courts and defining their jurisdictions

6. Enacting laws under the Necessary and Proper Clause

Federal Budget: Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending

• Congress must generate a budget that balances mandatory spending and discretionary spending:

  • Mandatory Spending: Required by law for entitlement programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

  • Discretionary Spending: Approved annually for programs like defense, education, and infrastructure.

• As entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities decrease unless:

  • Tax revenues increase

  • The budget deficit increases

Pork-Barrel Legislation

• Refers to funding local projects within larger appropriation bills to benefit specific districts or states.

• Often criticized as wasteful but can help secure votes for broader legislation.

Logrolling

• The practice of combining multiple pieces of legislation into one bill or trading votes between legislators to ensure passage.

• Common in both chambers as lawmakers negotiate support for their priorities.

 Gridlock

• A situation where the legislative process is stalled due to disagreements or inability to pass legislation.

• Often occurs when different parties control different branches of government or when there are significant ideological differences within or between chambers.

• Can result from filibusters, vetoes, or lack of consensus on key issues.

 Incumbency

• Refers to the current holder of an office who is seeking re-election.

• Advantages of incumbency include:

  • Name recognition from prior service

  • Easier access to campaign financing

  • Use of government resources like franking privileges (free mail for official communication)

  • High re-election rates due to these advantages

• Incumbency advantage has declined in recent years due to increased party loyalty and polarization.

Gerrymandering

• The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.

• Tactics include:

  • Cracking: Spreading voters of one group across many districts to dilute their influence.

  • Packing: Concentrating voters of one group into a single district to minimize their impact elsewhere.

• Often results in convoluted district shapes that undermine fair representation.