AP Unit 2/3 Flashcards
Senate
represents states equally (2 per state)
confirmations and treaties
House of Representatives
Represents population (more people = more reps)
budget and rules
Term Lengths in the house
2 year terms
Term lengths in the Senate
6 year terms
What does congress do
Pass federal budget
Raise taxes and coin money
Declare war & fund the military
Make laws on economy, environment, and social issues (thanks to the Necessary and Proper Clause)
Congress
makes a budget
Pork barrel legislation
reps get $$$ for local projects.
Logrolling
You vote for my bill, I’ll vote for yours
Roles of memebers of congress Trustee:
Uses personal judgment
Roles of memebers of congress Trustee:
Votes how constituents want
Roles of memebers of congress Trustee:
A mix of both
Presidents powers Pocket Veto
an absolute veto that cannot be overridden
Presidents power Veto
when the President fails to sign a bill after Congress has adjourned and is unable to override the veto
signing statments
President explains how they interpret a new law
Executive orders
Direct how the executive branch operates (don’t need Congress)
Precedent & stare decisis
Rulings are based on earlier cases
Changes in Court makeup
Can shift legal interpretations
How can other brances check on the judicial branch
New legislation to override Court decisions
Constitutional amendments
Appointments and confirmations
Refusing to enforce decisions
Changing Court’s jurisdiction
what does the excecutive branch do
Implements laws
Writes rules/regulations
Issues fines
Testifies to Congress
Forms iron triangles and issue networks with interest groups and congressional committees
Iron triangle
3 groups working together to make policy:
Congress – makes laws and gives money
Government Agencies – enforce the laws
Interest Groups – try to influence laws (like businesses or lobbyists)
✅ They all help each other out to get what they want.
issue network
a bunch of people working on a single issue:
Includes experts, media, lobbyists, agencies, and politicians
Less official than an iron triangle
Comes together around one issue, like climate change or school reform
diffrence between iron triangle and issue networks
Iron Triangle = tight group, long-term teamwork
Issue Network = loose group, temporary teamwork on one problem
How does congress check the burreacy
Holding hearings
Using the “power of the purse” (money control)
Making sure laws are implemented as intended
The Bill of Rights
first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
Civil liberties
protections from government interference (like freedom of speech or religion).
Exclusionary Rule
