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ap gov > unit 2 vocab > Flashcards

unit 2 vocab Flashcards

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U.S. Government Basics flashcards AP® U.S. Government flashcards
1
Q

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or houses

A

bicameral legislature

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2
Q

the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress

A

quorum

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3
Q

the ability of congressional members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by using their signature for postage

A

franking privilege

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4
Q

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the house or senate

A

majority leader

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5
Q

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in the house or senate

A

minority leader

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6
Q

a senator of representative who assists the party leader by staying informed about the voting decisions of other members

A

whip

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7
Q

a strong division in the views of republicans and democrats on the legislative agenda

A

party polarization

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8
Q

a group of congressional members that meet to pursue a common legislative agenda

A

congressional caucus

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9
Q

permanently established legislative committees that review and consider bills in both the house and senate

A

standing committee

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10
Q

congressional committees appointed for a limited time and usually for an investigative purpose

A

select committee

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11
Q

a committee made up of members from both the house and senate

A

joint committee

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12
Q

a joint committee appointed to iron out the differences in the senate and house versions of the same bill

A

conference committee

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13
Q

a device used to force a bill that has been stuck in a committee for over thirty days, out onto the floor

A

discharge petition

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14
Q

a request or agreement setting the terms for the consideration or debate of a specified bill or other measure

A

unanimous consent

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15
Q

issues that people believe require governmental action

A

political/policy agenda

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16
Q

practice of legislators trading mutual support for their legislative proposals

A

logrolling

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17
Q

occurs when different parties control the white house and congress

A

divided government

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18
Q

occurs when the same party controls the white house and both houses of congress

A

unified government

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19
Q

a stalling approach by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill is brought to the floor, tactic is used to stop a bill from reaching the floor

A

hold

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20
Q

“hidden” congressional provisions that designate money for specific projects or programs

A

earmarks

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21
Q

legislation that provides benefits to constituents in a particular district or state in the hope of winning their votes in return. for example- providing funding to build a bridge in a particular city

A

pork barrel legislation

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22
Q

descriptive of elected representatives who use their best judgment when making legislative voting decisions

A

trustee

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23
Q

descriptive of elected representatives who base their legislative voting decisions on the desires and opinions of their constituents

A

delegate

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24
Q

descriptive of elected representatives who balance their constituents’ opinions with their best judgement when making legislative voting decisions

A

politico

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25
Q

a process used by the senate to end or limit debate/filibusters

A

cloture rule

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26
Q

an attempt to stall or defeat a bill in the senate by talking for an extended period of time

A

filibuster

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27
Q

the practice of drawing districts in unusual shapes for the political advantage of one political party or group

A

gerrymandering

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28
Q

the practice of redistributing house seats every ten years according to census data

A

reapportionment

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29
Q

the practice of distributing house seats into unequal districts, which diminishes certain district’s representative voice

A

malapportionment

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30
Q

the redrawing of legislative district lines after the census has been taken, to accommodate population shifts and ensure equal representation

A

redistricting

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31
Q

the individuals who live in the area an elected official is representing

A

constitutuency

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32
Q

The inability of the government to act because opposing parties control different parts of the government and cannot agree on a course of action.

A

gridlock

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33
Q

Authority given to the president that is specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

A

formal power

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34
Q

Authority given to the president that is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

A

informal power

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35
Q

A directive that carries the weight of law that is given by the president without the consent of Congress.

A

executive order

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36
Q

A pact between the president and the head of a foreign nation. Unlike treaties, they do not require Senate consent and may only last for the duration of a president’s term.

A

executive agreement

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37
Q

A formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate.

A

treaty

38
Q

The heads of the fifteen executive branch departments that also serve as advisors to the president.

A

cabinet

39
Q

The president’s use of his position and visibility to guide or influence the American public.

A

bully pulpit

40
Q

An annual address given by the president to Congress in which the president outlines his legislative agenda.

A

state of the union

41
Q

The president’s ability to keep certain communications private. United States v. Nixon clarified its limitations.

A

executive privilege

42
Q

This provision of the Constitution limits presidential terms to two, not to exceed 10 years.

A

22nd amendment

43
Q

This provision of the Constitution states the process for presidential succession and disability.

A

25th amendment

44
Q

The presidential power to deny a bill passed by Congress.

A

veto

45
Q

When a bill fails to become law, because the president did not sign it within 10 days before Congress adjourned.

A

pocket veto

46
Q

The power to cancel specific dollar amounts within a bill. While the Supreme Court has ruled presidents may not use these, state governors still can.

A

line-item veto

47
Q

Issued by the president after passing a bill into law; reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced.

A

signing statement

48
Q

The constitutional process of bringing charges against a government official.

A

impeachment

49
Q

Official forgiveness of a crime.

A

pardon

50
Q

An official still in office after he or she has lost a bid for re-election or has reached his/her term limit.

A

lame duck

51
Q

The authority of Congress to conduct hearings,
investigations, and budget reviews regarding the actions executive branch.

A

congressional oversight

52
Q

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials.

A

bureaucracy

53
Q

The part of the executive branch that supports
the president in his responsibilities, from security to trade.

A

executive office of the president

54
Q

Personnel who run day-to-day operations in the White House and advise the president.

A

white house staff

55
Q

15 large agencies of the federal government that carry out laws and regulate within their respective areas. Each is headed by a secretary.

A

executive departments

56
Q

Agencies that are responsible for monitoring large government sectors, such as the Federal Reserve, and are not subject to control by either Congress or the President.

A

independent regulatory commissions

57
Q

A government agency that carries out business-like functions, such as the US Postal Service.

A

government corporations

58
Q

This part of the bureaucracy helps the president prepare the budget for the fiscal year.

A

office of management and budget

59
Q

The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by the laws of Congress.

A

discretionary authority/bureaucratic discretion

60
Q

The part of the government that fulfills the daily functions of the bureaucracy. These government workers are hired on the basis of merit.

A

civil service

61
Q

Procedure of hiring and promoting government employees on the basis of their abilities and competence rather than political favors.

A

merit system

62
Q

The law that created a merit-based system for the hiring of members of the civil service.

A

pendleton act

63
Q

A mutually beneficial relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

A

iron triangle

64
Q

A link of policy experts, interest groups, think tanks, congressional staff members, media pundits, etc. who regularly debate an issue.

A

issue network

65
Q

A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency.

A

appropriation

66
Q

The use of government authority to control or change business practices in the private sector.

A

regulation

67
Q

The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of laws and the Constitution.

A

judicial restraint

68
Q

The view that judges should apply the principles and provisions of the Constitution to modern circumstances.

A

judicial activism

69
Q

Federal courts authorized by Article III of the Constitution that keeps judges in office for life during good behavior.

A

constitutional courts

70
Q

The lowest federal courts that have original jurisdiction over most federal cases.

A

district courts

71
Q

Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts. They review each case for possible errors.

A

courts of appeals

72
Q

The highest court in the United States, made up of nine justices.

A

supreme court

73
Q

Courts created by Congress for specialized purposes, such as the U.S. Tax Court.

A

legislative courts

74
Q

A consideration of the political ideology of a nominated judge.

A

litmus test

75
Q

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

A

judicial review

76
Q

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review.

A

writ of certiorari

77
Q

Landmark Supreme Court case that established the court’s power of judicial review.

A

marbury v. madison

78
Q

The party that initiates a lawsuit.

A

plaintiff

79
Q

A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit.

A

standing

80
Q

The principle set by the court in one case that will be used as the basis for deciding future cases.

A

precedent

81
Q

A case brought by an individual that will impact that person and all others similarly situated.

A

class-action suit

82
Q

The authority of a court to hear a case first.

A

original jurisdiction

83
Q

The authority of a court to hear a case brought to them on appeal from a lower court.

A

appellate jurisdiction

84
Q

A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it.

A

brief

85
Q

A brief submitted by a “friend of the court” to provide the court with additional information on a case.

A

amicus curiae brief

86
Q

The judicial opinion agreed upon by more than half of the members of the court that explains the reasoning of the court’s decision.

A

opinion of the court/majority opinion

87
Q

A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view, but for different reasons.

A

concurring opinion

88
Q

A signed opinion that features the perspective of those justices who disagreed with the majority opinion.

A

dissenting opinion

89
Q

“Let the decision stand” or allowing prior rulings to determine the court’s stand on a current case.

A

stare decisis

90
Q

Unwritten custom that the Senate will not approve a judicial nomination if opposed by a senator from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

A

senatorial courtesy

91
Q

In order for a case to be granted certiorari, four justices must agree that the case is worthy to be heard.

A

rule of 4

ap gov (7 decks)

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