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ap gov key terms 2
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| casework | legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs |
| bureaucratic discretion | Individual bureaucrats/agencies have to make choices about how to implement existing laws, which enhances bureaucratic power |
| bureaucracy | a rational and efficient form of organization founded on logic, order, and legitimate authority |
| filibuster | a tactic for delaying or obstructing a vote in senate |
| franking privilege | the ability to send mail by one's signature rather than by postage |
| gerrymandering | the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent |
| government corporations | A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program. |
| civil service system | a systematic method of appointing employees to office and of promoting them for competency and performance |
| bully pulpit | the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public |
| budget deficit | a situation in which the government spends more than it takes in |
| quorum | The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress |
| reapportionment | the process of dividing the number of State representatives and senators among the State's population in order to assure, as close as possible, districts of equal size |
| red tape | complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done |
| redistricting | The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. |
| rider | Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" through the legislative process |
| rule-making authority | An agency's ability to make rules that affect how programs operate, and to force states and corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws. |
| rules committee | one of the most powerful committees in congress because of its "gatekeeping" power over the terms on which legislation will reach floor of house of representatives |
| select committee | a small legislative committee appointed for a special purpose. |
| signing statements | a written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law. |
| speaker of the house | the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House |
| spoils system | The practice of giving government jobs to political backers |
| standing committee | A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area |
| power of the purse | Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money |
| pork barrel | piece of legislation containing the benefits for districts of Congress |
| closed rule | A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments. |
| cloture | a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote |
| commander-in-chief | term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces |
| committee chairperson | member of the majority party on a committee who has formal responsibility over the panel's agenda and resources |
| committee hearings | a method by which committee members gather information to inform committee business. Business dealt with by hearings may be broadly classified into four types: legislative, oversight, investigative, and consideration of presidential nominations. |
| committee of the whole | A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal. |
| conference committee | a type of temporary joint committee that's set up when the House and Senate have each passed different versions of the same law |
| congressional committee | a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty |
| congressional oversight | the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation |
| constituents | The residents of a congressional district or state. |
| delegate role | played by elected representatives who vote the way their constituents would want them to, regardless of their own opinions |
| discharge petition | a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor |
| discretionary spending | The portion of the budget that the President requests and Congress appropriates every year. |
| divided government | government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls the Congress |
| earmarks | "Hidden" congressional provisions that direct the federal government to fund specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees |
| entitlements | those benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the federal government, such as Social Security |
| advise and consent | the power of the senate to approve or disapprove of any of the president's appointments or treaties |
| appropriation | a provision of funds for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes |
| bicameral | A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses |
| impeachment | A formal accusation of misconduct in office against a public official |
| "iron triangles" | The relationship between congress(especially Sub-Committees), Government agencies(Bureaucracy), and interest groups. This helps create policy in the United States and all 3 parts want to protect their own self interests. |
| issue networks | alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a common cause or agenda in a way that influences government policy |
| lame-duck president | an elected official whose successor has already been elected or will be soon |
| line item veto | Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. |
| logrolling | An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bills |
| mandatory spending | spending not controlled by annual budget decisions |
| mark-up | the process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation |
| executive agreement | A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval. |
| executive orders | a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation |
| executive privilege | An implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to Congress or the judiciary. |
| medicaid | A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them. |
| veto | A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress. |
| politico role | Role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue. |
| trustee role | Role played by elected representatives who listen to constituents' opinions and then use their best judgment to make final decisions. |
| gridlock | the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government |
| partisan role | an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance. |
| merit system | A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage. |
| holds | A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination. |
| patronage | The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party. |
| unanimous consent | agreement on any question or matter before the senate that sets aside a rule of procedure to expedite proceedings |
| state of the union | a communication from the president to congress in which the chief executive reports on the current condition of the US and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year |
| pocket veto | a formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns |
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