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AP Gov Unit 2
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Congress | Represents the republican ideal through lawmaking, oversight, and representation of the people |
| Presidency | Expanded far beyond its constitutional boundaries through informal powers and crises |
| Judiciary | Remains independent from politics, using judicial review to uphold constitutional principles |
| Bureaucracy | Implements policies created by Congress and the president, ensuring the laws are actually carried out |
| Bicameral legislature | Two chambers - House of Representatives and Senate. Created by the Great Compromise. Designed to balance power between the people (house) and the states (senate) |
| House of Representatives | 435 members, 2-year terms, directly elected, represent districts. More formal and rule-bound due to large size. |
| House of Reps led by: | Speaker of the House (presides over debates, assigns bills, controls agenda). Majority/Minority Leaders (guide party strategy_. Whips (count votes and maintain party discipline) |
| House Rules COmmittee | Determines how long a bill can be debated and whether amendments can be added |
| Revenue bills | Have to start in the house |
| Unique House powers | impact the president and federal judges |
| Senate | 100 members, 6-year terms, represents entire states. More deliberative, fewer rules, allows more debate |
| Senate led by: | Vice President (breaks ties). President pro tempore (symbolic leader) Majority leader (most powerful figure, sets schedule) |
| Unique Senate powers | Confirms presidential appointments (judges, ambassadors), ratifies treaties (2/3 vote), conducts impeachment trials (2/3 to convict) |
| Filibuster | Unlimited debate to block a bill |
| Cloture | 60 votes to end a filibuster |
| Delegate | Votes how constituents want |
| Trustee | Votes based on personal judgement |
| Politico | Mix of both, depending on issue |
| Oversight | Congress monitors executive agencies (holding hearings, requiring reports) |
| Logrolling | Trading votes to pass legislation |
| Pork Barrel Spending | Funding local projects to please voters |
| Gridlock | Government can't act due to partisanship or divided government |
| Divided Government | When the presidency and Congress are controlled by different parties |
| Incumbency Advantage | Name recognition, fundraising ability, and experience make reelection easier |
| Process of Federal Budget | President's Proposal, Congressional Budget Office analyzes, Budget Committees in both chambers draft a resolution, Appropriations Committees decide funding, Congress votes on the budget, president signs or vetoes it |
| Mandatory Spending | Required by law |
| Discretionary Spending | Decided annually |
| Deficit | Spending exceeds revenue in a single year |
| Surplus | Revenue exceeds spending |
| National Debt | Accumulation of deficits over time |
| Power of the Purse | Congress controls all government spending, a major check on the president |
| Formal (Constitutional) Powers of the President | Commander in Chief of armed forces, appointed judges/ambassadors/cabinet, negotiate treaties, veto legislation, grant pardons, give state of the union address |
| Informal (Implied) Powers of the President | Executive orders (laws w/out congressional approval) exec. agreements (international agreements that don't need senate), signing statements (interpretation of a law), exec. privilege (withhold info from congress) |
| Informal (Implied) Powers of the President Continued | Bargaining & persuasion (influence to get Congress to act), Bully pulpit (media/public appearances to shape opinion) |
| War Powers of the President | President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops, must withdraw after 60 days without congressional approval |
| Expansion of Power of the President | Increased during crises, use of exec. orders and emergency powers has strengthened presidency beyond original intent |
| Structure of Judiciary | Supreme Court (highest), Courts of Appeals (13 circuits), District courts (94 federal trial courts) |
| Original Jurisdiction | First court to hear a case |
| Appellate jurisdiction | Reviews decisions from lower courts |
| Judicial Review | Power to strike down laws as unconstitutional |
| Stare Decisis | "Let the decision stand" - courts rely on precedent to maintain consistency |
| Precedent | Previous court decision used as a guide |
| Judicial Activism | Interpreting the Constitution broadly to meet modern needs |
| Judicial Restraint | Deferring to elected branch and avoiding policymaking |
| Majority Opinion | Official ruling of the Court |
| Dissenting Opinion | Disagreement with the majority's decision |
| Concurring Opinion | Agrees with the ruling but for different reasons |
| District Courts | Handle trials, evidence, and witnesses |
| Court of Appeals | Review for errors in procedure of interpretation |
| Supreme Court | Interprets constitutional questions and sets national precedent |
| Marbury v. Madison | Established judicial review, made judiciary a coequal branch |
| Baker v. Carr | One person one vote, federal courts can intervene in redistricting |
| Shaw v. Reno | Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional, reinforced equal protection clause |
| Constitution | Defines powers of legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| Federalist 70 | Argues a strong, single executive for accountability and efficiency |
| Federalist 78 | Judicial independence and life tenure |
| 22nd Amendment | Limits presidents to two terms |
| 25th Amendment | Established presidential succession and disability procedure |
| 16th Amendment | Allows congress to levy income taxes |
| Cabinet Departments | Main agencies (state, defense, treasury) |
| Independent regulatory commissions | Regulate Specific areas (FCC, SEC) |
| Independent Executive Agencies | Report directly to president (NASA) |
| Government Corporations | Provide services for a fee (USPS) |
| Implemenation | Carry out congressional laws |
| Regulation | Issue rules that have the force of law |
| Bureaucratic Discretion | Decide how to enforce laws |
| Merit System | Hiring based on ability, not political loyalty |
| Political Patronage (Spoils system) | Jobs given as political rewards |
| Iron Triangle. Beneficial relationship between | Congressional Committees (fund and oversee agencies), bureaucratic agencies (implement policies and regulations), interest groups (provide information and support). Congress funds defense, works w/ military, lobby congress for more money |
| Issue networks | broader, more fluid alliances of interest groups, media, and experts that influence policy |
Created by:
anneka26