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AP Government -Unit 3 Flashcards

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11346706164Parliamentary SystemA system of government in which the chief executive is the leader whose party holds the most seats in the legislature after an election or whose party forms a major part of the ruling coalition. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.0
11346714833unified governmentthe political condition in which the same political party controls the presidency and Congress1
11361306409divided governmentGovernance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.2
11346714834incumbent(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of3
11346739599constituenta person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent4
11346759386BicameralA legislature consisting of two parts, or houses5
11346809520pork-barrel legislationlegislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return6
11346823996franking privilegeBenefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free7
11346827313JunketsSeemingly unnecessary trips made by members of Congress at the taxpayers expense.8
11346834925AppropriationA legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency9
11346846511majority leaderthe legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate10
11346860757FilibusterA lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate11
11346895552conference committeeCommittee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.12
11347212120QuorumThe minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action13
11347215202How a bill becomes a lawBill is introduced in either house; sent to committee to be approved, rewritten, or killed; sent to the floor for debate and vote; sent to the other chamber for the same process; both houses pass the revised bill; sent to president for approval; president signs, (or, if vetoed, must have 2/3 vote of both houses to override); bill becomes a law. 1. written 2. discussed in committee + voted 3. discussed in House of Reps. and Senate + voted on in both 4. President signs it or vetoes it (which brings back to Congress, needs 2/3 vote to override veto)14
11347222718GerrymanderingProcess of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.15
11347225993ApportionmentDistribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state16
11347233264safe districtsDistricts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more.17
11347238157Prime Ministerthe head of an elected government; the principal minister of a sovereign or state.18
11347241255Bureaucracya system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.19
11347248394bureaucratic pathologiesthe problems that tend to develop in bureaucratic systems. Problems shared by all or most federal bureaus or agencies. They include bureaucratic red tape, mission conflict, mission duplication, agency imperialism, and bureaucratic waste.20
11347259947Iron Triangle v. issue networkA close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.21
11347276393Bully Pulpitthe president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public22
11347282853VetoChief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature23
11347282854pocket vetoA veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.24
11347288203ImpeachmentAn action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."25
11347295817lame duckan outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for reelection26
11347299048Imperial PresidencyTerm used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress27
11347308433Executive ordersRegulations originating with the executive branch. Executive orders are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy.28
11347317934War Powers Resolution of 1973Enacted to give Congress a greater voice in presidential decisions committing military forces to hostile situations overseas. Requires that the president notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops. Requires the president to bring troops home from hostilities within 60-90 days unless Congress extends the time. A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.29
11347328514Pyramid Cabinetbasically like a hierarchy so not everyone goes directly to the president.30
11347331511Circular Cabinetwhen the president's assistants report directly to him.31
11347335266Judicial ReviewThe power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional. review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act.32
11347350981activist philosophywhen theres a law and judges interpret it based on the situation.33
11347354935writ of certiorariOrder by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review34
11347364697amicus curiaeA Latin term meaning "friend of the court." Refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.35
11347374495Opinion of the CourtAn explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.36
11347374496concuring opinionJudges opinion that reaches the SAME result as the MAJORITY OPINION of the Court, but usually for a DIFFERENT REASON than that stated by the other judges in the marjority37
11347385426dissenting (minority) opinionwritten explanation of the views of one or more judges who disagree with a decision reached by a majority of the court. written documentation of the opinion of the minority voters (maybe 1 or more judges)38
11347395295stare decisisLet the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases39
11347399859United States v. NixonU.S. Supreme Court case that limited executive privilege. The 1974 case in which the Supreme Court unanimously held that the doctrine of executive priveledge was implicit in the Constitution but could not be extended to protect documents relevant to criminal prosecutions. Pardons+reprieves40
11347406536Marbury v. MadisonThis case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review41
11362178509Restraint Judicial PhilosophyThat just go straight up by the law no joke no mercy.42
11362305517RussiaExecutive: President Legislative: Federal assembly Judicial: Independent branch43
11362311293NigeriaExecutive: President Legislative: National Assembly Judicial: Federal Courts44
11362316998BritainExecutive: Royalty and prime minister Legislative: Parliament Judicial: Supreme court45
11362326064IranExecutive: President Legislative: Islamic Assembly Judicial: Layered Courts46
11362332447MexicoExecutive: President Legislative: Bicameral congress Judicial: Federal and state courts47
11362337841ChinaExecutive: President Legislative: National people congress Judicial: Independent court system48

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