ap gov - unit 2 vocab - bureaucracy and judicial branch

Question 1

bureaucracy

Answer 1

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials

Question 2

proxy government

Answer 2

when state and local governments are hired to staff and administer federal programs

Question 3

rule making authority

Answer 3

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

Question 4

iron triangle

Answer 4

(DRAW OUT PICTURE x3)
A close relationship between an AGENCY, a CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE, and an INTEREST GROUP

Question 5

revolving door

Answer 5

Government officials quit their jobs to take positions as lobbyists or consultants to businesses and lobbyists or consultants quit their jobs to take government positions.

Question 6

red tape

Answer 6

a term used on the bureaucracy - barriers to success

Question 7

merit system

Answer 7

how 90% of the federal employees that are civil service workers are chosen

Question 8

3 Main features of bureaucracy

Answer 8

1. Hierarchical authority
2. Job specialization
3. formalized rules (lots of rules)

Question 9

4 agencies/types

Answer 9

cabinet departments
independent regulatory agencies/commissions government corporations
independent executive agencies

Question 10

cabinet departments

Answer 10

-lead by a secretary
-enforce laws
- specialized
- constitutionally created agency
- chosen by president, confirmed by Senate

Question 11

independent regulatory agencies/commissions

Answer 11

FDA, EPA, Federal Reserve Board
-agencies created by congress to regulate economy
-have rule-making authority

Question 12

Government corporations

Answer 12

Post Office, AMTRAK, UPS
-businesses run like corporations but are controlled by the government

Question 13

commissions

Answer 13

-have equal legislative power, have authority to make rules and regulations
-have more freedom and control over their budgets
-somewhat independent somewhat not

Question 14

Checks on bureaucracy

Answer 14

Congress:
oversight
power of purse
Courts:
judicial review
President:
Appointment
Fire (besides commissions)

Question 15

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 15

-all bureaucracy agencies send budget requests to the president(they determine the budget)

Question 16

Power of Bureaycracy

Answer 16

Implementation and discretionary authority
-carry out laws of congress
-have power to set certain guidelines

Question 17

regulation

Answer 17

issue rules and regulations

Question 18

administrative law

Answer 18

rules and regulations created by an agency that have an effect to laws

Question 19

Federalist 78

Answer 19

-Hamilton argued to have power of JUDICIAL REVIEW
-justices serve LIFE TERMS [this way they stay out of politics]

Question 20

Dual court system

Answer 20

Federal courts, state courts, jurisdiction

Question 21

what creates a “dual” court system

Answer 21

federalism

Question 22

jurisdiction

Answer 22

power to do something

Question 23

federal court system

Answer 23

all federal courts are created by Congress
- Federalist District Courts (94)
- Federal Appellate Courts (13)

Question 24

Lowest court

Answer 24

State (Justices LOVE hearing cases from the state*, also love inconsistent lower court rulings)

Question 25

The Supreme Court

Answer 25

-Only court mentioned in the Constitution
-SCOTUS is the last court of appeals
-Judicial Review
-Life terms
-all federal judges are appointed by President
-Must be approved by Senate (this is a check on them)
-Litmus test
-Senatorial courtesy

Question 26

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 26

Judicial Review

Question 27

The Rule of 4

Answer 27

4 of 9 votes are needed to grant “cert” to hear a case
- 4 votes needed for a court to be heard
- 5 votes needed for majority decision

Question 28

writ of certiorari

Answer 28

“to be made more certain”

Question 29

amicus curiae brief

Answer 29

friend of court [attempt of interest groups to influence the decision/judges]

Question 30

opinion of the court

Answer 30

provides an explanation of majority party’s opinion

Question 31

dissenting opinion

Answer 31

explains why the minority group thinks majority is wrong

Question 32

The Power of the Precedent

Answer 32

each decision becomes precedent (a past case is looked into for a current, similar case)
-SCOTUS doesn’t like to overturn previous precedents

Question 33

Stare decisis

Answer 33

“Let the decision stand”