AP US Government--Unit 4A--AP Exam Study Guide

The Legislative and Executive BranchesChapters 7 and 8

Directions: Answer the following questions in preparation for your diagnostic quiz on _______.
Any answer that does not immediately come to mind should be researched, and written in your journal or notebook.
1.

Identify these majority versus supermajority fractions. Cover the right column and test yourself.

To pass a bill/legislation/resolution
To confirm Supreme Court Justices, ambassadors, cabinet members
To propose/pass articles of impeachment
To convict and remove from office (impeachment trial)
To override a presidential veto
To ratify a treaty
To propose an Amendment (most used method)
To ratify an amendment (most used method)
To bring cloture to a filibuster
To confirm a Vice Presidential replacement (25th Amendment)
2.
3.
4.

Majority of both Houses

Majority of Senate
Majority of the House
2/3 vote of the Senate
2/3 vote of both Houses
2/3 of Senate
2/3 of both Houses
3/4 of the state legislatures
3/5 of the Senate
Majority of both Houses

Identify the enumerated powers of the legislative and executive branches (separation of powers). Identify the branch of
government that the founders intended to have the most power, and explain why they wanted this.
Describe how each branch controls/limits the power of the other branches (checks and balances). Include the three
branches of government and the bureaucracy, sometimes called the fourth branch. Review this answer in Unit 4B, also.
Explain the difference between federalism and separation of powers.

Identifications
Identify and explain the importance (related to US Government) of each of the following:
Legislative Branch:
unicameral
17th Amendment
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Executive Branch:
bicameral
12th Amendment
cloture
22nd Amendment
concurrent resolution
25th Amendment
conference committee
Bully Pulpit
discharge petition
cabinet
filibuster
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act (1974)
franking privilege
Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)
gerrymandering
direct democracy
joint committees
divided government
joint resolution
electoral college
legislative veto*
executive agencies
logrolling
executive agreements vs. treaties
majority and minority leaders
Executive Office of the President
majority-minority districts
executive orders
malapportionment
executive privilege
marginal districts
faithless electors
one man, one vote
impeachment
party whip
imperial presidency
pork-barrel legislation (pork)
independent agencies
President Pro Tempore
lame duck period
quorum call
line-item veto*
reapportionment
National Security Council (NSC)
redistricting
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
rider
pocket veto
Rule 22
presidential honeymoon
rules committee
pyramid structure
safe districts
representative democracy
select committees
unified government
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
United States v. Nixon (1973)
(simple) resolution
Veto
Speaker of the House
War Powers Act (1973)
standing committees

*starred
items were declared unconstitutional at the federal level