AP Review Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in AP Government.

affirmative action

Programs intended to give a boost or preference to minority applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college/professional school admissions over white applicants.

agenda setting

Identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve.

amicus curiae brief

A brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case.

appellate jurisdiction

The power that a court has to review the decision of a lower court.

bill

A proposed law.

bill of attainder

A law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither Congress nor the states can enact such a law under the Constitution.

blanket primary

A primary election in which candidates from all parties are on the ballot, allowing registered voters to vote for candidates from different parties.

block grants

Federal funds to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few restrictions on how the money is used.

brief

A written document submitted to a court presenting the facts and legal reasoning of a party to a lawsuit.

capital-gains tax

A tax on the sale of stock or real property.

casework

Services performed by an elected official for constituents.

categorical grant

Federal funds to states and local governments for specific programs that usually require matching funds and have strings attached.

caucus

A group of members of Congress sharing common policy concerns; also refers to a meeting of party members.

clear and present danger test

Limitations on freedom of speech established in Schenck v. U.S. (1919).

closed convention

A party national convention at which the nominee has already been determined through primaries.

closed primary

A primary election limited to registered voters of a specific political party.

closed rule

Issued by the House Rules Committee, imposing strict limits on debate and no amendments.

cloture

A method to cut off a filibuster in the Senate.

coattail effect

The ability of a strong candidate to help other candidates of the same party win.

committee report

A report issued by the committee that includes the text of a bill and reasons for its approval.

concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal government and the states.

concurring opinion

An opinion by judges that agrees with the decision but presents a different legal argument.

conference committee

A committee consisting of members of both the House and Senate responsible for reconciling differences in bills.

congressional-executive agreement

A trade agreement requiring majority approval from both houses of Congress.

constitutional courts

Courts created by Congress under Article III with judges serving for life.

creative federalism

Federal government determining the needs of states, associated with President Johnson's Great Society.

cross-ownership

A situation where a corporation owns both a broadcast outlet and a newspaper in the same market.

de facto segregation

Segregation resulting from living patterns rather than law.

de jure segregation

Segregation enforced by law, such as Jim Crow laws.

deregulation

Reducing or eliminating federal oversight of an industry.

discount rate

The interest rate charged by the Federal Reserve to member banks.

discretionary spending

Federal spending authorized through the appropriations process.

divided government

When the president is from one party and Congress is controlled by another.

dual federalism

A federalism model where both levels of government are supreme in their own spheres.

due process

Protection against arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property.

entitlements

Government benefits provided to qualified Americans based on age, income, or status.

enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

establishment clause

A First Amendment provision focused on the separation of church and state.

ex post facto law

A law making an action illegal retroactively or increasing penalties for past actions.

exclusionary rule

Prevents illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.

executive agreement

An agreement between the U.S. and another country that does not require Senate approval.

executive order

An action by the president that does not require Congressional approval.

exit poll

A poll conducted on election day to determine voting outcomes.

fast track authority

Power granted to the president to negotiate trade agreements that Congress votes on without amendments.

federal budget deficit

The annual difference between government spending and revenue.

filibuster

A method to delay or obstruct legislation in the Senate.

fiscal policy

Using taxes and spending practices to influence the economy.

flat tax

A single tax rate applied to all taxpayers with few exemptions.

franking privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail for free for official business.

free exercise clause

A First Amendment protection against interference with religious practices.

front-loading

The practice of scheduling primaries early in the election year.

fruit of the poisonous tree

Further evidence derived from illegally obtained evidence is inadmissible.

full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize and validate laws and court rulings of other states.

gender gap

Differences in political views and voting behavior between men and women.

gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.

good-faith exception

Allows the use of evidence obtained in good faith despite possible illegalities.

grassroots lobbying

Organizing efforts to influence public opinion and persuade officials.

gross domestic product

Total output of goods and services produced in the U.S.

Group of Eight (G8)

Major industrial nations that meet to discuss global economic issues.

hard money

Direct money used in campaigns that is regulated by finance laws.

hate speech

Offensive speech directed at specific groups that incites hostility.

implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but necessary for government function.

incorporation doctrine

Application of the Bill of Rights to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

independent executive agency

A federal agency not part of a cabinet department, headed by a presidential appointee.

independent regulatory agency

Agency that regulates specific sectors of the economy, overseen by commission.

interest group

An organization that influences public policy to advance shared concerns.

issue network

A loose coalition of various individuals and organizations involved in policy-making.

joint committee

A committee with members from both Congressional houses that addresses general issues.

judicial activism

The principle that courts should play a role in shaping public policy.

judicial restraint

The principle that courts should defer to the decisions of the legislative and executive branches.

judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.

Keynesian economics

Economic theory advocating for government intervention to stimulate demand during slumps.

laissez-faire economics

Economic philosophy favoring minimal government intervention in business.

leak

An unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.

legislative veto

Congress's power to reject presidential actions; deemed unconstitutional.

Lemon Test

Criteria for laws related to religion established in Lemon v. Kurtzman.

line-item veto

Power to veto specific parts of a bill; ruled unconstitutional.

lobbying

The act of influencing government officials on behalf of a group.

logrolling

Agreement between members of Congress to support each other's legislation.

mandate

A law or regulation requiring compliance under threat of legal action.

mandatory spending

Federal spending mandated by law, primarily for entitlement programs.

means test

Criteria requiring individuals to meet certain income levels to qualify for benefits.

media event

A staged event for public relations purposes that presents officials favorably.

midterm elections

Elections held between presidential elections; the president’s party usually loses seats.

monetary policy

Management of the nation's money supply by the Federal Reserve.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Treaty establishing a free trade zone between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

off the record

Information shared in confidence that cannot be published.

on background

Information that can be quoted but not attributed directly to the source.

on deep background

Information that can be used without any attribution to the source.

on the record

Information provided that can be quoted and attributed to the source.

open convention

A national convention where no candidate has a majority of delegates.

original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

party dealignment

The weakening of party ties among voters, leading to increased independent identification.

party realignment

Major shifts in party loyalty and voting patterns due to significant events.

platform

A political party's statement of its goals and positions on various issues.

plurality opinion

An opinion supported by a majority of justices that outlines the decision.

pocket veto

A presidential tactic to prevent a bill from becoming law by not signing it.

political action committee

A committee formed to raise and distribute funds for political campaigns.

political agenda

The set of issues deemed important by the public and government.

political ideology

A coherent set of beliefs regarding politics and the government's role.