AP Government Vocabulary

Flashcards to help learn the vocabulary in AP Government

Social Contract

A contract between the government and the governed, where the governed give up some natural rights for protection and benefits.

Natural Rights

Rights given to every person that cannot be taken away by the government; violation of these rights gives the people the right to revolt.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that people should have the main voice in the government, and the government should be held accountable to the people.

Republicanism

A representative form of government that is limited.

Participatory Democracy

Citizens have the power to decide on a policy, but elected politicians implement the decisions.

Pluralist Democracy

Different groups compete for influence in the government, preventing any single group from dominating policymaking.

Elite Democracy

A small group of wealthy and well-educated people makes decisions for everyone.

Shay’s Rebellion

A violent revolt of farmers led by Daniel Shay, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Federalists

Supported the ratification of the Constitution, believing it provided a strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the ratification of the Constitution, fearing it gave the national government too much power.

Federalism

Having shared powers between the national, state, and local governments.

Checks and Balances

Systems incorporated into the government to prevent it from abusing its power and becoming too powerful.

Separation of Powers

Having authority and jurisdiction divided up in the government.

Limited Government

The government cannot do anything it wants because it is restricted by a written document (the Constitution).

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Merged the Virginia and New Jersey plans, creating a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in one house and equal representation in the other.

The Electoral College

Body that determines how the President and Vice President are elected; electors from each state vote for the President and Vice President.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Each slave was counted as 3/5ths of a person when determining representation in Congress.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

No new slaves could be imported into America after 1808.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not expressed in the Constitution but are understood as powers given to the federal government.

Inherent Powers

Powers of the President.

Reserved Powers

Powers reserved for the states (10th amendment).

Privileges and Immunities Clause

States cannot discriminate against people based on what state they are from.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States must trust documents that come from other states.

Extradition

If a crime is committed and the perpetrator flees to a different state, the state they fled to must bring them back to the state where the crime was committed.

Grants-in-aid

Money given to the states by the federal government that does not have to be paid back.

Categorical Grants

Grants given to the states for a specific reason.

Block Grants

Grants given to the states for a broad use.

Mandates

When the federal government requires governments to do something.

Dual Federalism

The federal and state governments are independent of each other and have separate duties (1789-1932).

Cooperative Federalism

The levels of government work together to get different goals done (1933- 1962).

New Federalism (includes fiscal federalism)

Instead of centralized federalism, devolution is occurring, and there has been a movement to return some of the power back to the states (1963- Present).

Commerce Clause

The government can regulate interstate commerce.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The government can stretch its enumerated powers to perform its job.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Aim to minimize the effect of unfunded mandates on state and local governments.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

A temporary social welfare program that provides money for basic needs for income families but requires beneficiaries to be in a program that prepares them for work.

National Voter Registration Act (Motor Voter Act)

Allowed people to register to vote when they got their driver's license and required states to develop a mail voter registration option to make it easier to vote.

Clean Air Act

Established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop standards for releasing hazardous emissions into the air and required states to meet those standards while giving citizens the right to sue against violators.

Americans with Disabilities Act

An act passed to stop discrimination against people with disabilities and mandated accommodations by educational institutions and employers.

Brady Bill

A bill to reduce gun violence by requiring federal background checks when buying firearms.

No Child Left Behind Act

Provided money to low-income students for extra assistance.

Legislative Branch

Congress (or the Legislative Branch) is a bicameral legislature (composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives)

Senate

Senators are now elected to the Senate, holding their offices for 6 years, which means that 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection at a time and each state has 2 senators.

House of Representatives

State representation in the House is depends on the census that’s conducted every 10 years and Representatives are up for reelection every two years.

Filibuster

Where a member holds the Senate floor to prevent a bill from going to vote.

Cloture

Used to end a filibuster. You need 3/5ths of the Senate’s votes to have successful cloture (60 votes).

Rules Committee

decides how a proposed bill will be voted on and debated (i.e. Will amendments are added? Is the bill even going to be debated? etc.)

Committee of the Whole

simplifies the rules of debate and opens the conversation

Discharge Petition

Filed to get a bill out of the committee and take it straight to the floor

Standing Committees

Committees that are always in operation

Conference Committees

A committee formed with members from both the Senate and the House to iron out differences in similar legislation.

Select Committees

Created for a specific purpose and will eventually end.

Joint Committees

A committee with people from both the Senate and the House, that is created for a specific reason.

Discretionary spending

Programs in which Congress and the President have to renew spending for it every year.

Mandatory spending

programs in which the government has already made a commitment to pay.

Pork barrel legislation

When Congressmen negotiate for legislation that helps their specific district but not the whole country.

Logrolling

When Congressmen agree to support each other's bills.

Gerrymandering

Redistricting strategically to ensure one party gets more representation in that district, a process that can lead to a majority to have representation in Congress.

Redistricting

The redrawing of district lines for representation.

Reapportionment

The delegation of representatives to different districts based on population. This determines which states get more representation.

Divided government

When the Congress is controlled by a different party than the White House.

Gridlock

When no legislation is passed because the two parties can not come to an agreement.

Trustee model

When representative votes based on what they think is right, even if it is different from what their constituents want.

Delegate model

When representative votes based on what his constituents want, even when other representatives don't agree with what the constituents want.

Chief Political / Party Leader

Presidents can endorse people in their party, acting as a spokesperson for their party.

Head of State

The President represents the nation by receiving ambassadors and performing many ceremonial roles.

Chief Legislator

The President proposes legislation that he wants to see passed. He can also veto bills.

Chief Economic Planner

The President proposes the budget and must approve it.

Bully Pulpit

The President can use the bully pulpit to get support for their agenda which will make it easier for the President to get legislation passed that they support through.

Chief Executive

The President makes sure that the laws that are passed are obeyed. He can issue executive orders and employ many people to carry out laws.

Chief Diplomat

The President must negotiate with foreign nations. He also has the power to make and enforce treaties.

Commander in Chief

The President can make war. He can also use nuclear weapons.

Cabinet

A group of advisors that aid the President on numerous topics that he may not be as knowledgeable in.

Ambassadors

Diplomats that travel to other countries as the United States’ representatives and negotiate for the President.

White House Staff

Assistants to the President that counsel him on many things; led by the Chief of Staff.

Iron triangles

The relationship between Congress, the federal bureaucracy, and interest groups during policy creation.

Civil Service

Hiring government workers based on competition, tests, and merit

Merit

People getting jobs based on their achievements and ability rather than partisan loyalty.

Pendleton Act

Attempted to stop patronage. It made it illegal to hire or fire someone for political reasons.

Independent Executive Agency

An agency established by Congress with separate status outside of the executive branch. They are usually established to serve a specific purpose.

Independent Regulatory Commission

Established to regulate a specific economic activity. They work independently of the executive branch and Congress

Government Corporation

Government owned businesses to provide a service that can’t be trusted to the private sector.

Majority Opinion

what majority of the judges believe; this is the ruling that is enforced.

Dissenting Opinion

the opinion of the judges that completely disagrees with the majority opinion.

Concurring Opinion

the opinion of the judges that agree with the majority’s ruling but for a different reason.

Writ of Certiorari

a writ that demands a lower court to send the files over to review a case.

Rule of Four

at least 4 Supreme Court judges have to want to hear a case for it to be heard by the Supreme Court.

Civil Liberties

the limitations that are put on the government; actions the government can’t take as they may interfere with your personal freedom.

Civil Rghts

guarantees of equal citizenship and protects citizens from discrimination by majorities

Establishment Clause

Prevents the US from using religion as a guiding point for laws to be made and makes sure that they don’t endorse any specific religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Does not allow anyone to be prevented from being part of a certain religion.

Ideology

Beliefs that shape political opinion and policies

Political Socialization

The process where people learn and develop their political values and opinions

Agents of Socialization

Things that influence the development of one’s political views (ie. family, what you learn in class, etc.)

Political Culture

A nation’s core beliefs on how their economic, political, and social life should be carried out

Liberalism

A political ideology where people believe in less government control over political and social issues, but more government control over economics.

Conservatism

A political ideology where people believe the government should have more control over political and social issues, but less control over economics (laissez-faire)

Libertarianism

A political ideology where people believe the government should have little to no government control on political/social issues and the economy

Totalitarianism

A political ideology where people believe the government should have as much control as possible on political/social issues and the economy.

Socialism

A political ideology where people believe that the government should control the means of production within the US and a better equal distribution of wealth