AP Government and Politics - Key Vocabulary (Foundational Docs to Public Opinion)

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational documents, political concepts, economic theories, globalization, public opinion, media, and policy.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document asserting natural rights, government exists to protect those rights, and citizens may alter or rebel against government that infringes on rights.

Natural rights

Inherent rights (e.g., life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) that governments are created to protect.

Checks and balances

System where each branch limits the powers of the others to prevent the concentration of power.

Federalist No. 51

Essay arguing for separation of powers and checks and balances to safeguard rights and limit government power.

Federalist No. 78

Essay emphasizing an independent judiciary as a safeguard against legislative overreach and for the rule of law.

Independent judiciary

Judicial branch free from political influence to uphold laws and protect rights.

Rule of law

Principle that laws apply equally to everyone, including public officials.

Judicial independence

Ability of courts to decide cases free from political pressure.

Precedent

A past court decision that guides future rulings.

Political culture

Dominant beliefs, customs, and values shaping citizens’ relationship with government.

Individualism

Belief that individuals shape their lives through personal choices; a core value in American politics.

Tocqueville’s nation of joiners

Alexis de Tocqueville’s idea that Americans form associations and participate in civil society, promoting democracy.

Equality of opportunity

Principle that everyone should have an equal chance to succeed regardless of background.

Equality of result

Idea that outcomes should be distributed more evenly, often contrasted with opportunity equality.

Free enterprise

Economic system where prices and production are driven by competition with limited government interference.

Command-and-control economy

System where the government dictates major economic decisions (wages, prices, production).

Mixed economy

Economy combining free markets with government influence via taxation, spending, and regulation.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Legislation expanding health insurance coverage and regulating the health care market.

Preamble to the Declaration of Independence

Opening statements asserting universal truths and equality as a political foundation.

Affirmative action

Policies intended to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups; debated in policy circles.

Globalization

Growing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and nations through trade, communication, and technology.

Free trade

International exchange with minimal barriers to trade.

Bilateral trade agreement

Trade pact between two nations.

Regional trade agreement

Trade pact among multiple nations within a geographic region.

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement, a regional trade agreement replaced by USMCA.

USMCA

United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, successor to NAFTA.

Outsourcing

Moving production or services to another country to reduce costs.

Race to the bottom

Competitive lowering of environmental or labor standards to attract investment.

The Dark Web

Part of the internet used for anonymity where illicit activities can occur.

NGOs

Non-governmental organizations that inform the public about rights abuses and mobilize aid.

Generational effect

Opinion shifts shaped by shared experiences of a cohort.

Lifecycle effect

How political opinions change as people move through life stages.

Primary sources

Firsthand accounts or interviews providing direct evidence.

Secondary sources

Interpretations or analyses of primary sources.

Mass survey

National polls aiming to reflect the views of a broad population.

Entrance poll

Poll conducted of people entering an event to gauge opinions.

Exit poll

Poll conducted at polling places after voting to estimate results.

Benchmark poll

Poll taken at campaign start to establish baseline support.

Tracking poll

Poll repeated over time to measure changes in support.

Gender gap

Difference in political behavior or turnout between women and men, often reflected in party leanings.

Digital divide

Gap between those with access to digital technologies and those without.

New media

Digital platforms (social media, blogs, streaming) that diversify information flows.

Net neutrality

Principle that internet data should be treated equally by providers without discrimination.

Agenda setting

Media role in determining which issues are considered important.

Horse race journalism

Media focus on poll standings and candidate appearances rather than policy specifics.

Infotainment

Content that blends information with entertainment to attract audiences.

Bias in the news

Systematic leaning toward a particular political perspective or party in coverage.

Deepfake

AI-generated deceptive images or videos used to mislead.

George Gallup

Pioneer in public opinion polling, founder of Gallup polls.

Nate Silver

Statistician known for polling aggregation and election forecasting.

GDP

Gross Domestic Product; total value of all final goods and services produced in a country.

Unemployment rate

Percentage of the labor force actively seeking work but unable to find jobs.

Inflation

Rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises.

CPI

Consumer Price Index; measures changes in the price level of a basket of goods.

Federal Reserve System (the Fed)

U.S. central banking system that manages monetary policy and money supply.

Monetary policy tools

Open market operations, reserve requirements, and the federal funds rate used to influence money supply.

Fiscal policy

Use of taxation and spending by government to influence the economy.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for people 65+ and certain disabled individuals.

Social Security

Federal program providing retirement, disability, and survivors benefits.

Medicaid

Program providing health coverage to low-income individuals and families.

First Amendment

Constitutional protection of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

Vouchers

Public funds used to pay tuition for private schools, expanding school choice.

Media consolidation

Concentration of media ownership in fewer corporations, reducing diversity.

Investigative journalism

In-depth reporting that uncovers hidden information and verifies claims.

Penny press

Early era of mass newspapers aimed at broad audiences.

FCC

Federal Communications Commission; regulates interstate and international communications.

Public opinion

Sum of individual attitudes about government, policies, and issues.

Sampling error

Margin of error from surveying a subset of a population.

Representative sample

A subset that accurately reflects the population's characteristics.

Weighting

Adjusting survey results to reflect the population's demographic makeup.

Random selection

Sampling method where each individual has an equal chance of being chosen.