AP United States Government and Politics: Study Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam, focusing on the foundations of American democracy, civil rights, governmental structure, and political participation.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that enumerate specific rights held by the people.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states).

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch the authority to limit the powers of the others.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Majoritarian Democracy

A form of democracy that prioritizes the preferences of the majority over the rights of the minority.

Natural Rights

Rights that individuals possess inherently, as articulated by philosopher John Locke, including life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract Theory

The theory that individuals consent to form societies and governments for mutual protection and to ensure their rights.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution, notably the one held in Philadelphia in 1787.

Electoral College

A body established by the Constitution for the indirect election of the president and vice president of the United States.

Impeachment

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, which may lead to removal from office.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A legislation designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments and eliminate barriers to voting.

Political Participation

Any activity that shapes, affects, or involves the political sphere, whether publicly or privately.

Interest Groups

Organized groups that attempt to influence public policy to achieve specific goals or interests.

Public Opinion Polling

The collection of opinions about a particular subject, typically through surveys, to gauge public sentiment.

Roe v. Wade

A Supreme Court decision that established a woman's legal right to have an abortion under the right to privacy.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Federalist Papers

A series of 85 articles advocating for the ratification of the United States Constitution, authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.