AP U.S. Government Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to U.S. government and political systems.

Limited government

A government's power cannot be absolute; it is restricted by principles such as separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism.

Natural rights

Rights that belong to all people, including life, liberty, and property, that cannot be taken away.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that all government power comes from the consent of the people.

Social contract

An implicit agreement among individuals in a society to give up certain freedoms to maintain social order.

Representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make public policy on their behalf.

Participatory democracy

A democratic model that emphasizes broad participation of constituents in the political process.

Pluralist democracy

A democracy that emphasizes group-based activism and diverse interests striving for political influence.

Elite democracy

A model of democracy emphasizing limited participation in politics by the general public.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the land that establishes the system of limited government and formalizes the social contract.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Checks and balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government gains too much power, allowing each branch to check the powers of the others.

Impeachment

The process by which the House of Representatives formally charges an official with misconduct.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws or government actions.

Bicameral legislature

A two-house legislative system used by the U.S. Congress, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Filibuster

A tactic used to prolong debate in the Senate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill.

Civil liberties

Constitutionally established guarantees and freedoms that protect citizens from government interference.

Civil rights

Rights that protect individuals from discrimination based on characteristics like race and sex.

Affirmative action

Policies aimed at addressing historical injustices and promoting equal opportunities for historically marginalized groups.

Equal Protection Clause

A clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits states from denying any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values through family, education, and media.

Interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest that seeks to influence public policy.

Voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Electoral College

The body that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.