AP U.S. Government and Politics Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms for the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam.

Social Contract

An agreement where individuals give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all humans, such as life, liberty, and property (John Locke).

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Limited Government

A government whose power is restricted through delegated and enumerated authorities.

Republicanism

A political ideology centered on citizenship in a state organized as a republic under which the people hold popular sovereignty.

Federalism

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

Dual Federalism

A political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms.

Cooperative Federalism

A concept of federalism in which national, state, and local governments interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems.

Separation of Powers

The division of governmental power among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial).

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred as necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Judicial Review

The power of the judiciary to review and invalidate laws or acts of government deemed unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison).

Precedent

A legal principle or rule created by a court decision that serves as a guide for future similar cases.

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy where judges are willing to strike down laws or policies they see as unconstitutional.

Judicial Restraint

A judicial philosophy that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power.

Rulemaking

The process by which government agencies create regulations.

Oversight

Congressional review of the activities of a government agency, department, or office.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which provisions of the Bill of Rights are applied to state governments through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Equal Protection Clause

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

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals acquire political beliefs and values.

Margin of Error

A statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results.

Political Realignment

A dramatic shift in the political landscape, often involving a change in the dominant party.

Iron Triangles

The relationship between Congress(committee), Government agencies(bureaucracy), and interest groups.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

Monetary Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and interest rates (Federal Reserve).