AP Government Review

AP Government Flashcards

Big Idea #1 (Unit 1)

Governing documents are deeply influenced by Enlightenment thought.

Big Idea #2 (Unit 1)

Different models of democracy are visible in our nation and its policies.

Big Idea #3 (Unit 1)

Federalists and Antifederalists argued over the proper scope of Federal power.

Big Idea #4 (Unit 1)

The Articles of Confederation failed because federal power was too weak, and state power was too great.

Big Idea #5 (Unit 1)

The U.S. Constitution was created and ratified as a result of several compromises between Federalists and Antifederalists.

Big Idea #6 (Unit 1)

The U.S. Constitution lays out a system of government characterized by separation of powers and checks & balances.

Big Idea #7 (Unit 1)

Our system of government is based on federalism, and the sharing of power is affected by societal needs.

Big Idea #8 (Unit 1)

The balance of power between states and the federal government has changed over time, and at the heart of that balancing are a few constitutional provisions and two SCOTUS cases.

Big Idea #9 (Unit 1)

The distribution of power between federal and state governments affects policymaking.

Big Idea #1 (Unit 2)

The main work of Congress is to make laws.

Big Idea #2 (Unit 2)

The leadership structures of Congress and the committee system are the main avenues through which Congress does its work.

Big Idea #3 (Unit 2)

The efficiency with which Congress does its work is affected by ideological divisions, differing conceptions of representation, and redistricting/gerrymandering.

Big Idea #4 (Unit 2)

Though the president has no constitutional law-making power, the president uses formal and informal powers to get the presidential policy agenda passed.

Big Idea #5 (Unit 2)

Exercise of presidential power can often lead to conflicts with the other branches of government, but those other branches have means of checking the president's power.

Big Idea #6 (Unit 2)

Presidential power has grown significantly over time.

Big Idea #7 (Unit 2)

Because of their unique command of the attention of Americans, presidents have often used new communication technologies to appeal directly to the people.

Big Idea #8 (Unit 2)

The Supreme Court checks the other branches of government through the power of judicial review.

Big Idea #9 (Unit 2)

The combination of the Court's exercise of judicial review and the life tenure of judges leads some to question the legitimacy of the Court.

Big Idea #10 (Unit 2)

The federal bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government under the authority of the executive branch.

Big Idea #11 (Unit 2)

The federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule-making and implementation.

Big Idea #12 (Unit 2)

The bureaucracy can be checked by the other branches of the federal government.

Big Idea #1 (Unit 3)

The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties.

Big Idea #2 (Unit 3)

The Supreme Court has engaged in an ongoing debate over the first amendment's protection of the freedom of religion, centered on balancing majoritarian religious practices and free exercise.

Big Idea #3 (Unit 3)

The first amendment's protection of freedom of speech is not absolute, but in order to restrict speech, the government has a high bar to reach.

Big Idea #4 (Unit 3)

The first amendment's protection of the freedom of the press is essential to the working of a democracy.

Big Idea #5 (Unit 3)

The Supreme Court's interpretation of the second amendment has almost always upheld an individual's right to own a gun.

Big Idea #6 (Unit 3)

None of the rights in the Bill of Rights are absolute. Each right is always a balancing act between individual liberty and public order and safety.

Big Idea #7 (Unit 3)

Selective incorporation applies the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states through the fourteenth amendment's due process clause.

Big Idea #8 (Unit 3)

In trying to balance personal liberty and public order, the Court has at times ruled to restrict individual liberty and at other times upheld individual liberty.

Big Idea #9 (Unit 3)

Constitutional provisions have inspired and supported social movements.

Big Idea #10 (Unit 3)

The Supreme Court has at times allowed the restriction of civil rights of minority groups and at other times has protected those rights.

Big Idea #1 (Unit 4)

Americans' relationship to core American beliefs, which are shared by nearly every American, affects how they think about the role of government.

Big Idea #2 (Unit 4)

Cultural factors influence political attitudes and socialization.

Big Idea #3 (Unit 4)

Public opinion is measured through scientific polling, and the results of public opinion polls influence public policies and institutions.

Big Idea #4 (Unit 4)

There is a discernible relationship between scientific polling and elections and policy debates.

Big Idea #5 (Unit 4)

Political ideology is an interlocking set of ideas that form the basis for political decision making.

Big Idea #6 (Unit 4)

Public policy only reflects the attitudes and beliefs of those who actually participate in the political process.

Big Idea #1 (Unit 5)

The Constitution protects voting rights and the diversity of people eligible to vote has expanded over time.

Big Idea #2 (Unit 5)

Several factors determine voter turnout in any given election.

Big Idea #3 (Unit 5)

Linkage institutions are societal structures that connect people to their government or the political process and allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy makers.

Big Idea #4 (Unit 5)

The U.S. operates as a two party system and that makes it very difficult for third parties and independent parties to ever win an election.

Big Idea #5 (Unit 5)

Interest groups are a linkage institution that mostly form around single issues or a certain demographic in order to influence policy making.

Big Idea #6 (Unit 5)

The president is elected through a series of steps and ultimately through the electoral college.

Big Idea #7 (Unit 5)

Congressional elections have less participation than presidential elections and there are several factors which determine who gets elected to Congress.

Big Idea #8 (Unit 5)

Running a campaign for office is a complex and exceedingly complex process, and campaign organizations and strategies affect the election process.

Big Idea #9 (Unit 5)

Money is at the heart of political campaigns. But there are laws that govern such financial contributions and that has led to debate about the proper role money ought to play in politics.

Big Idea #10 (Unit 5)

The Media is a linkage institution, also known as a watchdog agency, which holds