AP Gov Killer Vocab

Amicus curiae brief

Filed to present arguments in addition to those presented by immediate parties to a case

Affirmative action

Preferential admissions and hiring practices for minorities to improve opportunities for underrepresented groups

Block grants

Federal money given to states with few strings attached and only general guidelines for its use

Bully Pulpit

President's use of their prestige and visibility to push an agenda or enthuse the American public

Candidate-centered campaign

Focus is on the individual running rather than the entire party slate

Categorical grant

Federal money provided to the states for a specific purpose

Caucus

Meeting of party members to choose a candidate

Checks & Balances

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each branch to check some acts of the others, which ensures one cannot dominate

Civil liberties

Constitutionally-established guarantees/freedoms that protect citizens, opinions, and property against arbitrary government interference

Civil rights

Rights of citizens to be free of unequal/discriminatory treatment on the basis of race, gender, or other demographic group

Closed primary

Election where only registered party members can vote for their party's nominee

Closed rule

Procedure in the House of Reps that sets a time limit for debate and prohibits a bill from being amended on the floor

Cloture

Procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate

Commerce clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and states

Concurrent powers

Powers held by the federal government and states

Conference Committee

Committee appointed by the chamber leaders to settle differences on a particular bill passed by each house in a different form

Cooperative federalism

System where states and the government cooperate with each other by sharing power and responsibilities

Delegate model

From of congressional representation where they vote based on what their constituents want

Discretionary spending

Spending that can be changed from budget to budget

Divided Government

Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both Congress houses

Dual federalism

System where the federal government and the state governments have authority in their own sphere

Due process clause

Part of the 5th and 14th Amendments that has guaranteed individuals a variety of rights and legal protections from state and national governments

Earmarks

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents

Elite democracy

Theory that a group of wealthy and educated individuals holds most political power

Entitlement spending

Benefits guaranteed by law to individuals who meet basic requirements

Enumerated powers

Powers of the national government stated in the Constitution

Equal protection clause

Part of the 14th Amendment stating no one shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws

Establishment clause

Part of the 1st Amendment that bars the government from creating an official religion or giving preferential treatment to certain religions

Exclusionary rule

Requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained by excluded from a criminal trial

Executive agreement

Nonbinding international agreement made between the US and a foreign country where Senate ratification is not required

Executive order

Directive issued by the president that has the force of law

Exit Poll

Used at randomly selected polling places after citizens have placed their votes to project the winner of an election

Federalism

Arrangement where power is distributed between a central government and constitutionally protected sub-unit

Filibuster

Procedure in the Senate to attempt to stop the passage of a bill

Fiscal policy

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

Formal powers

Powers of the president specifically outlined in the Constitution

Free exercise clause

Part of the 1st Amendment that protects a citizen's right to practice their preferred religion

Free rider

Individual who does not join a group representing their interests, yet benefits from the group's influence

Gerrymandering

Drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

Great Compromise

Agreement at the Constitutional Convention to form a bicameral legislature with lower house representation based on population, and upper house representation based on equality

Horserace journalism

Media focuses on who is ahead, and by how much, rather than substantive differences between the candidates

Implied powers

Powers that aren't specifically granted to different branches of the federal government, but can be interpreted from what is written in the Constitution

Incumbent

Current holder of elected office

Informal powers (Inherent powers)

Powers inferred from the Constitution and claimed by the president

Iron Triangle

Rigid policy making alliance between members of Congress, bureaucratic organizations, and interest groups that's mutually beneficial to all involved

Issue Network

Relationship among interest groups and individuals that unite in order to promote a single issue in government policyJudii

Judicial activism

Philosophy that the Supreme Court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues

Judicial restraint

Philosophy that judges should only strike down the elected branches' actions if they violate the Constitution

Judicial review

Principle that gives courts the power to rule on the constitutionality of a law/action of local, state, or national government

Keynesian economics

Idea that the government should stimulate the economy during recession by spending to encourage economic growth

Lame duck

Time when focus shifts away from a politician who's still in office after they lose a reelection bid or are nearing a term limit

Limited government

Principle that government should be restricted so the rights of the people are protected

Lobbying

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact

Logrolling

Legislator supports a proposal/policy favored by another in return for support for their own

Majority-minority districts

Intended to make it more likely that a member of a minority group will be elected to Congress

Mandate

Directive from the national government for the states to do something, which can be funded or unfunded

Mandatory spending

Spending is obligated due to legislation

Merit system

Method of public employment where selection/promotion depend on performance rather than political patronage

Monetary policy

Government policy that attempts to regulate the economy by controlling the money supply

Natural right

Possessed by all humans at birth that cannot be infringed upon by the government

Necessary and proper clause

Sets forth the implied powers of Congress

Open primary

Election where registered voters can vote for either party's nominee

Oversight

Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and administration of policy performed mainly through hearings

Participatory democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

Party-line voting

Voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government

Pluralist democracy

Theory that different interest groups competing against each other to gain influence/concessions from the government

Polarization

Two opposing sides feel intensely about an issue that's difficult to compromise on due to increased ideological consistency

Pocket veto

Special presidential action where they can take on a bill passed by Congress at the conclusion of a legislative section, whereby the president waits 10 days without signing, and the bill dies

Political action committee (PAC)

Organization whose specific goal is to raise/spend money to influence the outcome of elections

Political Efficacy

Indication of a citizen's trust in government and own belief that they can understand/influence political affairs

Political party

Organization that seeks political power by electing members to office

Political socialization

Process where people acquire their political beliefs and ideology

Politico model

Flexible form of congressional representation where they vote for what their constituents want in some cases, and what they feel is best in others

Popular Sovereignty

Belief that ultimate power resides in the people

Pork barrel

Legislation that brings tangible benefits to a district

Precedent

Decision made by a higher court that's binding on all other federal courts

Prior restraint

Censorship of news material before it's made public

Proportional system

Type of election where candidates win delegates in proportion to the percentage of total votes won

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions for how a party/candidate will perform in the future

Rational-choice voting

Voting based on what's perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest

Realigning election

Election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy/society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the loyalty of voters within a party

Redistricting

Re-drawing of congressional districts following reapportionment

Republicanism

Representative form of government

Reserved Powers

All powers not specifically delegated to the national government by constitution that are left to the states

Retrospective voting

Voting based on whether the party/candidates in power should re-elected based on their past performances

Selective Incorporation

Process where the Supreme Court selectively applies the Bill of Rights to state law through the 14th Amendment

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Signing statement

Written comment issued by the president when signing a bill that informs Congress and the public of the president's interpretation of the law

Social contract

Idea that a government is created by the people to protect their rights

Soft money

Unlimited and undisclosed amounts of money that political parties could previously raise for party-building

Standing Committee

Permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a broad policy area

Stare decisis

Appellate court of principle to let the lower court's decision stand

State of the Union

President's annual statement to congress and the nation

SuperPacs

Political organization that may raise unlimited money from corporations, unions, and individuals, but isn't permitted to contribute/coordinate directly with parties or candidates

Supply-side economics

Idea that government should stimulate the economy by cutting taxes to encourage businesses to grow and for taxpayers to spend more money

Supremacy Clause

Constitutional doctrine that states whenever conflict occurs between actions of the national government and the states, the national government prevails

Tracking poll

Used to chart the daily rise and drop in support of a policy, candidate, or politician

Trustee model

Form of congressional representation where they vote based on what they believe is best for their constituents, even if it goes against public opinion

Winner-take-all system

Type of election where the candidate with the most votes wins all of a state's delegates or electoral votes

Writ of Certiorari

Order by a court that notifies a lower court it will be hearing a case on appeal