ap gov exam prep

participatory democracy

a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decision

pluralist democracy

no one group dominates politics and work with each other to organized groups compete influence policy

elitism democracy

a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making

shays’s rebellion

a violent insurrection in massachusetts, it was brought about by a monetary debt crisis at the end of the revolutionary war. ended up revealing the weakness of the articles of confederation, as the federal government didn’t have the resources to put down the rebellion, and thus it became a bloodbath.

the great compromise

resolved the debates over the new jersey & virginia plans. the solution was to create two houses of congress (bicameral legislature). one, the senate, would have two members from each state (nj plan), and the second, the house of reps, would have representation based on population (va plan)

enumerated powers

powers that are explicitly in the constitution and delegated to specific branches or to the federal or state governments

implied powers

powers that are required to carry out the enumerated powers

reserved powers

powers not delegated to the united states by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people

concurrent powers

powers that are shared by both the federal government and the states

block grants

a grant from central government which a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services

categorical grants

a grant from the federal government to local/state governments with far stricter regulations as to what the money can be used for

federal mandates

requirements imposed by the federal government on state governments to comply with federal laws or standards, often without providing funding

speaker of the house

the presiding officer of the house of reps, responsible for overseeing house proceedings and representing the majority party's interests

house rules committee

one of the most powerful committees in congress because of its “gatekeeping” power over the terms on which legislation will reach the floor of the house of representatives. a special committee rule sets the time limit on debate and determines whether and how a bill may be amended

discharge petition

a means by which a majority of the house of reps can bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote, circumventing the committee system

• after a bill has been introduced and referred to a standing committee for 30 days, a member of the house can file a motion to have the bill discharged, or released, from consideration by the committee.

• in order to do this, a majority of the house (218 voting members, not delegates) must sign the petition. once it 218 members, after several legislative days, the house considers the motion to discharge the legislation and takes a vote after 20 minutes of debate.

• if the vote passes (by all those who signed the petition in the first place), then the house will take up the measure.

filibuster

a strategy unique to the senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the senate from ever voting on a bill. sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster on legislation

cloture vote

sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster by voting for cloture on a debate

mandatory spending

government spending on certain programs that are required by existing law, such as social security and medicare. This type of spending is not subject to annual appropriations and continues indefinitely

discretionary spending

government spending that is not mandated by law and can be adjusted during the annual budget process, covering areas like defense and education.

pork barrel spending

the practice in which lawmakers allocate government funds for local projects, primarily to benefit their constituents and secure political support

logrolling

the practice of exchanging favors between lawmakers to pass legislation, often involving votes on different bills to benefit each other's interests

divided government

a situation in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of congress, often leading to political gridlock.

trustee model

 follow their own personal beliefs

delegate model

 follow the will of their constituents 

partisan model

follow the will of their party

politico model

an approach that combines elements of the partisan, delegate, and trustee models

pocket veto

an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session

treaties

formal agreements between countries that require senate approval

executive agreements

international agreements made by the president without senate approval, often used for routine matters or diplomatic negotiations.

signing statements

written comments issued by the president when signing a bill into law, which may outline their interpretation of the law or express concerns about certain provisions

state of the union address

a yearly address given by the president to congress, outlining the administration's priorities and policy agenda.

iron triangle

comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups

issue networks

a fluid coalition of various stakeholders, including interest groups, experts, and government agencies, who collaborate to influence policy on specific issues

federal bureaucracy

the complex structure of agencies and organizations that implement government policies and regulations (fit under executive branch)

rule-making authority

think bureaucracy. the flexible exercising of judgment and decision making allowed to public administrators. agencies (bureaucracy) have the discretion to establish administrative law.

department of homeland security

a federal agency created in response to the september 11 attacks, responsible for protecting the united states from various threats, including terrorism and natural disasters.

department of transportation

a federal agency responsible for overseeing national transportation systems and infrastructure, ensuring safe and efficient travel and commerce

department of veteran affairs

a federal agency that provides essential services to veterans, including health care, benefits administration, and support programs, ensuring the well-being and reintegration of those who have served in the military

department of education

a federal agency that oversees public education, ensures equal access to education, and administers federal assistance programs for schools and students

environmental protections agency

a federal agency focused on protecting human health and the environment by enforcing regulations and ensuring compliance with environmental laws

federal elections commission

a government agency that regulates campaign finance laws and oversees the administration of federal elections to ensure transparency and accountability in political funding

securities and exchange commission

a federal agency that regulates the securities markets and protects investors by enforcing securities laws and overseeing stock exchanges

compliance monitoring

the process of ensuring that organizations adhere to laws, regulations, and policies to maintain standards and mitigate risks

defamation

the act of damaging someone’s reputation by making false statements

libel

a form of defamation that involves making false, damaging statements about someone in written or published form

slander

a form of defamation that involves making false, damaging statements about someone in spoken form

selective incorporation

the legal doctrine that ensures states cannot enact laws that infringe on the rights protected by the bill of rights, by applying those rights through the fourteenth amendment

griswold v. connecticut

a landmark supreme court case that established the right to privacy, ruling that a connecticut law prohibiting the use of contraceptives violated the right to marital privacy

title ix

a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or educational program receiving federal funds

voting rights act of 1965

landmark legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting practices, aimed at ensuring equal access to the polls for all citizens

affirmative action

policies that promote the inclusion of marginalized groups in education and employment

individualism

a social and political philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual and prioritizes personal freedom and self-reliance over collective or state control

equality of opportunity

the idea that all individuals should have the same chance to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances

free enterprise

an economic system where individuals and businesses have the freedom to operate with minimal government intervention, allowing for competition and the free market to determine prices and production

political socialization

the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values, influenced by factors such as family, education, media, and social environment

benchmark polls

polls conducted to measure the public's views and opinions on specific issues or candidates at a particular point in time, often used to gauge support for political campaigns

tracking polls

polls that measure changes in public opinion over time by repeatedly surveying the same group of people on specific issues or candidates

fiscal policy

the use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy

keynesian economics

an economic theory that advocates for increased government spending and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the economy out of recession.

supply side economics

an economic theory that advocates reducing taxes and decreasing regulation to stimulate economic growth by increasing supply

monetary policy

the process by which a central bank manages the supply of money, availability of credit, and interest rates to influence the economy's overall economic activity

libertarian party

a political party that advocates for individual liberty, minimal government, and free-market principles, emphasizing personal responsibility and limited government intervention

campaign mobilization

the process of gathering support and resources to encourage voters to participate in elections and support a specific candidate or cause

amicus curiae brief

“friend of the court” a legal document submitted by non-litigants with a strong interest in the case, providing information and arguments for the court's consideration

incumbency advantage phenomenon

the electoral advantage held by current officeholders over challengers, often due to greater visibility, established connections, and access to resources

horse race journalism

a type of journalism that focuses on the competitive aspects of elections, rather than on policy issues, often emphasizing leading candidates' positions in polls and media coverage