AP Gov Final: ALL TERMS AND DEFS 🇺🇲 🧠

President

The head of the executive branch responsible for enforcing laws.

Chief Executive

The president’s role as head of the executive branch.

Chief Diplomat

The president’s role in directing foreign policy.

Commander in Chief

The president’s role as head of the military.

Chief Legislator

The president’s role in proposing and influencing legislation.

Head of State

The president’s role as symbolic leader of the nation.

Party Leader

The president’s role as leader of their political party.

Formal Powers

Powers of the president explicitly listed in the Constitution.

Informal Powers

Powers not written in the Constitution but gained through tradition and practice.

Veto

The president’s power to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Pocket Veto

Occurs when the president takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the president without Senate approval.

Treaty

A formal international agreement requiring Senate approval.

Appointment Power

The president’s authority to nominate judges and executive officials.

Federalist No. 70

Hamilton’s argument for a strong, energetic executive.

Judicial Branch

The branch responsible for interpreting laws.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review.

Lifetime Tenure

Judges serve for life to ensure independence.

Judicial Independence

Freedom of judges from political pressure.

Judicial Restraint

Courts should defer to elected branches and precedent.

Judicial Activism

Courts should actively interpret the Constitution.

Stare Decisis

The principle of following precedent.

Original Jurisdiction

Cases the Supreme Court hears first.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Cases the Supreme Court hears on appeal.

Solicitor General

Represents the federal government before the Supreme Court.

Judicial Selection

Judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Bureaucracy

Federal agencies that implement and enforce laws.

Federal Agencies

Organizations created to carry out government policies.

Regulation

Rules issued by agencies that have the force of law.

Rule

Making

Discretionary Authority

Agencies’ power to decide how laws are implemented.

Congressional Oversight

Congress monitoring federal agencies.

Issue Networks

Informal groups of agencies, experts, and interest groups.

Iron Triangle

Relationship among Congress, agencies, and interest groups.

Presidential Control of Bureaucracy

Appointment, budgeting, and executive order powers.

Judicial Checks on Bureaucracy

Courts reviewing agency actions.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms protected from government interference.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Selective Incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights protections to the states through the 14th Amendment.

Due Process Clause

Guarantees fair legal procedures.

Establishment Clause

Prevents government from establishing a religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects the free practice of religion.

Freedom of Speech

The right to express ideas without government censorship.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of speech before it occurs.

Clear and Present Danger

Standard allowing limits on dangerous speech.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students have free speech unless it disrupts school.

Freedom of the Press

Right to publish information without censorship.

Freedom of Assembly

Right to gather peacefully.

Freedom of Petition

Right to complain to the government.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Probable Cause

Reasonable belief a crime has occurred.

Warrant

Court order allowing a search or arrest.

Exclusionary Rule

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

Fifth Amendment

Protects against self

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees rights of criminal defendants.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Right to an attorney in state criminal cases.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Second Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms.

McDonald v. Chicago

Second Amendment applies to the states.

Right to Privacy

Implied right protecting personal decisions.

Civil Rights

Protections against discrimination.

Equal Protection Clause

Requires equal treatment under the law.

Brown v. Board of Education

Ended school segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Established “separate but equal.”

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Banned discrimination in public places and jobs.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Title IX

Prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Affirmative Action

Policies increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups.

Strict Scrutiny

Highest standard of judicial review.

Intermediate Scrutiny

Standard used for gender discrimination.

Rational Basis Review

Lowest standard of judicial review.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

MLK’s defense of civil disobedience.

Civil Disobedience

Peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws.

Political Participation

Actions citizens take to influence government.

Voting

Casting a ballot in an election.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who vote.

Political Efficacy

Belief that one’s participation matters.

Interest Groups

Organizations that influence public policy.

Lobbying

Direct interaction with lawmakers to influence policy.

Amicus Curiae

Court briefs filed by outside groups.

Pluralism

Theory that many groups compete to influence the government.

Elite Theory

Theory that elites hold most political power.

Media

Communication sources influencing public opinion.

Agenda Setting

Media shaping what issues people consider important.

Framing

Media influencing how issues are interpreted.

Social Media

Digital platforms used to influence political engagement.