AP Government Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering foundational documents, the Constitution, federalism, Congress, the presidency, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, civil liberties, civil rights, political ideologies, voting, and media.

Unalienable Rights

Natural rights, as stated in the Declaration of Independence.

Social Contract

The idea that people will cooperate if the government protects their rights, and they have the right to replace the government if it doesn't.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that people have the right to rule; they have the power.

Republicanism

A blueprint laid out by the Consitution.

Participatory Democracy

A system of government where people directly participate in decision-making.

Pluralist Democracy

A system of government where groups of people associated with interest groups compete to influence policy making.

Elite Democracy

A system of government where a small number of powerful individuals or groups influence decision-making.

Factions

Groups with specific interests that can threaten the stability of government (Federalist 10).

Necessary and Proper Clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to make all laws 'necessary and proper' for carrying out its expressed powers.

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation

Electoral College Compromise

President isn’t elected by people, elected by representatives.

3/5ths Compromise

⅗ of the black population thats in slavery would have a say in govt

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.

Exclusive Powers

Powers reserved to the federal government.

Reserved Powers

Powers reserved to the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by the federal and state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

The shared powers between federal and state governments in grants and stuff like that (kinda with like everything).

Block Grants

Federal grants given to states or communities to support broad programs.

Mandates

Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.

Commerce Clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Majority/Minority Whips

Party leaders who work to round up votes and maintain party discipline in the House and Senate.

President Pro Tempore

Officer who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent.

Standing Committee

Permanent committees in Congress with specific areas of responsibility.

Joint Committee

Committees with members from both the House and Senate.

Select Committee

Temporary committees created for a specific purpose.

Conference Committee

A special joint committee appointed to resolve differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

Pork Barrel Spending

when members of Congress spend government money on specific projects in their districts

Earmarks

Provisions in legislation that allocate money for specific projects or programs.

Logrolling

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree to support each other's bills.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Discretionary Spending

Spending that is not required by law and is subject to the annual appropriations process.

Trustee Model

Members of Congress vote based on their own beliefs.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional districts every 10 years based on census data.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of congressional districts to favor one party or group over another.

Formal Powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president in the Constitution.

Informal Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution, but exercised by the president.

Bully Pulpit

The president's ability to use the media to influence public opinion.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws.

Precedent

A ruling or decision that serves as a guide for future cases.

Stare Decisis

The principle of upholding precedents established in prior cases.

Judicial Activism

The belief that the Court should use its power to address social injustices.

Judicial Restraint

The belief that the Court should defer to the other branches of government and avoid overturning laws.

Iron Triangle

The relationship between Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.

CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT

Congress got the power of purse and they control the bureaucracy and their spending by that.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast.

Political Socialization

Factors that affect how an individual votes, things like generational effect, lifecycle, and more.

Party Realignment

A shift in party allegiances or the balance of power between parties.

Rational Choice Voting

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

Retrospective voting

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

Straight Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates who are all of the same party.

Media Conglomeration

okay so basically less companies own media companies meaning more influence ig.Um and then basically it caused certain media companies to be one sided on political views Larger media companies own smaller companies