AP & EOC test prep

527 Group

A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process

Absolutism

A political system in which a ruler holds total power

Adjournment

The suspension of a session of congress

Affirmative Action

A policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantaged group.

Ambassador

an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.

Amicus Curiae Brief

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

Anarchy

absence of government

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

Apportionment

Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state

Appropriation

A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency

Austerity

A state of reduced spending and increased frugality in the financial sector.

Autocracy

A country that is run according to the interests of the ruler rather than the people

Autonomous

self-governing

Bicameral

Two house legislature

Bill

a proposed law

Bill of Attainder

a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

Block Grant

Money given to states for general programs within a broad category

Bond

a formal contract to repay borrowed money with interest at fixed intervals

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

Bureaucratic Rule-Making

Regulations to keep laws applicable to changing circumstances. Power granted by Congress.

Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

Categorical Grant

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

Caucus

a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office

Certoriari

Removing a case from lower court to a higher court for review

Chain of Being

species can be arranged in a linear sequence, idea dates back to Aristotle, aka ladder of nature. shows the fixed plan behind nature, with man at the top

Charter

A document that gives the holder the right to organize settlements in an area

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Chief of Staff

the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president

Citizenship

a person who, by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or naturalization is granted full rights and responsibilities as a member of a nation or political community.

Civil Disobedience

A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.

Civil Law

A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Civil Liberties

freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment

Civil Rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Civil Service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Clear and Present Danger Test

law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions

Closed Primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

Closed Rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

Closed Shop

A working establishment where only people belonging to the union are hired. It was done by the unions to protect their workers from cheap labor.

Cloture

a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

Coattail Effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.

Collective Security

agreement by a group of nations to defend the other in case of an attack on any member

Command Economy

An economic system in which the government makes all economic decisions.

Commerce Clause

Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.

Commercial Speech

Communication in the form of advertising. It can be restricted more than many other types of speech but has been receiving increased protection from the Supreme Court.

Common Law

(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions

Communism

A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Confederacy

A loose union of independent states; name of government used by the southern states that seceded during the Civil War

Conference Committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Congressional Budget Office

government agency that provides economic data to Congress

Congressional Oversight

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

Congressional Redistricting

The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.

Consensus

general agreement

Conservatism

A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

Constitution

A written plan of government

Consul

Under the Roman Republic, one of the two magistrates holding supreme civil and military authority. Nominated by the Senate and elected by citizens in the Comitia Centuriata, the consuls held office for one year and each had power of veto over the other.

Cooperative Federalism

system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems

Critical Election

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

Cross-Cutting Cleavages

Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.

Curriculum

course of study in a school or college

De Facto

Racial segregation that occurs in schools, not as a result of the law, but as a result of patterns of residential settlement

De Jure

segregation by law

Defendant

an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime

Delegate Role of Representation

When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

Democracy

government by the people

Developed Nation

A nation with established agriculture and industry, advanced technology, and a strong educational system.

Developing Nation

a nation only beginning to develop industrially (primarily agriculture)

Devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Diplomacy

The practice of conducting negotiations between countries

Divided Government

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

Divine Right

Belief that a rulers authority comes directly from God.

Docket

a court's list of cases to be heard

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.

Federalist No. 10

Dangers of factions

Federalist No. 51

an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

Federalist No. 70

Hamilton argues that a strong executive is essential in the new government.

Federalist No. 78

Hamilton argues for a strong judicial branch

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Letters written by MLK encouraging non-violent protest against segregation.

The Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

The Declaration of Independence

Document declaring American independence from Britain

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments

Domestic

native to a country, not foreign; relating to the life or affairs of a household; a household servant

Double Jeopardy

Being tried twice for the same crime

Due Process

fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.

Egalitarianism

A belief in the equality of all people

Eighth Amendment

No cruel and unusual punishment

Elastic Clause

the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

Electors

a person who has the right to vote in an election

Elite Democracy

A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.

Embargo

A ban on trade

Embassy

the official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country

Eminent Domain

Power of a government to take private property for public use.

Empire

an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.

Enfranchise

to give the right to vote

Entitlement Programs

government programs providing benefits to qualified individuals regardless of need

Entitlements

A claim for government funds that cannot be abridged without violating the rights of the claimant; for example, social security benefits or payments on a contract.