AP gov Ultimate Packet

single-issue groups

Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics.

linkage institutions

the political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda

policy agenda

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

majority rule

the principle that the greater number should exercise greater power.

minority rights

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.

representation

A basic principle of traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.

pluralist theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

elite and class theory

argues that society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite rules on the basis of its wealth.

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

policy gridlock

A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done.

Constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

Articles of Confederation

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Factions

Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

seperation of powers

dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Federalist 51 (Madison)

Separation of powers, checks and balances

Federalist \#78 (Hamilton)

discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.

Federalist \#70 (1788)

Written by - Hamilton (Federalist)
Argues for a strong executive leader, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak executive under the Articles of Confederation.
"energy in he executive is the leading character in the definition of good government."

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

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Federalist \#10 (factions)

penned by James Madison. He attacks the anti federalists fear that a republican form of government will inevitably give rise to "factions"- small political parties or groups united by a common interest- that will control the government. He explains there will be so many different factions, that no single one of them will dominate national politics.

Anti-Federalists

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

Brutus 1 (1787)

an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government

Federalist Papers

Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Equal Rights Amendment

constitutional amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

intergovernmental relations

The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments - including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information - that constitute the workings of the federal system.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is supreme over state law

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to people and States

enumerated powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

implied powers

powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden

Regulating interstate commerce is a power reserved to the federal government

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Dual Federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Cooperative Federalism

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

project grants

Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications

formula grants

Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

incorporation doctrine

The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Establishment Clause

First Amendment ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion"

Free Exercise Clause

First Amendment requirement that law cannot prevent free exercise of religion

probable cause

reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion

exclusionary rule

a law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial.

5th Amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process

civil rights

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

equal protection of the laws

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Suffrage

the legal right to vote

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting for those suffering discrimination.

comparable worth

the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility

Disability Act

A law passed in 1990 that requires employers and public facilities to make "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment.

Affirmative Action

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

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism.

Census

A complete enumeration of a population.

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

political socialization

The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.

random sampling

a method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected

exit poll

public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision

gender gap

a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men

Civil Disobedience

A nonviolent, public refusal to obey allegedly unjust laws.

mass media

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication.

media event

Events that are purposely staged for the media and that are significant just because the media are there.

investigative journalism

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trial balloons

an intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction

sound bite

a brief, memorable comment that can easily be fit into news broadcasts

Rational Choice Theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

party identification

loyalty of people to a political party

ticket splitting

voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election

party machines

a centralized party organization that dominates local politics by controlling elections

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

closed primary

a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

blanket primary

a primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

national committee

representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party

critical election

an election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues and personalities

party realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period.

New Deal Coalition

coalition forged by the Democrats who dominated American politics from the 1930's to the 1960's. its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans, and intellectuals.

third parties

electoral contenders other than the two major parties. American third parties are not unusual, but they rarely win elections.

winner-take-all system

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

proportional representation

an electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them.

coalition government

When two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quite common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

responsible party model

A view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.

nomination

the process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office

national party convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Superdelegates

National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national party convention.

Frontloading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention.

national primary

A proposed nationwide primary that would replace the current system of caucuses and presidential primaries.

regional primaries

A proposal by critics of the caucuses and presidential primaries to replace these electoral methods with a series of primaries held in each geographic region.

party platform

A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.