AP Government and Politics Vocabulary Review

527 groups

Independent groups that seek to influence the political process but are not subject to contribution restrictions because they do not directly advocate the election of a particular candidate.

administrative discretion

Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.

Advice and Consent Clause

A clause in the U.S. Constitution. This clause states that the President can exercise his/her power to enter into treaties with other countries and make appointments of judges and other officials only with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Affirmative Action

A policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities

amicus curiae

A Latin term meaning "friend of the court." Refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.

Anti-Federalists

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

appellate court

A court having jurisdiction to review cases and issues that were originally tried in lower courts.

apellate jurisdiction

a court's authority to hear an appeal of a decision by another court

Apportionment

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

Appropriation

money that Congress has allocated to be spent

approval rating

a measure of public support for a political figure or institution

freedom of assembly

the right to hold meetings and form groups without interference by the government; guaranteed in the First Amendment

authorization bill

An act of Congress that establishes, continues, or changes a discretionary government program or an entitlement. It specifies program goals and maximum expenditures for discretionary programs.

Excessive Bail

Bail that is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment, but there is no uniform standard as to what "excessive" is.

balanced budget

annual budget in which expenditures equal revenues

ballot initiative

a proposed law or policy change that is placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote

Bandwagon

A fallacy which assumes that because something is popular, it is therefore good, correct, or desirable.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

bill

a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

bill of attainder

a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime

bipartisan

supported by two parties

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

brief

A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it

brinksmanship

A policy of threatening to go to war in response to any enemy aggression.

budget deficit

a shortfall of tax revenue from government spending

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get

categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

Caucus

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

Census

the official count of a population

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

Civil Law

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

class action suit

A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated

Clear and Present Danger

Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.

closed primary

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

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Coattails (Coattail Effect)

The coattail effect or down-ballot effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

collective bargaining

Process by which a union representing a group of workers negotiates with management for a contract

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

Commerce Clause (Article 1, Section 8)

Congress can regulate trade between nations, between states, and among Indian tribes.

committee chairs

The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.

Common Law

A legal system based on custom and court rulings

Community Standards

The Supreme Court's 1973 ruling that a work is obscene if it is "utterly without redeeming social importance" and, "to the average person, applying contemporary 'community standards,' the dominant theme of the material, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interests."

Concurring opinion(s) of the Supreme Court:

Written by justices who voted with the majority, but want to explain their ruling on the case

conference committee

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

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Congressional Budget Office

Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's Office of Management and Budget.

consensus

general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake Federalism)

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)

Approach to determining the financial impact of an organization's activities and programs on profitability, through a process of data or calculation comparing value created against the cost of creating that value.

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

A three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy.

Right to Counsel (6th Amendment)

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to have the assistance of counsel for his defense

Criminal Law

Codes of behavior related to the protection of property and individual safety

cruel and unusual punishment

Court sentences prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.

Defendants' Rights

The rights guaranteed to defendants in a criminal case, as defined by the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court.

Delegates

A person who is chosen or elected to represent a person or group

Demography

The scientific study of population characteristics.

Detente

the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries.

Devolution Revolution

The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.

discouraged workers

people who are available for work but have not looked for a job during the previous four weeks because they believe no jobs are available for them

discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Dissenting opinion of the Supreme Court

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

district courts

the lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Double Jeopardy (5th Amendment)

The act of putting someone on trial again for the exact same crime, which cannot be done.

Dual Federalism (Layer Cake)

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

Due Process Clause 14th Amendment

State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person life, liberty, or property.

Earmarks

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

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.

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Elite Theory of Democracy

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

Eminent Domain (5th Amendment)

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

en banc

the term used when the full panel of judges on the appellate court hears a case

entitlement programs

Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need.

Enumerated Powers of Congress

congressional powers specifically named in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8)

Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination

Establishment Clause 1st Amendment

Congress cannot establish an "official" religion. This, in effect, provides for separation of church and state.

Ex post facto laws are

laws that criminalize activity after it occurs

exclusionary rule

improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

exit poll

a survey taken at polling places of how people voted

Extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Factions

Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.

Federal Reserve Act

This act established the Federal System, which established 12 distinct reserve to be controlled by the banks in each district; in addition, a Federal Reserve board was established to regulate the entire structure; improved public confidence in the banking system.

flat tax

proportional tax on individual income after a specified threshold has been reached

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

formula grants

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

Fourteenth Amendment

A constitutional amendment giving full rights of citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, except for American Indians.

Franking

A policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.

Free Exercise Clause

A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

a federal statute that requires public agencies to provide certain types of information requested by citizens

Frontloading

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

full faith an credit

A clause in Article IV of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

gender gap

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

gerrymander

to divide an area into voting districts in a way that favors a political party

Grandfather Clause

a clause exempting certain classes of people or things from the requirements of a piece of legislation affecting their previous rights, privileges, or practices.