AP Gov Review

Enlightenment (18th century)

A philosophical movement in Western Europe emphasizing reason over tradition in solving social problems.

Thomas Hobbes

Believed in a monarch with absolute power to protect life best, advocated for the rule of law.

John Locke

Argued for natural rights protection, including life, liberty, and property, and the right to revolution if these rights are violated.

Charles de Montesquieu

Advocated for the separation of powers into three branches of government and checks and balances to limit power.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed people are born good but corrupted by society, should act for the greater good, and favored democracy over absolute monarchy.

Participatory democracy

Involves broad participation in politics and society by people at various statuses.

Pluralist democracy

Involves group-based activism by citizens with common interests seeking the same goals.

Elite democracy

Gives power to the educated/wealthy, discouraging participation by the majority.

Republicanism

Supports individualism, natural rights, popular sovereignty, and encourages civic participation.

The Declaration of Independence

A formal declaration of war between America and Great Britain, listing grievances against King George III.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Outlined the first US government, lacked power to tax, control trade, and maintain a national military.

The Constitutional Convention

Meeting in 1787 to revise the Articles, leading to the creation of the Constitution and a stronger central government.

The Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person for representation in the House of Representatives.

Federalists

Supported the Constitution and a strong central government, wrote The Federalist Papers to persuade states to ratify it.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution, feared tyranny, and advocated for a Bill of Rights to protect citizens' rights.

The Federalist Papers

Collection of articles supporting the Constitution written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Federalism

A system where national and local governments share powers, with types including dual federalism, cooperative federalism, and devolution.

Reserved powers

Powers that belong to the states, as outlined in the 10th Amendment of the Constitution.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments.

Denied powers - Federal government

Powers denied to the federal government include suspending habeas corpus, passing ex post facto laws, imposing export taxes, using money from the treasury without appropriations, and granting titles of nobility.

Denied powers - State government

Powers denied to state governments include entering treaties with other countries, declaring war, maintaining an army, printing money, passing ex post facto laws, granting titles of nobility, and imposing import or export duties.

Federalism advantages

Advantages of federalism include mass participation, regional autonomy, multi-level government, innovative methods, diffusion of power, and diversity in government.

Federalism disadvantages

Disadvantages of federalism include lack of consistency, inefficiency, bureaucracy, resistance, and inequity in legislation and judicial outcomes.

Separation of Powers

The concept of assigning different tasks to each branch of government - legislative, executive, and judicial - to prevent concentration of power in one branch.

System of Checks and Balances

Designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant by requiring different branches to work together, share power, and check each other's actions.

Amendment Process

The process of amending the Constitution, which involves approval by 2/3 of both houses of Congress and ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures or through state conventions.

State and Local Governments

State governments have their own constitutions, executive branches led by governors, bicameral legislatures, and judiciaries that interpret state laws.

Pork barrel politics

Politicians allocate money to benefit specific supporters rather than the entire country

Earmark

Provisions in legislation designating money for specific projects, not allowed by the House

Conference committee

Temporary committee to negotiate compromise bills between both houses

Line-item veto

President's power to veto specific parts of a bill, declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

Legislation by Committee

Most legislative work occurs in committees, crucial for bill development and oversight

Standing committees

Permanent specialized committees in Congress, like House Ways and Means or Senate Judiciary

Discharge petition

Method to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote

Congressional Leadership

House Speaker directs debates, Senate Majority Leader controls agenda

National Growth, Expansion, and Building Institutions

Legislation like the Northwest Ordinance guiding new territories

War Powers Act

Limits presidential power to deploy troops overseas, requires Congress approval

Executive Office of the President

Assists in administrative tasks, includes agencies for domestic, foreign, and military affairs

Impeachment

Congressional power to remove the president for undefined crimes, initiated by the House

Impeachment

Process where a legislative body levels charges against a government official

Due process of law

Ensures fair treatment through the judicial system

Substantive due process

Focuses on the content of laws to ensure fairness

Procedural due process

Ensures fair application of laws

Adversarial system

Legal system where opposing parties present their case

Inquisitorial system

Legal system where the court is actively involved in investigating the case

Judicial review

Power of courts to review and invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution

Amicus curiae briefs

Legal briefs from interested parties to influence court decisions

Iron triangle

Informal alliance between industry, congressional committee, and affected agency

Issue network

Collaboration among interest groups, Congress members, and bureaucrats on policy issues

Civil liberties

Protections from the abuse of government power, including the freedom to do something.

Civil rights

Protections from discrimination based on race, gender, or other minorities, including the freedom from something.

Selective incorporation

The process where the court applies the Bill of Rights on a case-by-case basis.

Clear and present danger test

A standard used to determine when limitations can be placed on free speech.

Schenck v

Case where the Supreme Court ruled that speech posing a "clear and present danger" is not protected.

Freedom of the press

The right to publish news and information without government interference.

Lemon test

Criteria established by the Supreme Court to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Gideon v

Case where the Supreme Court ruled that defendants have the right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one.

Miranda rights

Rights that must be read to a suspect before questioning, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

Brown v

Landmark case that declared school segregation unconstitutional nationwide.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Title IX, Higher Education Act (1972)

Legislation prohibiting gender discrimination in government-funded higher education institutions.

Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988

Law that strengthened Title IX by allowing the government to cut funding to schools violating it.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

Legislation addressing discriminatory pay by allowing suits based on any discriminatory paycheck.

Age Discrimination Act of 1967

Law prohibiting age-based hiring discrimination with exceptions for certain job requirements.

26th Amendment (1971)

Amendment granting 18-year-olds the right to vote.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1975)

Ensures children with disabilities receive a free public education.

Voting Rights Act of 1982

Requires states to create congressional districts with minority majorities.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Mandates accessibility for disabled individuals in businesses and public services.

Public opinion

Sentiments of the general public on various political issues.

Saliency

The importance of an issue to a specific individual or group.

Intensity

The strength of people's feelings towards a particular issue.

Stability

The degree to which dimensions of public opinion change over time.

Rational choice

Voting behavior based on individual interests.

Retrospective voting

Reelecting based on past performance.

Prospective voting

Voting based on expected future performance.

Party-line voting

Voting for all candidates from a single political party.

Political Machine

Dominant political parties in a region relying on patronage for votes and governance.

Party Realignment

Shift in party coalitions leading to a new dominant party in politics.

Third Parties

Political parties beyond the two major parties, often representing disenfranchised groups.

Third Party Candidates

Candidates who lack name recognition and support to win the majority of votes in elections.

Interest Groups

Organizations dedicated to specific political goals, lobbying for issues, educating voters and officials, and mobilizing members.

Winner-Take-All System

Electoral vote system where most states award all electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state.

Lobbying

The act of trying to influence legislators, often done by professionals known as lobbyists, including former legislators.

PACs

Political Action Committees formed by corporations, unions, and trade associations to raise campaign funds within legal restrictions.

Soft Money

Unregulated and unlimited contributions to parties for activities, prohibited by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

Buckley v

1976 court case that upheld donation limits for campaign contributions and shaped campaign finance laws in the U.S.

Super PACs

PACs that can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with specific candidates, often financed by wealthy individuals.

Closed Primary

Primary election where only registered members of a political party can vote for candidates selected by the party.

General Elections

Elections where voters choose who will hold elective office, held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November.

Winner-take-all system

The winner of a state's election receives all of the state's electoral votes.

Swing states

States where the outcome of an election is uncertain and can swing either way.

Media Influence on Elections

The impact of news media on voters, including daily campaign information and focus on polls.

Motor Voter Act

Legislation allowing voter registration when obtaining a driver's license.

Split-ticket voting

Voting for candidates of different parties in the same election.

Policy Making Objectives

The goals of policy-making, including solving social problems, countering threats, and pursuing objectives.

Keynesian economics

Economic theory advocating government intervention to smooth out business cycles.

Fiscal Policy

Government actions related to taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

Government control of the money supply and credit through actions of the Federal Reserve Board.

Trade Policy

Policies related to international trade, including tariffs, trade deficits, and trade agreements like NAFTA.