AP GOV

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the people are the ultimate source of government power.

Political Culture

The beliefs and attitudes that shape a person's political views.

Iron Triangles

A close relationship among interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees in a policy area.

Initiative

A process allowing citizens to put a measure directly on the ballot.

Faction

A group of people who share a political goal and work to influence policy.

Executive Order

A directive from the president that has the force of law.

Implied Powers

Powers needed to carry out expressed powers, like creating a national bank.

Expressed Powers

Powers directly written in the Constitution, such as Congress's power to tax.

Commerce Clause

The constitutional power allowing Congress to regulate trade with foreign nations and between states.

Supremacy Clause

The principle that national laws and treaties are higher than state laws.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The constitutional clause allowing Congress to make laws needed to carry out its other powers.

Inherent Powers

Powers a government has simply because it exists as a country, such as acquiring territory.

Constituents

People who live in a representative's district.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries based on new census data.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing district lines to help a political party or group.

Incumbent

Someone who currently holds office and is running for reelection.

Separation of Powers

The division of government into branches so no branch becomes too powerful.

Franking Privileges

The free mail and electronic signature privilege for members of Congress.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic to delay or block a vote by talking for a long time.

Bully Pulpit

The president's powerful public platform that allows them to shape public opinion and pressure Congress.

Standing Committee

A permanent congressional committee focused on a specific policy area.

Delegate Model

A representation model where representatives vote based on what constituents want.

Logrolling

When members of Congress trade votes to help each other's bills pass.

Casework

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem.

Rider

A non-related amendment added to a bill, often to help a member's own interests.

Pocket Veto

When a president doesn't sign a bill within 10 days and Congress is not in session, causing the bill to die.

Executive Agreement

A less formal agreement with another country that does not require Senate approval.

Federalist #10

The argument that a large republic helps control factions by including many competing interests.

Federalism

A system that divides power between the national and state governments.

Treaty

A formal agreement with another country that requires approval by two-thirds of the Senate.

Veto

The president's formal power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Pork Barrel Spending

Government funds set aside for specific projects in a member's district.

Entitlement Programs

Government benefits people receive by law if they qualify, like Social Security.

Federalist #39

The U.S. government is a hybrid system combining federal features, where states retain power, and national features, where the national government has authority over the people.

Trustee Model

A representation model where representatives use their own judgment even if constituents disagree.

Politico Model

A model where lawmakers consider many factors and vote based on what makes political sense at the time.

Executive Privilege

The president's right to keep certain communications secret from other branches.

House Rules Committee

The House committee that decides how bills are handled, including debate time and voting procedures.

Brutus #1

The Anti-Federalist argument for a small, decentralized republic and warning that a large government would threaten liberty.

Fiscal Federalism

Federal spending, taxing, and grants that shape federal-state relationships.

Lame Duck President

The time when a president who lost reelection or finished a second term is still in office before the new president takes over.

Select Committee

A temporary congressional committee created for a specific purpose, often investigations.

Mandatory Spending

Federal spending required by law, like entitlement programs and interest on the national debt.

Block Grant

Federal money given to states with very few rules on how it must be used.

Pluralist Democracy

The idea that many different groups compete to influence government policy.

Single-Member Districts

A system where each district elects one member to the House of Representatives.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy where a small, educated, wealthy group influences political decisions.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the national and state governments, like taxing.

Cloture

A Senate vote of 60 members to end a filibuster.

Cooperative Federalism

A system where states and the national government share powers and responsibilities related to funding and programs.

10th Amendment

The amendment that reserves powers not given to the national government for the states.

Devolution

When the national government gives more power back to the states.

22nd Amendment

The limit that a president can serve only two terms or a total of ten years.

Imperial Presidency

A presidency that uses more power than the Constitution allows.

Divided Government

When the president's party is different from the party that controls one or both houses of Congress.

14th Amendment

Guarantees citizenship by birth or naturalization and requires states to provide equal protection and due process.

Midterm Election

An election where voters choose members of Congress but not the president.

Categorical Grants

Federal money with strict rules on how it must be used.

Discretionary Spending

The part of the federal budget that Congress decides on each year.

Unfunded Mandate

A federal rule that makes states spend their own money to follow it.

Federalist #51

An explanation of how checks and balances and separation of powers protect liberty.

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides when the vice president is absent, usually the longest-serving member of the majority party.

Bicameral

A two-house lawmaking body.

Conference Committee

A joint committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Cabinet

The president's advisory group made up of department heads and other selected officials.

Oversight

Congressional hearings and investigations to check how well a government agency is doing its job.