AP GOV Sem 1 APD Terms

Alienation

A sense of estrangement or detachment from the political system, often leading to voter apathy and low participation.

At Large (Multi-member districts)

An election system in which candidates are elected to represent an entire jurisdiction (such as a city or state) rather than a specific district.

Balanced Ticket

The practice of a presidential nominee choosing a vice-presidential running mate who compensates for the nominee's perceived weaknesses (e.g., geographic, ideological, or demographic differences).

Bellwether (Indicator) Precinct

A small geographic area that consistently votes for the winner of an election, used by analysts to predict broader election outcomes.

Single-member District

An electoral district that returns one officeholder to a body with multiple members, such as a legislature.

Coattail Effect

The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

Dark Horse

A political candidate who is unexpectedly nominated or wins, typically one who was little known at the start of the race.

Responsible Party System

A model of democracy where parties offer clear choices to voters and, once elected, are held accountable for carrying out their stated platforms.

Smith v. Allwright

A 1944 Supreme Court case that ruled the "white primary," which excluded Black voters from participating in primary elections, was unconstitutional.

Voting Rights Act

A landmark piece of federal legislation (1965) in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

Apportionment

The process of distributing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population changes recorded in the decennial census.

Discharge Rule (Discharge Petition)

A procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives may be forced out of committee and onto the floor for consideration if a majority (218 members) signs a petition.

Franking Privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense by substituting their signature (frank) for postage.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics, by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Pork-barrel Legislation

Metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Rider

An additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill.

Sunset Law

A statute that includes a provision for its own automatic termination at a specified date unless it is reauthorized by the legislature.

Reynolds v. Sims and Wesberry v. Sanders

Supreme Court cases establishing the "one person, one vote" principle, requiring legislative districts to be approximately equal in population.

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Legislation that established the modern congressional budget process and restricted the president's ability to impound (refuse to spend) funds appropriated by Congress.

Cabinet

A body of high-ranking officials consisting of the heads of the executive departments who advise the President.

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 privilege, claimed by the president for the executive branch of the US government, of withholding information in the public interest.

Imperial Presidency

A term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive Congress.

Impoundment

An act by a President of the United States of not spending money that has been appropriated by the U.S. Congress.

Recess Appointment

An appointment by the President of a federal official made when the U.S. Senate is in recess.

Stewardship Theory

The theory that the president can do anything the nation needs unless it is forbidden by the Constitution or laws.

Taftian or Contractual Theory

The theory that the president has no powers which cannot be fairly and reasonably traced to some specific grant of power or justly implied and included within such express grant.

US v. Nixon

A 1974 case in which the Supreme Court held that executive privilege is not absolute and does not protect a president from judicial process in criminal cases.

Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

A 1952 case that limited the power of the President of the United States to seize private property in the absence of either specifically enumerated powers under Article II of the Constitution or statutory authority conferred by Congress.

Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint

Activism: Judges should use their power to correct social injustices. Restraint: Judges should limit their power and defer to the elected branches of government.

Amicus Curiae

Literally "friend of the court"; a person or group who is not a party to a lawsuit but has a strong interest in the matter and petitions the court for permission to submit a brief.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power of a higher court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts.

Injunction

A judicial order that restrains a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or that compels a person to carry out a certain act.

Justiciable Question

A matter that can be decided by a court; it must be a real legal dispute rather than a hypothetical or political disagreement.

Missouri Plan

A method for the selection of judges that combines election and appointment to minimize political influence.

Political Question

A doctrine developed by the federal courts and used as a means to avoid deciding some cases, principally those involving conflicts between the president and Congress.

Solicitor General

A high-ranking Justice Department official who represents the United States government before the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court-packing Plan

A legislative initiative proposed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to add more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cohens v. Virginia

A 1821 case that established the Supreme Court's jurisdiction to review state court decisions in criminal law matters where federal rights are claimed.

Clear and Present Danger Rule

A doctrine adopted by the Supreme Court to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, or assembly.

Due Process of Law

The principle that an individual cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards.

Eminent Domain

The power of a government to take private property for public use, with payment of just compensation.

Equal Protection of the Law

A constitutional guarantee that no person or class of persons shall be denied the same protection of the laws that is enjoyed by other persons or other classes in like circumstances.

Incorporation Doctrine

A constitutional doctrine through which the first ten amendments of the United States Constitution (Bill of Rights) are made applicable to the states through the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties

Civil liberties concern basic freedoms (e.g., speech). Civil rights concern protection against discrimination based on characteristics (e.g., race, gender).

Substantive (vs. Procedural) Rights

Substantive rights refer to fundamental rights like liberty and privacy, while procedural rights refer to the methods and processes the government must follow (e.g., notice, hearing).

Gitlow v. New York

A 1925 Supreme Court case that began the process of selective incorporation, applying the First Amendment's free speech protections to the states.

Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US

A 1964 Supreme Court case that upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ruling that Congress could use its Commerce Clause power to fight private discrimination.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

A 1978 Supreme Court ruling that upheld affirmative action, allowing race to be one of several factors in college admission, but prohibited specific racial quotas.

Debt Limit

The maximum amount of money the United States government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations.

Earmarking

The setting aside of parts of the budget for specific projects or programs.

Indexing

The periodic adjustment of tax brackets or social security benefits based on the cost of living or inflation.

Progressive Tax

A tax in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount (income) increases.

Property Tax

An ad valorem tax on the value of a property, usually levied on real estate by a local government.

National Debt

The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed, by various means.

Reconciliation (Budget)

A legislative process that allows for expedited consideration of certain tax, spending, and debt-limit bills in the Senate, primarily needing only a simple majority.

Regressive Tax

A tax applied uniformly, taking a larger percentage of income from low-income earners than from high-income earners.

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

A legislative branch agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the United States Congress.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States, which assists the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget.

Civil Service

The permanent professional branches of a government's administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.

Government Corporation

A government-owned agency that provides a service that could be provided by a private sector, such as the U.S. Postal Service.

Independent Regulatory Commission

An agency created by an act of Congress that is independent of the executive departments, meant to impose and enforce regulations free of political influence.

Merit System

The process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections.

Spoils System

The practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters.

Tenure

Conditions under which an office or position is held, especially describing the guarantee of job security for civil servants.

Opp Cotton Mills v. Administrator of Wage and Hour Division

A 1941 case upholding the Fair Labor Standards Act and defining the limits of delegating legislative power to administrative agencies.

Freedom of Information Act of 1966 (FOIA)

A federal law that gives the public the right to access information from the federal government.

Pendleton Act

An 1883 law that established that federal government positions should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation.

Hatch Act

A federal law passed in 1939 prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative matters, made by the executive branch of the US government without ratification by the Senate.

Civilian Control

The principle that the military should be subordinate to the elected civilian government.

Détente

The easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries (common in Cold War history).

National Security Council (NSC)

The President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his or her senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.

Sanctions

Commercial and financial penalties applied by one or more countries against a targeted self-governing state, group, or individual.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

An intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade between nations.

Most-favored-nation Status

A status or level of treatment accorded by one state to another in international trade.

Balance of Trade

The difference in value between a country's imports and exports.

Isolationism

A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.

Containment

The action or policy of preventing the expansion of a hostile country or influence, specifically Communism during the Cold War.