AP Gov Midterm review

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property as defined by John Locke.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Social Contract

The theory that individuals give up some freedom to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exerting too much power.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government can limit the powers of the others.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Federalism

The distribution of power between a central government and its political subdivisions.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but implied by the necessary and proper clause.

Reserved Powers

Powers that are not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by both federal and state governments.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature consisting of two houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation.

Cloture

A procedure for ending a filibuster and bringing a debate to a close.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights was applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.

Establishment Clause

The clause in the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing a national religion.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast.

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the 14th Amendment that requires states to provide equal protection under the law.

Judicial Activism

The philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving social, economic, and political issues.

Judicial Restraint

The philosophy that courts should not disrupt the policy decisions made by elected officials.

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison that argues for the need for a large republic to control factions.

Brutus No. 1

An anti-Federalist essay warning against the dangers of a strong central government.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A Supreme Court case that established federal supremacy and implied powers.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Supreme Court case that prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Supreme Court case that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Supreme Court case that established a woman's legal right to an abortion under the right to privacy.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering in 1787 to create the U.S. Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee individual liberties.

Amendment Process

The process by which the Constitution can be amended, requiring a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Supremacy Clause

The clause in Article VI of the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.

Commerce Clause

The clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

16th Amendment

The amendment that established the federal income tax.

18th Amendment

The amendment that prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (Prohibition).

19th Amendment

The amendment that granted women the right to vote.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Electoral College

The body of electors established by the Constitution, which formally elects the President and Vice President.

Pardon Power

The President's authority to forgive an individual for a federal crime.

Impeachment

The process by which a sitting president or other federal officials can be removed from office.

Political Parties

Organized groups that seek to gain control of government by electing members to office.

Interest Groups

Organizations of people with shared objectives that seek to influence public policy.

Civic Engagement

Participating in activities that promote public or community affairs.

Checks on Executive Power

Congressional and judicial powers that limit the authority of the President and executive branch.

What are Natural Rights?

Life, liberty, and property as defined by John Locke.

Define Popular Sovereignty.

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

What is the Social Contract theory?

The theory that individuals give up some freedom to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Explain Separation of Powers.

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exerting too much power.

What is the purpose of Checks and Balances?

A system in which each branch of government can limit the powers of the others.

What does Judicial Review refer to?

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Define Federalism.

The distribution of power between a central government and its political subdivisions.

What are Enumerated Powers?

Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution.

Define Implied Powers.

Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but implied by the necessary and proper clause.

What are Reserved Powers?

Powers that are not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.

Explain Concurrent Powers.

Powers that are shared by both federal and state governments.

What is a Bicameral Legislature?

A legislature consisting of two houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Define Filibuster.

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation.

What is Cloture?

A procedure for ending a filibuster and bringing a debate to a close.

What is Selective Incorporation?

The process by which the Bill of Rights was applied to the states through the 14th Amendment.

Explain the Establishment Clause.

The clause in the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing a national religion.

What is Prior Restraint?

Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast.

Define the Equal Protection Clause.

Part of the 14th Amendment that requires states to provide equal protection under the law.

What is Judicial Activism?

The philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving social, economic, and political issues.

What does Judicial Restraint mean?

The philosophy that courts should not disrupt the policy decisions made by elected officials.

What is Federalist No. 10 about?

An essay by James Madison that argues for the need for a large republic to control factions.

What does Brutus No. 1 warn against?

An anti-Federalist essay warning against the dangers of a strong central government.

What was established in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

A Supreme Court case that established federal supremacy and implied powers.

What did Engel v. Vitale (1962) rule?

Supreme Court case that prohibited state-sponsored prayer in public schools.

What was the outcome of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?

Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

What was ruled in Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?

Supreme Court case that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited.

What did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish?

Supreme Court case that established a woman's legal right to an abortion under the right to privacy.

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A gathering in 1787 to create the U.S. Constitution.

What does the Bill of Rights encompass?

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee individual liberties.

What is the Amendment Process?

The process by which the Constitution can be amended, requiring a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

Explain the Supremacy Clause.

The clause in Article VI of the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.

What is the Commerce Clause?

The clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

What is the 16th Amendment?

The amendment that established the federal income tax.

What does the 18th Amendment prohibit?

The amendment that prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages (Prohibition).

What did the 19th Amendment achieve?

The amendment that granted women the right to vote.

What was the goal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

What is the Electoral College?

The body of electors established by the Constitution, which formally elects the President and Vice President.

What is Pardon Power?

The President's authority to forgive an individual for a federal crime.

What is Impeachment?

The process by which a sitting president or other federal officials can be removed from office.

Define Political Parties.

Organized groups that seek to gain control of government by electing members to office.

What are Interest Groups?

Organizations of people with shared objectives that seek to influence public policy.

Define Civic Engagement.

Participating in activities that promote public or community affairs.

What are Checks on Executive Power?

Congressional and judicial powers that limit the authority of the President and executive branch.