AP Government Vocabulary Review

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms regarding U.S. government, political structures, civil rights, and foundational concepts as outlined in the lecture notes.

Social Contract

An agreement between government and the people where the government secures natural rights and the people follow the law.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ultimate ruling authority and can elect officials to make laws.

Republicanism

A philosophy advocating for a limited, elected government that ensures natural rights and acts in the public interest.

Federalist No. 10

An essay arguing that the Constitution limits the influence of factions and prevents the rule of the majority.

Elite Democracy

A form of representative democracy where a small number of elites hold the most power and influence.

Articles of Confederation

The first national government of the United States that established a confederacy of states with a weak federal government.

Checks and Balances

A system designed to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful by providing each branch the means to limit the others.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual liberties and rights.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions.

Selective Incorporation

The legal doctrine that ensures that certain protections found in the Bill of Rights apply to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

Civil Liberties

Fundamental individual rights protected from government interference.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Monroe Doctrine

A U.S. foreign policy principle stating that European powers should not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the Elastic Clause, it grants Congress the authority to pass all laws necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Separation of Powers

The principle of dividing governmental powers among different branches to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Federal Grants

Monies given by the federal government to state and local governments for specific projects or purposes.

Commerce Clause

A clause in the Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

Political Participation

The ways in which citizens engage in the political process, including voting, campaigning, and advocacy.

Interest Groups

Organizations of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence government policy.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on issues, candidates, and governmental actions.

Campaign Finance

The regulation of the funding of political campaigns, including donations and expenditures.

Party Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in party loyalty among voters, often occurring during a critical election.

Affirmative Action

Policies that aim to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups in education and employment.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Rational Choice Theory

A political science theory that assumes individuals make electoral choices based on rational calculations of their personal interests.

Political Culture

The set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that shape the way a society perceives and interacts with its political system.

Majority Rule

A fundamental principle in democracy by which only policies that garner the support of a majority of voters are enacted.

Civic Duty

The responsibilities of a citizen to participate in civic and political affairs.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Landmark legislation that prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

Political Ideology

A coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.

Pluralism

The theory that a multitude of groups, not the people as a whole, govern the United States.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in 1787 where the founding fathers crafted the U.S. Constitution.

Marbury v. Madison

An 1803 case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States.

Engel v. Vitale

A 1962 Supreme Court decision that ruled it unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.