AP Gov Vocab Week 9

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the political science glossary excerpts covering constitutional concepts, elections, policymaking, and political behavior.

Natural rights

Basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights that a government cannot deny.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary to carry out their constitutional duties, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; also called the "Elastic Clause."

New Deal coalition

Alliance of southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party for 40 years.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote; favored by the smaller states who preferred equal representation among the states.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

The Supreme Court reaffirmed its position of prior restraint, refusing to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers, and strengthening freedom of the press, even in times of national security.

Nineteenth Amendment

Establishes women's right to vote.

Ninth Amendment

Unenumerated rights of the people.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the United States by lessening and eliminating tariffs.

Off-year election

An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; mid-term election.

Open primary

Voters may choose the candidates of either party, whether they belong to the party or not.

Opinion leaders

Those individuals held in great respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may informally and unintentionally influence others.

Opinion poll

An assessment of public opinion by the questioning of a representative sample of the population.

Original jurisdiction

Court hears and decides a case for the first time.

Oversight

Congress monitors policies of the executive branch.

Pardon

A convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime.

Participatory democratic theory

Government depends upon the consent of the governed; often referred to as traditional democratic government because it emphasizes citizen participation.

Party in government

All of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members; office holders.

Party in organization

All of the people at the various levels of the party organization who work to maintain the strength of the party between elections, help raise money, and organize the conventions and party functions.

Party in the electorate

All of the people who associate themselves with one of the political parties.

Party-line voting

Voting for candidates based upon the party to which they belong, usually voting a straight ticket.

Plessy v. Ferguson

The Supreme Court case that upheld separate-but-equal segregation in 1896.

Pluralist theory

Interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts.

Pocket veto

The president lets a bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it at the end of a legislative session.

Policy adoption

The approval of a policy by legislation.

Policy evaluation

Determines if a policy is achieving its goals.

Policy formulation

The crafting of a policy to resolve public problems.

Policy implementation

Carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts.

Political action committee (PAC)

Extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns.

Political agenda

Issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power.

Political culture

A set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens and that influences political opinions and behaviors.

Political efficacy

Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking.

Political ideology

A consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy.

Political party

Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections.

Political polarization

Increasing ideological differences between the parties which creates a distance where members of political parties vote along party lines and become less likely to cross party lines to vote with the other party, leading to gridlock.