Vocab and SCOTUS - AP GOV

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established national supremacy; established implied powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax fed. Institution; John Marshall; "the power to tax involves the power to destroy."

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Commerce clause of Constitution does not give Congress the power to regulate guns near state-operated schools

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of 1st Amendment's establishment clause and the 14th Amendment's due process clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

The Court ruled that Wisconsin could not require Amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the 8th grade because it would violate long-held religious beliefs.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Guaranteed a student's right to protest (wearing armbands).

New York Times v. US (1971)

The Court ruled that freedom of the press is protected, and prior restraint of the press is illegal. BOlstered freedom of the press. "heavy presumption against prior restraint"

Schenk v. United States (1919)

speech creating a "clear and present dagner" is not protected by the 1st Amendment

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Abortion rights fall within the privacy implied in the 14th amendment

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

Incorporated the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms to the states

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

unanimously held that the racial segregation of children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Political Spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the 1st Amendment

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legis. or exec. branch that violates the Constitution

Representative democracy

A system where people elect officials to make laws and decisions for them.

Constitutional democracy

A democracy limited by a constitution that sets rules for government power and protects rights.

Constitutionalism

The idea that the government must obey the constitution and cannot act beyond its limits.

Statism

The belief that the state should have strong authority over society and the economy.

Popular consent

The idea that the government gets its authority from the approval of the people.

Majority

More than half of the votes, such as a candidate winning $51$ out of $100$ votes.

Plurality

The largest share of votes, but not necessarily more than half, such as a candidate winning $40\%$ while others get $35\%$ and $25\%$.

Social capital

The networks of trust, cooperation, and relationships in a society.

Ideology

A set of beliefs about government and society.

Theocracy

A government run by religious leaders or based on religious law.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak national government.

Shay’s Rebellion

An $1786$ uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting debt and foreclosures.

Bicameralism

A legislature with two chambers, like the House and the Senate.

Connecticut Compromise

The agreement creating a two-house legislature with one house based on population and one with equal state representation.

Three-fifths Compromise

A compromise that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Federalists

Supporters of a stronger national government and the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who wanted stronger state governments and more protection for individual rights.

The Federalist Papers

Essays written to support ratification of the Constitution.

Separation of powers

Dividing government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and balances

The system where each branch can limit the power of the other branches.

Dividing government

When different parties control the presidency and at least one house of Congress.

Impoundment

When a president refuses to spend money Congress has approved.

Direct primary

An election in which voters choose a party’s candidate for office.

Referendum

A vote by the people on a proposed law or policy.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional.

Impeachment

The formal accusation of misconduct against a public official, representing the first step toward removal from office.

Executive privilege

The president’s right to keep some communications confidential, especially communications involving national security or sensitive advice.

Custom and usage

Practices that become accepted as unwritten rules over time.

Devolution revolution

The transfer of power from the federal government to state and local governments.

Federalism

A system where power is shared between national and state governments.

Unitary system

A system where the central government holds most power.

Confederation

A system where independent states give limited powers to a weak central government.

Block grants

Federal funds given to states for broad purposes with few restrictions.

Categorical grants

Federal funds for specific purposes with detailed rules.

Express powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution, also known as enumerated powers.

Implied powers

Powers not written directly but inferred from the Constitution.

Necessary and proper clause

The clause allowing Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its powers.

Inherent powers

Powers a national government has simply because it is a sovereign state.

Commerce clause

Gives Congress power to regulate trade among the states, with foreign nations, and with Native tribes.

Federal mandates

Rules from the federal government that require state or local governments to do something.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by federal and state governments, such as taxing and building roads.

Full faith and credit clause

Requirement that states must respect the laws, records, and court decisions of other states.

Extradition

Sending a person accused of a crime back to the state where the crime occurred.

Interstate compact

An agreement between two or more states.

National supremacy

The principle that federal law is the highest law when federal and state laws conflict.

Unfunded mandate

A federal requirement for states without providing money to pay for it.

Preemption

When federal law overrides state law.

Centralists

People who favor a strong national government.

Decentralists

People who favor more power for states and local governments.

Revenue sharing

When the federal government gives states part of federal tax revenue with few restrictions.

Political culture

Shared beliefs, values, and norms about politics and government.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Natural rights

Rights people are believed to have simply because they are human, such as life, liberty, and property.

Democratic consensus

Broad agreement on the basic principles of democracy.

Majority rule

The idea that the option supported by the most people wins.

Popular sovereignty

The belief that political power comes from the people.

Nationalism

Strong pride and loyalty to one’s nation.

American Dream

The belief that anyone can succeed in the U.S. through hard work and opportunity.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and competition in markets.

Political efficacy

The belief that your political actions can make a difference.

Political ideology

A set of beliefs about the role of government and society.

Liberalism

A political ideology that supports government action to promote equality and protect rights.

Conservatism

A political ideology that favors tradition, limited government, and gradual change.

Socialism

An economic and political idea that supports more government control or public ownership to reduce inequality.

Libertarianism

A belief that government should be very limited and individual freedom should be maximized.

Anarchism

The belief that government should be abolished or that society should operate without government authority.

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by the standards of your own culture and seeing your own as superior.

Political socialization

The process by which people learn political beliefs and values.

Demography

The study of population characteristics like age, race, gender, and income.

Political predisposition

A trait or background factor that influences political views.

Reinforcing cleavages

Divisions in society that overlap and strengthen each other.

Cross-cutting cleavages

Divisions that overlap in ways that weaken conflict because people belong to multiple groups.

Manifest destiny

The $19 ext{th}$-century belief that the United States was destined to expand across North America.

Race

A social category based on physical traits such as skin color and ancestry.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural identity based on ancestry, language, customs, or heritage.

Fundamentalists

People who strongly believe in strict, literal, or traditional interpretations of religious teachings.

Gender gap

The difference in political preferences or voting patterns between men and women.

Gross domestic product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced in a country in one year.

Socioeconomic status (SES)

A person’s social and economic position based on income, education, and occupation.

Lobbying

Trying to influence government officials to support or oppose a law or policy.

PACs and Super PACs

PACs are groups donating to candidates within legal limits; Super PACs raise and spend unlimited money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Bundling

Collecting many individual campaign contributions and delivering them together to a candidate.

Independent expenditures

Money spent to support or oppose a candidate without coordinating with that candidate’s campaign.

Winner-take-all system

A system where the candidate who gets the most votes wins all the reward or representation, such as state electoral votes.

Closed primary

A primary election where only registered party members can vote.