Ultimate Vocab List - AP Government

richins and his 200 terms.

Single Issue Groups

Interest groups that specialize in one particular issu

Linkage Institutions

Structures that connect the people to the government (ex: elections, interest groups, political parties)

Policy Agenda

Issues/Subjects that government officials/politicians prioritize for discussion and action

Majority Rule

Choices are made by more than 50% of participants, ensuring majority will representation

Minority Rights

protections that ensure individuals/groups apart of majority will not be oppressed

representation

elected officials acting on behalf of constituents

pluralist theory

Multiple groups compete for influence and counteract each other, so nobody gets dominance

Elite & Class theory

A small group of wealthy elites hold all the power regardless of democracy

hyperpluralism

groups will overpower the federal government

policy gridlock

congress is unable to pass any laws due to polarization and divided government

constitution

(1788) supreme law of the US that created the government structure, distribution of power between fedgov and stategov, and checks and balances

dec. of independence

foundational document that justifies 13 colonies separation from england

articles of confederation

first US constitution that established a weak fedgov and strong stategovs

factions

groups of people united by a shared interest adverse to general population’s interests

new jersey plan

proposal for unicameral legislation where each state receives one vote, regardless of population

virginia plan

proposal for bicameral legislation where each state received votes proportional to population

writ of habeus corpus

government has to have a reason for holding someone

separation of powers

3 branches prevent any branch from dominating or being too weak

federalist #51

a foundational document that justifies the constitutions structure and check and balances

federalist #78

justifies judicial branch (branch independence, life tenure, judicial review, most ‘pure’ form of constitutionality)

federalist #70

document that argues for a single, energetic president rather than a council for the executive branch

republic

power resides in citizens and they exercise that power by voting for representatives

federalists

supporters of the us constitution

federalist #10

document that argues a large republic is the best way to combat factions

antifederalist

faction that opposes us constitution, advocates states>fedgov

brutus 1

antifederalist paper that argues fedgov will be too powerful and controlling

federalist papers

series of essays arguing for ratification of us constitution

bill of rights

first 10 amendments

equal rights amendment

proposed equal rights for all regardless of gender

judicial review

power of the us courts to invalidate legislation they deem unconstitutional

federalism

power divided between the fedgov and stategovs, sharing authority over the same population and area

intergov relations

interactions between fedgovs, stategovs, and localgovs

supremacy clause

constitution is supreme law of the land

10th amendment

powers not explicitly given to the fedgov belong to the states

enumerated powers

powers specifically given to the government

implied powers

powers granted to the fedgov that arent explicitly stated

elastic clause/necessary and proper clause

gives fedgov the authority to exercise enumerated powers with the help of implied powers as long as its necessary and proper

gibbons v ogden

supreme court case that allows congress to regulate interstate commerce under the Commence Clause

full faith and credit

requires states to recognize and respect other states’ laws and rulings

checks and balances

constitutional mechanism that allows each branch to limit the powers of other branches, preventing dominance

dual federalism

fedgov and stategovs operate independently of each other

new federalism

power is devolved and returned to the states

project grants

grants awarded based on applications and merit

formula grants

grants awarded based on formulas (ex: x number of homeless = x amount of money you get)

block grants

grants awarded on general projects

civil liberties

protections to prevent fedgov infringement on individual freedoms

1st amendment

freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and petition

14th amendment

defines citizenship, due process, and incorporation clause

incorporation clause

extends bill of rights to the states

establishment clause

fedgov cannot establish national religion

free exercise clause

people are free to practice any religion they want

probable cause

law needs warrants to search

exclusionary rule

police cant use illegally obtained evidence

civil rights

legal protections against race/gender/religion/etc discrimination

equal protection of the law

all individuals are treated equally under the law

suffrage

ability to vote

voting rights acct of 1965

eliminates legal barriers preventing black people from voting (ex: poll tax, literacy tests)

comparable worth

the theory that if two jobs require similar skill and effort, they should be paid the same

disability act of 1990

no discrimination against disabled people in the workplace, public accommodations, and gov. services

5th amendment

people are treated fairly under the law (due process, jury, no self incrimination, no double jeopardy)