AP Government & Politics Exam Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for reviewing AP Government & Politics exam notes.

Thesis (Argumentative Essay)

A clear and specific argument presented at the beginning of the essay, upon which the rest of the essay is based.

Evidence (Argumentative Essay)

Specific facts, examples, and data from course materials (including provided documents) used to support the essay's thesis.

Reasoning (Argumentative Essay)

Explanation of how the provided evidence supports the claim made in the thesis, including analysis and definition of concepts.

Alternative Perspective (Argumentative Essay)

Acknowledgement of an opposing view with an explanation of why that view is incorrect.

Natural Rights

Rights that people possess by natural law by being human, apart from a government, that could not be taken away.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the power to govern is in the hands of the people.

Social Contract

The concept that to protect their natural rights, people willingly give some power to a government, making the state the servant of the people.

Republicanism

The idea that people elect leaders to represent them and create laws in the public interest.

Limited Government

A government that is prevented from tyranny through a system of checks and balances and power distribution among several acting members.

Participatory Democracy

A type of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in the political process by most, if not all, members of society.

Pluralist Democracy

A type of democracy that involves groups of people associating with interest groups who then compete to influence policy.

Elite Democracy

A type of democracy that emphasizes more limited participation in policymaking, based on the assumption that government is complicated and therefore the most educated people need to run it.

Brutus 1

An anti-federalist paper that championed a broad, participatory model of democracy and feared the curtailment of personal liberties in a large republic.

Federalist 10

A federalist paper that argued that with so many competing factions in a large republic, liberty would be upheld by their competition within a pluralist democracy.

Factions

Groups of people who believe their interests are more important than any other interest.

Supremacy Clause

A clause in the Constitution that gives more power to the federal government than the state governments.

Supremacy Clause

A clause in the Constitution that gives more power to the federal government than the state governments.

Great Compromise

A compromise on how the people would be represented in the new Congress, leading to a bicameral legislature.

Virginia Plan

A plan proposing that Congressional representatives should be apportioned by population, favoring big states.

New Jersey Plan

A plan proposing that each state should be represented equally with one vote per state, which favors small states.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature that is comprised of the House of Representatives, where people are represented by population, and the Senate, where there are two votes per state.

Electoral College

A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise in which three-fifths of the enslaved population would count toward representation.

Article V

An article in the Constitution that details the two-stage process to amend the Constitution: proposal and ratification.

Federalism

The sharing of power between national and state governments.

Exclusive Powers

Powers specifically delegated by the Constitution to the federal government.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states, as explained by the 10th Amendment.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by federal and state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

The federal government using money (grants) to influence state policies.

Categorical Grants

Grants given to states as long as the states comply with specific federal standards and address the specific needs of the states.

Block Grants

Grants given to states for a relatively broad purpose, allowing the states to spend that money as they see fit.

Mandates

Requirements that states follow federal directives, often straining a state’s budget capacity.

10th Amendment

Lays down the basis of reserved powers, or powers kept by the states.

14th Amendment

Applies the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) to the states and empowers the federal government to ensure citizens’ liberties are upheld by the states.

Commerce Clause

Allows Congress to regulate commerce among the states.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the Elastic Clause, it allows Congress the ability to make laws or to act where the constitution doesn't give it authority to act.

McCulloch v. Maryland

The Supreme Court case that ruled that the necessary and proper clause implied certain powers given to the federal government even if they were not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.

United States v. Lopez

The Supreme Court case that ruled that Congress had overstepped its bounds into state authority when it used the commerce clause to ban guns on school property.

Individualism

An American core belief that places emphasis on self-reliance and independence.

Equality of Opportunity

An American core belief that every American deserves equal footing to pursue life, liberty, and property.

Free Enterprise

An American core belief in laissez-faire economics, or as little government intervention in the economy as possible.

Rule of Law

An American core belief that every citizen is equal under the law, and no one has special privileges.

Limited Government

An American core belief in a government whose limits are well-defined and restrained through the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.

Conservatives

Those who cherish established institutions and seek to preserve them for the good of society, and who emphasize smaller government.

Liberals

Those who push for new reforms to make society more just and equitable, and who emphasize a larger government.

Meritocracy

The belief that everyone rises in America based on their toil and sweat.

Political Socialization

The process by which we come to hold our political beliefs.

Generational Effects

The effect of a person's voting behavior and political ideology being strongly influenced by the generation into which they were born.

Life-Cycle Effects

The changes in an individual's political beliefs and attitudes as they progress through different stages of life.

Polls

If a poll is created with scientific rigor, then it is the best tool for measuring public opinion.

Opinion Poll

A poll that helps get a feel for the public’s opinion on a certain topic or discerning people’s feelings on certain candidates or policies.

Benchmark Poll

A poll taken at the beginning of a candidate’s run, and gives the campaign a benchmark against which they can compare future polls to see how the candidate is faring.

Tracking Poll

A poll conducted over time, usually with the same group of people, that gives information on how the group feels about a given issue.

Entrance/Exit Poll

A poll conducted on voting sites that ask people how they’re going to vote/how they voted.

Sampling

The measure of public opinion using a sample.

Sampling Error

The chance that the sample in a poll will not exactly represent the general population.

Public Opinion

Collective attitudes and beliefs on political issues, leaders, institutions, and events.

Political Ideology

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

Liberalism

A political ideology that advocates for government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all.

Conservatism

A political ideology that emphasizes limited government intervention in economic matters and advocates for free markets, individual liberties, and traditional values.

Libertarianism

A political ideology that advocates for minimal government intervention in both economic and social matters and emphasizes individual freedom and autonomy.

Economic Policy

Strategies and decisions by the government to manage the economy, including fiscal policy and monetary policy.

Fiscal Policy

Economic policy managed by Congress and involves decisions on government spending and taxation.

Monetary Policy

Economic policy managed by the Federal Reserve that involves regulating the money supply and interest rates.

Keynesian Economics

An economic theory that proposes that active government intervention is necessary to manage economic cycles.

Supply-Side Economics

An economic theory that suggests economic growth can be most effectively fostered by lowering taxes and decreasing regulation.

Social Policy

Government actions designed to promote the welfare of its citizens, including areas such as healthcare, education, and civil rights.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

An act that eliminated literacy tests and other discriminatory practices.

Rational Choice Model

A model of voting behavior in which voters make decisions based on personal benefits and costs.

Retrospective Voting Model

A model of voting behavior in which voters evaluate candidates based on past performance.

Prospective Voting Model

A model of voting behavior in which voters make decisions based on future promises and policies.

Party-Line Voting Model

A model of voting behavior in which voters choose candidates based on party affiliation.

Political Efficacy

Belief in the effectiveness of one's vote can influence turnout.

Political Parties

Organizations that seek to gain political power by electing members to public office.

Two-Party System

a party system where two major political parties dominate the political landscape

Party Identification

The psychological attachment individuals have to a political party, influencing voting behavior and political participation.

Political Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in the political landscape, often due to critical elections or societal changes.

Third Parties

Parties that challenge the two major parties and often focus on specific issues or ideologies.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence public policy to benefit their members or causes.

Lobbying

Direct interaction with policymakers to persuade them to enact favorable legislation.

Electioneering

Supporting candidates who align with their interests through endorsements and campaign contributions.

Iron Triangles

The relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies that work together to shape policy.

Primary Elections

Elections to select party nominees for the general election.

Closed Primaries

Primaries in which only registered party members can vote.

Open Primaries

Primaries in which any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation.

Caucuses

Local gatherings where party members discuss and select candidates.

General Election

Held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Super PACs

Independent expenditure-only committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate directly with candidates or political parties.

Horse Race Journalism

Media coverage of elections and political events that focuses on sensational aspects, emphasizing competition over substantive policy discussions.

Executive Order

A presidential directive that manages operations of the federal government

Executive Agreement

An agreement between the president and another country that has the force of a treaty but does not require advise and consent

Signing Statement

A presidential directive explaining the president's interpretation of a law.

Executive Privilege

The right of the president to withhold information

Bureaucracy

Government agencies that implement and enforce laws.

Discretionary Authority

The power of bureaucrats to make decisions on how to enforce laws passed by Congress.

Rule-Making Authority

The power of agencies to create rules and regulations that carry the weight of law.

The First Amendment

Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and the rights to assemble peaceably and to petition the government.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

The Lemon Test

The statute must have a secular purpose, the primary effect of the statute should not be to advance or inhibit religion, and the statute must not excessively entangle government with religion