AP US Government and Politics Review Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering foundational US government documents, key Supreme Court cases, constitutional amendments, and political science concepts derived from the lecture notes.

Declaration of Independence

The document that declared independence from Britain, stating that "All men created equal" and highlighting the rights to "Life liberty and pursuit of happiness."

The Articles of Confederation

The original form of government which featured large state power, little federal power, and is described as an "Epic fail."

The US Constitution

The current government system and revision of the Articles of Confederation that provides the layout for government organization across $7$ Articles.

1st Amendment

Guarantees freedom of speech.

3rd Amendment

Anti-quartering provision that does not allow troops to live in homes.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable search and seizure and requires search warrants.

5th Amendment

Guarantees due process, establishing the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

6th Amendment

Provides the right to an attorney and a fair and speedy public trial.

10th Amendment

Balances power between the federal government and states, declaring that powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the state and people.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

Contains the equal protection clause and defines naturally born citizenship.

19th Amendment

Guarantees women's right to vote.

22nd Amendment

Restricts the President to serving $2$ terms.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age to $18$.

Federalist No. 10

Written by James Maddison, it argues that a strong large government is needed to check the power of factions (lobbying groups) to protect individual rights.

Brutus No. 1

An anti-federalist paper criticizing the Federalist papers and expressing fear that the federal government would become too big.

Federalist No. 51

Argues for the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances.

Federalist No. 70

Focuses on the Executive branch and the need for making quick decisions during a crisis.

Federalist No. 78

Written by Hamilton, arguing that the Judicial branch needs judges with lifetime tenure to remain independent from political pressure and perform judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison ($1803$)

Established Judicial Review, the power of the court to examine laws and government actions to see if they are constitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland ($1819$)

Utilized the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause to rule that the federal government overrules states and that Maryland could not tax the federal bank.

Schenck v. the United States ($1919$)

Ruled that freedom of speech is not absolute, especially during war time according to the espionage act.

Brown v. Board of Education ($1954$)

Used the Equal Protection Clause to rule that segregated public schools are unequal and unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale ($1962$)

Utilized the Establishment Clause to rule that authority figures cannot lead state-sponsored prayer in schools.

Baker v. Carr ($1962$)

Established the principle of "One person, one vote" regarding legislative reapportionment and the Equal Protection Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright ($1963$)

Affirmed the $6th$ Amendment right to a lawyer, even in non-capital cases.

Tinker v. Des Moines ($1969$)

Protected student free speech and freedom of assembly, specifically regarding protesting the Vietnam war with black armbands.

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

Favored freedom of the press over the Nixon administration’s national security concerns regarding classified papers on the Vietnam war.

Wisconsin v. Yoder ($1972$)

Invoked the Free Exercise Clause to exempt Amish students from compulsory education.

Roe v. Wade ($1973$)

Legalized abortion based on the right to privacy and due process; later addressed by Dobbs v. Jackson ($2022$).

Shaw v. Reno ($1993$)

Ruled that race cannot be the driving factor in drawing district lines, prohibiting racial gerrymandering under the Equal Protection Clause.

United States v. Lopez ($1995$)

Ruled that states decide gun laws rather than the federal government using the Commerce Clause.

McDonald v. Chicago ($2010$)

Used selective incorporation to apply the second amendment right to bear arms to state and local governments.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ($2010$)

Ruled that corporations and unions have freedom of speech to spend unlimited money independently of candidates.

Trustee

A representative who makes decisions based on their own judgment; "Trust in me."

Delegate

A representative who follows the people's choice.

Politico

A representative who acts as both a trustee and a delegate depending on the topic.

Commerce Clause

Granting Congress the power to regulate trade.

Establishment Clause

The principle that there can be no state-sponsored or established religion.

Equal Protection Clause

The principle that everyone must be treated equally under the law.

Pluralist Democracy

A system where lobbyist groups or competing factions run the government.

Participatory Democracy

A system where people participate directly in decision-making processes.

Stare Decisis

Meaning "To stand by things decided," it is the principle that courts must follow existing precedent.

Block Grants

Funds given for a project where the recipient can choose how to use a specific amount of money.

Categorical Grants

Funds that must be used for specific things or categories.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to the federal government that are listed in the Constitution.

Iron Triangle

The stable relationship and interaction between the bureaucracy, interest groups, and congressional committees.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to state governments.

Pork Barrel

The practice of government representatives providing money for projects in their home state to gain votes.

Thomas Hobbes

An Enlightenment thinker who believed in absolute monarchy and the social contract where people give up freedom for safety.

John Locke

An Enlightenment thinker who advocated for natural rights and argued that people must revolt if a government is tyrannical.

Loose Constructionist

Someone who views the Constitution as a guide that can be interpreted broadly.

Strict Constructionist

Someone who interprets the Constitution exactly as it is written, limiting federal power to original intent.