AP GOV EXAM REVIEW

Great/Connecticut Compromise

A constitutional agreement that settled disputes between large and small states regarding representation.

Federalism

The system of government relations between State and Federal levels.

Government Corporations

Government-run businesses that provide commercial services, such as the USPS, Amtrak, and TVA.

Selective Incorporation

The process used to apply the Bill of Rights to the states as cases come before the Supreme Court.

Civil Rights Act (1964)

Legislation that illegalized racial discrimination and required facilities not covered by Brown v. Board to integrate.

Voting Rights Act (1965)

Legislation that illegalized discrimination against voters, upheld the franchise for minorities, and illegalized racial gerrymandering.

Title IX

An expansion of the Civil Rights Act that illegalized sexual discrimination in federally funded programs.

Affirmative Action

A policy favoring groups that have been formerly discriminated against; SCOTUS has ruled that the Constitution is colorblind regarding this policy.

Individualism

An American value emphasizing self-reliance and independence.

Free Enterprise

An economic value favoring laissez-faire economics with little government intervention.

Political Socialization

Factors that influence political beliefs, including family, schools, peers, media, and globalization.

Benchmark Poll

A poll given at the beginning of a candidate’s run to serve as a baseline for comparison with later polls.

Tracking Polls

Polls conducted over time, usually with the same group of people, to monitor shifts in opinion.

Keynesian Economics

A fiscal policy favored by liberals who believe that government spending in the economy is beneficial.

Supply-side Economics

A fiscal policy favored by conservatives who believe that supporting businesses in the economy is beneficial.

Monetary Policy

Decisions about money entering the economy, controlled by the Federal Reserve (the Fed).

The Franchise

The group of people who have the right to vote.

Rational Choice

A voting model based on individual self-interest after carefully studying issues and platforms.

Retrospective Voting

A voting model based on the recent track record of the candidate in question.

Political Efficacy

A citizen’s belief regarding whether their vote matters.

Linkage Institutions

Societal structures that link people to their government, including political parties, interest groups, elections, and the media.

Iron Triangle

The relationship and interaction between interest groups, congressional committees, and government agencies.

Free Rider Problem

A situation where a larger group benefits from the efforts of an interest group without being members of that group.

Open Primaries

Elections where any registered voter can vote in either party’s primary, but not both.

Caucuses

A meeting where members of a political party debate together and vote publicly for a candidate.

Midterm Elections

Congressional elections that occur in the middle of a presidential term.

Hard Money

Regulated direct monetary donations to a candidate.

Soft Money

Unregulated money donated to a party or interest group to buy advertising on a candidate's behalf.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA, 2002)

Legislation that increased hard money limits, regulated soft money, and added the ‘stand by your ad’ provision.

Super PAC

An organization that can accept unlimited donations but cannot directly donate to or coordinate with a candidate.

Horse-race Journalism

Media coverage that overemphasizes poll statistics even though they change daily.

Judicial Review

The principle established in Marbury v. Madison (1802) allowing the court to rule laws unconstitutional.

Establishment Clause

The First Amendment provision reinforced in Engel v. Vitale (1962) that maintains a wall of separation between church and state.

Prior Restraint

Efforts by the government to prevent the publication of information, limited by the SCOTUS ruling in NYT Co. v. United States (1971).

Federalist No. 10

A paper arguing that a strong federal government is needed to control the formation of factions.

Brutus No. 1

A document arguing that a large central government is ineffective and cannot account for all state interests.

Federalist No. 70

A paper explaining the necessity of a single, strong executive branch that can act quickly.

Federalist No. 78

A paper describing the judiciary as the weakest branch and advocating for life terms for federal judges.

Equal Protection Clause

A provision of the 14th Amendment (1868) requiring states to treat individuals equally under the law.

24th Amendment

The 1964 constitutional amendment that illegalized poll taxes and expanded the franchise to southern minorities.