AP GOV FULL COURSE FLASHCARDS

Practice flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts from Units 1 through 5 of the American Democracy course, focusing on foundations, branches of government, civil liberties, ideologies, and political participation.

Natural rights

Fundamental rights of all humans NOT received from a government.

Social contract

Concept where people create a government to protect the rights of the people.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that people are the source of governmental power and authority; governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.

Limited government

Governmental power is restricted by the law; in the U.S., the Constitution restricts the power of the federal government.

Republicanism

A representative form of government where people choose representatives to make public policy.

Participatory democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation and an active role for individual citizens in politics and civil society.

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy where group-based activism strives to impact political decision making, and individuals become more powerful as part of a group.

Elite democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes limited, or filtered, citizen participation in politics and civil society, often skeptical of citizens' ability to make good choices.

Federalist No. 10

Argues that a large republic is the best way to control factions and protect minority rights while maintaining majority rule.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-federalist document that argues against ratifying the Constitution and prefers power to be held by the people in smaller, more local governments.

Great compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with the House based on population (favoring large states) and the Senate with $2$ members per state (favoring small states).

$\frac{3}{5}$ compromise

Agreement that slaves would count as $\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for congressional representation purposes.

Federalism

A system for the division of power between national, state, and local governments.

Delegated powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government, such as declaring war, raising an army, and coining money.

Reserved powers

Powers kept by the states as established by the $10^{th}$ Amendment, including education, healthcare, and police powers.

Concurrent powers

Powers held by both the federal government and states, carried out independently, such as taxing and borrowing money.

Dual federalism

Also known as layer cake federalism, where states and the federal government are each supreme in their own sphere of power with no overlap.

Cooperative federalism

Also known as marble cake federalism, where federal and state governments share responsibilities, costs, and administration of policies.

Categorical grants

Federal money provided to states for a specific purpose which may include conditions of aid.

Block grants

Federal money provided to states for use within a broad purpose, offering more freedom to the states.

McCulloch v. Maryland ($1819$)

Supreme Court case that established that Congress has implied powers and can establish a national bank; also ruled that states cannot tax the federal government due to the supremacy clause.

United States v. Lopez ($1995$)

Supreme Court case that limited Congress' commerce clause powers by striking down the federal Gun Free School Zones Act.

Filibuster

A long speech in the Senate intended to prevent a vote on a bill.

Cloture

A $\frac{3}{5}$ vote ($60$ senators) to end a debate, filibuster, or hold in the Senate.

Pork barrel legislation

Legislation that provides tangible benefits, jobs, or money to a specific district.

Logrolling

The practice of vote-trading in Congress, often summarized as 'I vote for yours, you vote for mine.'

Baker v. Carr ($1962$)

Supreme Court case that banned malapportionment and established the 'One person, one vote' principle of equal representation.

Shaw v. Reno ($1993$)

Supreme Court case that banned racial gerrymandering, holding that race-conscious redistricting violates the equal protection clause.

Trustee

A model of representation where a representative votes according to their conscience regardless of constituent desires.

Delegate

A model of representation where a representative votes exactly how constituents want, even if they personally disagree.

Politico

A model of representation where a representative sometimes acts as a trustee and sometimes as a delegate.

Executive order

A directive from the president that has the power of law and does not require congressional approval.

Bully pulpit

A position of authority that allows the president to speak out and gain support for his agenda from the public.

Judicial review

The power of the Court to rule on the constitutionality of congressional laws, executive actions, and state laws, established by Marbury v. Madison ($1803$).

Stare decisis

A Latin phrase meaning 'Let the decision stand,' which serves as the guiding principle of following precedent in judicial decision making.

Iron triangles

Long-lasting relationships between congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies to create and implement policy.

Selective incorporation

The case-by-case process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states through the $14^{th}$ Amendment's due process clause.

Establishment clause

First Amendment provision stating that there shall be no official religion or preferential treatment for a religion by the government.

Free exercise clause

First Amendment provision protecting the right of individuals to practice the religion of their choice.

Exclusionary rule

The legal principle that illegally obtained evidence may not be used in a trial.

Gideon v. Wainwright ($1963$)

Supreme Court case that incorporated the right to an attorney ($6^{th}$ Amendment) to the states.

Miranda rule

Requirement that suspects in custody must be informed of their $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ Amendment rights before interrogation.

Affirmative action

Preferential admissions and hiring policies for minorities; allowed by the Court provided there are no quota systems or points awarded for race.

Keynesian economics

Economic theory that the government should stimulate the economy during recessions by increasing government spending.

Supply-side economics

Economic theory that the government should stimulate the economy during recessions by cutting taxes to encourage business growth.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Law that banned soft money and prohibited corporations from airing political ads within specific timeframes before elections.

Citizens United v. F.E.C. ($2010$)

Supreme Court case holding that corporations have free speech rights to engage in unlimited independent political expenditures, leading to the creation of Super PACS.

Horserace journalism

Media coverage that focuses on the popularity and polling of candidates rather than their qualifications and platforms.