AP Government Study Guide Flashcards

This study guide covers the major topics in the AP Government curriculum, including constitutional underpinnings, political culture, political parties, institutions, the bureaucracy, civil liberties, economic policy, social welfare, and foreign policy.

What is Direct Democracy?

Citizens meet and vote directly on government decisions.

What is Representative Democracy (Republic)?

Citizens choose officials who make decisions on government policy.

What is the Magna Carta (1215)?

The first attempt to limit the power of the British King, guaranteeing certain rights to all people.

What is Social Contract Theory?

People enter into a social contract with the government and allow themselves to be ruled.

What is Consent of the Governed?

There are no supreme rulers; all rulers depend on the approval of the people.

What are Natural Rights?

All people are born with certain rights: life, liberty, and property (or pursuit of happiness).

What is Common Good?

Belief in doing what’s best for the nation overall.

What is Popular Sovereignty?

Belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people.

What is Majority Rule?

Belief that government is run based on the will of the majority.

What was the Articles of Confederation?

Weak association of states (states very independent).

What was a key weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

No central executive power.

What was a major limitation of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

No federal power to tax citizens directly.

What was Shay's Rebellion?

Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts protesting mortgage foreclosures and a terrible economy; showed how weak the central government was.

What was the Constitutional Convention?

Convention in Philadelphia, 1787, to write a new constitution.

What is Representative Democracy (Republic), regarding the Constitutional Convention?

Democracy where people elect representatives who pass laws.

What issues were debated surrounding the new government?

Debate between Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, North vs. South, Big States vs. Small States over the new government.

What was the 3/5 Compromise?

Compromise that counted slaves as 3/5 of a person to give the South more representatives.

What was the Connecticut Compromise (Bicameralism)?

Established two equal bodies (House of Representatives and Senate), one based on population, one giving all states equal representation.

Who were the Federalists?

Supported the Constitution because it gave power to a strong central government.

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Opposed the Constitution because they thought the national government would become tyrannical.

What were the Federalist Papers?

Articles written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for the Constitution.

What is Federalist Paper #10?

Written by Madison, discusses the importance of factions and how they are best handled by a large republic.

What is Federalist Paper #51?

Written by Madison, discusses the importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers in the constitution.

How did the Constitution fix the Articles of Confederation's inability to tax?

Gave the national government power to tax directly.

What is the Interstate Commerce Clause?

Gives Congress interstate regulatory power.

How does Article II fix the lack of a chief executive under the Articles of Confederation?

Creates a president who enforces the law.

How does Article III fix the lack of a national judiciary under the Articles of Confederation?

Creates a Supreme Court.

How does the Constitution address the issue of state representation under the Articles of Confederation?

Bicameral legislature represents states both by population and equality.

What does Article I describe?

Legislative Branch.

What does Article II describe?

Executive Branch.

What does Article III describe?

Judicial Branch.

What is Separation of Powers?

Each of the three branches has its own power and independence.

What is the role of the Legislative Branch?

Passes laws.

What is the role of the Executive Branch?

Executes laws.

What is the role of the Judicial Branch?

Interprets laws.

What are Checks and Balances?

Each branch has some power over the others, but retains independence.

What is Federalism?

Separation between powers of the Federal, State, and Local governments.

What is a Confederacy?

System of government in which the central government is very weak, and most of the true power lies in individual states.

What is a Unitary System?

System of government in which the central government is extremely powerful, and individual states have few powers.

What is Dual Federalism (Layer Cake Federalism)?

Belief that the state and national governments are supreme within their own sphere of influence (1789-1932).

What is Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake Federalism)?

Sharing powers between state and federal governments.

What is Fiscal Federalism?

Government’s patterns of spending, taxing, and providing grants to influence state and local governments.

What are Grants-in-Aid?

Money given from the federal government to the states.

What are Categorical grants?

Federal grants for specific purposes (building an airport).

What is Devolution?

Process of returning power to the states, which began during New Federalism.

What are Express powers?

Powers listed in the Constitution for the Federal government (go to war, raise an army, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, establish post offices).

What are Implied powers?

Based on the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) - gives Congress flexibility to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out express powers.

What are Inherent powers?

Powers dealing with foreign policy not in the Constitution, but given to the federal government.

What are Concurrent Powers (shared by Federal and State governments)?

Power to tax and spend, establish courts, make laws.

What are Reserved to States (10th amendment)?

Any power not denied nor given to the federal government is reserved for state governments (create local governments).

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal law is superior to state law.

What is the Interstate Commerce Clause?

Gives the Federal Government authority to regulate all of interstate commerce.

What is the Take Care Clause?

President must enforce ALL laws passed by Congress.

What is Full Faith and Credit?

States must honor laws and court rulings of other states.

What are Privileges and Immunities?

Requires states to extend same privileges and immunities to all citizens.

What is the Bill of Rights?

First 10 amendments to the Constitution that guarantees individual and states’ rights.

What does the 1st Amendment Guarantee?

Freedom of speech, assembly, petition, religion, press.

What does the 2nd Amendment Guarantee?

Right to bear arms.

What does the 4th Amendment Guarantee?

No unreasonable searches and seizures.

What does the 5th Amendment Guarantee?

Right to a trial, no double jeopardy, individuals are not required to testify against themselves.

What does the 6th Amendment Guarantee?

Right to a speedy, public, and impartial trial with lawyer.

What does the 8th Amendment Guarantee?

No excessive bails or fines, no cruel and unusual policies.

What does the 10th Amendment Guarantee?

Powers not given to the federal government or denied of the states are reserved to the states (states rights).

What is Political Socialization?

Manner in which people develop their political views (family, friends, media, current government, education).

What is a Liberal ideology?

Large federal government involvement needed to provide for the people (welfare, New Deal, Great Society).

What is a Socialist ideology?

Belief in an extremely powerful state to protect people.

What is a Conservative ideology?

Belief that limited government is necessary to grow a strong economy, and is very pro-business anti-regulation.

What is a Libertarian ideology?

belief in very small government and extreme focus on individual and business rights, with no regulation of industry.

What is Gerrymandering?

The practice of redistricting in order to benefit a specific party by drawing districts based on the demo of their residents.

What is Political Efficacy?

Belief that you can participate in politics, or that government will respond (my vote counts).

What is Civic Duty?

Belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.

What is the debate on Primary elections?

Many people think primary season is too long, and we should have one national primary, or a much shorter season

What is a Referendum?

People vote on whether or not to accept a law passed by state legislature, or a proposed amendment to the state constitution.

What is an Initiative?

People vote on laws and constitutional amendments within a state (direct democracy).

What is a Recall?

Voters remove elected officials.

What are Linkage Organizations?

Organizations that link the people with government.

How do Congressional elections work?

Congressional elections use winner-take-all systems in which the winner of a plurality wins (single-member district).

What are Third parties?

Represent specific ideological positions, sometimes can serve as “spoilers” but rarely make much of an impact.

What is Divided Government?

One party controls the white house, the other controls congress.

What is Realignment?

Major change in the core members/beliefs of a political party: either one major party is replaced by another, or the two major parties completely change viewpoints.

What is Dealignment?

When people abandon parties and become independents.

How are Presidents elected by the Electoral College?

The US public does not vote directly for the president, instead, they vote in statewide elections for electors.

How does a candidate win electoral votes?

If a candidate wins the plurality of popular vote in state he gets all the electoral votes (two exceptions – Maine, Nebraska).

What are historic changes to who can vote?

Elimination of race requirement (15th amendment), direct election of senators (17th amendment), women allowed to vote (19th amendment).

What civil act helped Eliminate laws that discriminated against blacks?

Voting Rights Act

What is an Interest Group?

A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude, and seek to influence government; use fundraising and lobbying to influence the political process.

What is Lobbying?

activities aimed at influencing public officials (legislators), often comes in the form of supplying data to government officials to convince them to vote a certain way

What is Media Bias?

The media has a tendency to spin the news towards a certain political ideology.

What is the McCain Feingold Act?

Limited soft money and still allowed PACs and interest groups to spend infinite amounts of money on issue advocacy.

What are Political Action Committees (PACs)?

Financial branch of an interest group (the part of the business that donates money).

What are 527 Groups?

Tax-exempt organization created to influence the nomination/election of a candidate.

How does a bill pass through Congress?

Congress has two bodies, the House and the Senate; in order for a bill to pass, it must be passed by both houses.

What is Logrolling?

Sometimes politicians “trade” votes.

How is the House of Representatives regarded?

The House is regarded as the “lower house”

How is the Senate regarded?

Each state has two senators (equal representation), and is considered the “upper house” – older and wiser.

What is a Standing Committee?

Panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities.

What is a Select or Special Committee?

Temporary groups with limited purposes (investigation).

What is a Joint Committee?

Includes members of both houses to perform housekeeping tasks or studies.

What is a Conference Committee?

Special type of joint committee that reconciles senate and house versions of a bill.

What are the Powers of the President?

commander-in-chief, chief executive, or powers in foreign affairs