AP GOV REVIEW: Public Policy (Unit 8)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to Public Policy from AP Government.

Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

A healthcare reform law enacted in March 2010 aimed at improving healthcare access and reducing costs.

budget deficit

A financial situation where government expenditures exceed revenue.

Bush Doctrine

A foreign policy approach prioritizing preventive war and unilateral action.

discretionary spending

Government spending implemented through an appropriations bill, often subject to the annual budget process.

Clean Air Act of 1970

U.S. law aimed at regulating air emissions from stationary and mobile sources.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

A measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services.

entitlement programs

Government programs that guarantee certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population.

fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to influence the economy through changes in government spending or taxes.

inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising.

monetary policy

The process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

An intergovernmental military alliance between North American and European countries.

regressive tax

A tax system where the tax rate decreases as the taxable amount increases.

social welfare

Government programs that provide aid to individuals and families in need.

tariffs

Taxes imposed on imported goods to raise revenue and protect domestic industries.

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Legislation aimed at reducing dependency on government assistance through various reforms.

Balanced Budget

A financial plan that ensures government spending does not exceed its revenue, promoting fiscal responsibility.

Business Cycles

Fluctuations in economic activity characterized by periods of expansion and contraction.

Charter Schools

Publicly funded independent schools that operate with more flexibility than traditional public schools, often established to improve student performance.

Clean Water Act of 1972

A federal law aimed at regulating the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States and ensuring water quality standards.

Cold War

Geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, lasting from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, marked by ideological conflict, military build-up, and proxy wars.

Containment

A U.S. foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing the spread of communism during the Cold War.

Congressional Budget Office

A nonpartisan congressional agency that provides economic data and analysis to assist Congress in budgeting and financial decisions.

Debt

something, usually money, owed by one party to another. used by many individuals and companies to make large purchases that they could not afford under other circumstances.

Deficit Spending

a government spending more money than it receives in revenue, leading to a budget deficit and requiring borrowing to cover the shortfall

Democratic Enlargement

the policy or strategy of promoting the spread of democracy to other countries. It involves encouraging or supporting the growth of democratic institutions, values, and practices in nations that are not yet democratic, with the aim of creating a more democratic and stable global order. This concept is often associated with foreign policy efforts, particularly by Western countries, to influence political systems in other parts of the world.

Deregulation

the process of removing or reducing state regulations, typically in the economic sphere. It is the repeal of governmental regulation of the economy.

Détente

the easing of strained relations, particularly between nations, through verbal communication and diplomacy

Discount Rate

the interest rate the Federal Reserve (the Fed) charges commercial banks and other financial institutions for short-term loans from the Fed's lending facility — the interest rate the Federal Reserve charges commercial banks and other financial institutions for short-term loans

Domino Theory

a Cold War-era US foreign policy concept that suggested if one nation fell to communism, neighboring countries would also succumb — links accident causation to a sequence of events in which one event triggers the next

Endangered Species

those plants and animals that have become so rare they are in danger of becoming extinct.

Energy Dependent

rate shows the proportion of energy that an economy must import. It is defined as net energy imports divided by gross available energy, expressed as a percentage.

Environmental Protection Agency

a United States federal agency dedicated to protecting human health and the environment through the development and enforcement of environmental regulations.

Favorable Balance of Trade

the value of a nation's exports in excess of the value of its imports. — it now receives more imports for each unit of goods exported

Federal Reserve System

the central bank of the United States. It performs five general functions to promote the effective operation of the U.S. economy and, more generally, the public interest.

Fiscal Year

A one-year period used by organizations for financial reporting and budgeting, not necessarily aligning with the calendar year.

Flat Tax

A tax system with a single fixed rate, regardless of income level.

Food Stamp Program (SNAP)

A U.S. program providing financial assistance for purchasing food to low-income individuals and families.

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

An international treaty aimed at reducing trade barriers and promoting free trade.

Global Independence

The state of nations acting autonomously and independently on a global scale.

Global War on Terrorism

A worldwide campaign by the U.S. and allies to combat terrorism after the September 11 attacks.

Global Warming

The increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities and greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period.

Interventionist State

A government that actively engages in economic and social policies to influence and regulate the economy.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of avoiding involvement in international conflicts or alliances.

Laissez-Faire State

A government approach favoring minimal intervention in the economy and free-market principles.

Linkage Institution

Organizations that connect citizens to government, facilitating communication and participation in the political process.

Mandatory Spending

Government spending that is required by existing laws, including programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are funded without annual appropriations.

Means-Tested Programs

Welfare programs that provide assistance based on individual income and need.

Medicaid

state and federal program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families, including children, pregnant women, the elderly, and disabled persons, helping to cover costs for medical services and long-term care.

Medicare

a federal health insurance program in the United States, primarily for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as younger individuals with disabilities and certain diseases. It

Military-Industrial Complex

The coalition of the military and defense contractors that influences national defense policy.

National Energy Policy

A strategy developed by the government to manage and regulate energy production, consumption, and conservation to ensure energy security and sustainability.

No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

A federal law enacted in 2001 aimed at improving student achievement and closing educational gaps by setting standards and accountability measures for schools.

Non-Means-Tested Programs

Government programs that provide assistance without requiring proof of income or financial need, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Nonrenewable Resources

Natural resources that cannot be replaced or regenerated within a human timescale, such as fossil fuels and minerals. Programs available regardless of income level, providing benefits to all qualifying individuals.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

A trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States that eliminated tariffs and reduced trade barriers, aimed at increasing economic cooperation. It was implemented in 1994 and later replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2020. The agreement aimed to promote trade and investment among the three countries while fostering economic growth. It sought to enhance economic integration and competitiveness in the North American region.

Office of Management and Budget

is a division of the Executive Office of the President that assists in the preparation of the federal budget and oversees its administration in Executive Branch agencies. It also evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures.

Patriot Act

A law enacted in response to the September 11 attacks to enhance law enforcement's ability to prevent and investigate terrorism. It expanded surveillance powers and included measures to facilitate information sharing among government agencies.

Poverty Line

the minimum level of income deemed adequate to maintain a standard of living, often calculated based on the cost of basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing.

Progressive Tax

A tax system where the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases, placing a higher burden on higher-income earners.

Protectionism

an economic policy of shielding domestic industries from foreign competition through tariffs and quotas. aims to promote local businesses by limiting imports.

Public Policy

a course of action adopted and pursued by a government or organization to address societal issues, typically involving laws, regulations, and funding.

Recession

a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, usually identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.

Renewable Resources

natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time, such as solar, wind, and hydro energy.

Reserve Requirements

the percentage of deposits that banks must keep on hand and not lend out, used by central banks to control the money supply.

Safety Net

refers to government programs that provide support for individuals and families in financial need, including unemployment benefits and food assistance.

School Vouchers

funds provided to families to pay for education at a school of their choice, often used in private or charter schools.

Social Security

A government program that provides financial assistance to individuals, primarily the elderly, disabled, and survivors of deceased workers, funded through payroll taxes.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)

Negotiations between the US and the Soviet Union to limit nuclear weapons and strategic arms. These talks aimed to curb the arms race during the Cold War, resulting in two key agreements in the 1970s.

Superfund

A federal program aimed at cleaning up hazardous waste sites across the United States, funded by a tax on petroleum and chemical companies.

Taliban

A militant group that governed Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, known for its strict interpretation of Islamic law and its role in harboring terrorists.

Title IX

A federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits gender discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funding.

Trade Deficit

The economic situation where a country's imports exceed its exports, leading to a negative balance of trade.

Unfunded Mandate Act of 1997

A law that restricts the federal government's ability to impose requirements on state and local governments without providing federal funding. The act aims to ensure that states are not forced to bear the financial burden of federal mandates, thereby promoting fiscal responsibility.

Workfare

A welfare program requiring recipients to work in exchange for benefits, aimed at reducing dependency on government assistance.