Monster Vocab AP Gov

Amicus curiae

A legal term meaning 'friend of the court,' referring to someone not a party to a case who submits information to assist the court.

Block grants

Federal funds allocated to states for broad purposes with few restrictions.

Bully pulpit

A platform or position that provides an opportunity to advocate for a cause.

Casework

The activities of members of Congress that help constituents with issues related to the federal government.

Categorical grants

Federal funds provided to states for specific purposes, with strict regulations.

Caucus

A meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement.

Closed primary

A primary election in which only registered party members can vote.

Cooperative federalism

A model of federalism where national and state governments work together to solve problems.

Critical elections

Elections that signal a significant shift in party alliances or voter behavior.

Dealignment

A decline in party loyalty among voters, often leading to an increase in independent voting.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Devolution

The transfer of power from the federal government to state and local governments.

Divided government

A situation in which one party controls the presidency and another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide benefits to individuals regardless of need.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.

Expressed powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate.

Fiscal federalism

The division of governmental functions and financial relations among levels of government.

Fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to influence the economy through taxation and spending.

Franking privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents free of charge.

Gender gap

The difference in voting behavior between men and women.

General election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Grassroots lobbying

Efforts to influence legislation by mobilizing the general public.

Horse race journalism

Political reporting that focuses on the competition between candidates rather than on issues.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are inferred from its language.

Incumbent

A current officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Independent expenditures

Money spent by individuals or groups to advocate for or against a candidate without direct coordination.

Inherent powers

Powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary for the government to function.

Interest group

An organization of people with shared policy goals that seeks to influence public policy.

Issue network (iron triangle)

A stable, mutually beneficial relationship among interest groups, legislators, and bureaucrats.

Judicial activism

The philosophy that courts should interpret the Constitution in a way that promotes social change.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Lame duck period

The time between an election and the inauguration of a new officeholder.

Litigation

The process of taking legal action.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence the decisions of government officials.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors or votes among politicians to get legislative action.

Mandatory spending

Expenditures that are required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Midterm election

Elections held two years after a presidential election, where Congress is partially elected.

Monetary policy

The management of the money supply and interest rates by the Federal Reserve.

Motion for cloture

A procedure used to end a filibuster in the Senate.

Open primary

A primary election in which voters can choose candidates from any party regardless of their own party affiliation.

Original intent

The idea that the Constitution should be interpreted based on the intentions of the framers.

Oversight

The review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies and programs.

PAC

Political Action Committee; a group that raises and spends money to elect candidates.

Party polarization

The growing ideological divide between political parties.

Pluralism

The theory that multiple groups compete for power in government, leading to compromise and moderation.

Pocket veto

An indirect veto exercised by the president by refusing to sign a bill.

Policy agenda

The set of issues that are considered important by government officials and the public.

Political culture

The set of shared values, beliefs, and norms that shape the political behavior of a society.

Political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation makes a difference.

Political party

An organized group of people with shared political beliefs that seeks to influence government policy.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political attitudes and beliefs.

Pork barrel spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Realignment

A significant change in the political landscape, often resulting in a new party system.

Redistricting

The drawing of new electoral district boundaries, often following a census.

Selective incorporation

The process by which certain rights are applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Single-member districts

Electoral districts that send one representative to a legislative body.

Stare decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Super PAC

Political Action Committees that can raise unlimited funds to advocate for or against candidates.

Uncontrollable spending

Spending that is mandated by law and cannot be easily altered.

Unfunded mandate

A regulation or policy imposed by the federal government without providing funding to support it.

White House staff

The group of advisors and assistants to the President of the United States.

Writ of certiorari

An order by the Supreme Court to review the decision of a lower court.

A of C- Weaknesses

The Articles of Confederation had weaknesses such as lack of a strong central government and no power to tax.

D of I- Popular Sovereignty

The Declaration of Independence emphasizes that government derives its power from the consent of the governed.

Brutus 1

An Anti-Federalist paper arguing against the Constitution, emphasizing the dangers of a strong central government.

MLK, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

A letter advocating for nonviolent protest against segregation and injustice.

Constitution: blueprint for U.S. democracy

The Constitution serves as the foundational document outlining the structure and principles of the U.S. government.

Federalist 10- Faction

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic can mitigate the danger of factions.

Federalist 51- Fed & Leg

An essay by Madison discussing the need for separation of powers and checks and balances.

Federalist 70- Presidency

An essay arguing for a strong, energetic executive leader.

Federalist 78- Judiciary

An essay outlining the need for an independent judiciary to protect against abuses by the other branches.

Baker v Carr 1962

A Supreme Court case that established the principle of 'one person, one vote' in redistricting.

Brown v Board 1954

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional.

Citizens United v F.E.C. 2010

A Supreme Court case that ruled that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts cannot be limited.

Engel v Vitale 2010

A Supreme Court case that ruled it unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools.

Gideon v Wainwright 1963

A Supreme Court case that ruled that the state must provide an attorney to defendants in criminal cases who cannot afford one.

Marbury v Madison 1803

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

McCulloch v Maryland 1819

A Supreme Court case that established the federal government's implied powers over the states.

McDonald v Chicago 2010

A Supreme Court case that ruled that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments.

Roe v Wade 1973

A landmark Supreme Court decision that recognized a woman's legal right to have an abortion.

Schenck v US 1919

A Supreme Court case that established the 'clear and present danger' standard for restricting speech.

Shaw v Reno 1993

A Supreme Court case that ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny.

Tinker v Des Moines 1969

A Supreme Court decision that ruled students do not lose their First Amendment rights when they step onto school property.

US v Lopez 1995

A Supreme Court case that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

Wisconsin v Yoder 1972

A Supreme Court case that upheld the right of Amish families to pull their children from school for religious reasons.

NY Times v US 1971

A Supreme Court case that upheld freedom of the press against prior restraint by the government.