AP US Government & Politics Vocabulary Study

Set of vocabulary flashcards from AP US Government & Politics lecture notes.

Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states.

Fiscal federalism

The use of spending by the federal government through the grant process to influence state policies.

Cooperative federalism

A system where the federal government and the states work together in funding and administering programs.

Block grants

Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent.

Categorical grants

Money given by the federal government to the states to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.

Unfunded mandate

A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money.

Devolution

A process by which the national government gives more power and authority to the states.

Demographics

The statistical characteristics of a population.

Political socialization

The process by which an individual develops his or her political beliefs.

Political culture

The shared political values of a society.

Political efficacy

An individual’s belief that his or her political participation can make a difference.

Gender gap

The tendency of women to support candidates from the Democratic party at greater rates than men.

Single-member districts

The electoral system used to select members of the House of Representatives.

Redistricting

Changing congressional district boundaries based on a new census.

Gerrymandering

Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party.

Critical election

An election where new coalitions of voters have formed, beginning a new party era.

Party realignment

The process through which voters leave the coalition of one major party and join the coalition of the other major party.

Party dealignment

When voters no longer identify with one of the two major parties and become independent voters.

Divided government

When the President is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing political party.

Open primary

An election to determine a party’s candidate for office in which that party’s members and unaffiliated voters may vote.

Closed primary

A vote by party members to determine their party’s candidate for office, restricted to those who are registered to the party.

Caucus

Face-to-face meetings of party members at the local or state level to determine their party’s candidate for office.

General election

An election to select the person who will hold office.

Midterm election

An election in which voters select members of Congress, but not the President.

PAC

An organization that is registered with the Federal Election Committee and donates money to a candidate or campaign.

Super PAC

An organization, which need not disclose its members, that can spend an unlimited amount of money on a political campaign.

Independent expenditures

Money spent on ads that are not sponsored by a candidate or party.

Policy agenda

Problems that have the attention of the government and the public.

Horse race journalism

The tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues.

Issue network (iron triangle)

A relationship between interest groups, agencies, and congressional committees in a certain policy area.

Political party

A group of individuals who organize to run candidates for office.

Party polarization

When political parties move farther away from each other ideologically and also move away from the center.

Interest group

An organization that advocates for policies through lobbying, electioneering, grassroots mobilization, and protesting.

Pluralism

A theory of government in which many groups compete for policy.

Lobbying

Efforts by an interest group or individual to contact a member of Congress and advocate for a particular policy.

Grassroots lobbying

Ordinary citizens raising awareness for a cause and pushing the government to adopt a particular policy.

Expressed powers

Powers that are given to an institution of government directly in the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution.

Franking privilege

The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress.

Pork barrel spending

A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency.

Filibuster

A procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death.

Casework

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem.

Oversight

Congressional committee hearings held to determine how well an agency is doing its job.

Motion for cloture

A vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster.

Incumbent

An officeholder who is running for reelection.

Logrolling

When members of Congress trade votes for favors to get the bills they support passed.

Inherent powers

Powers that are naturally derived from the duties of a specific government position.

White House staff

The President’s personal assistants and advisors.

Executive order

A presidential directive.

Pocket veto

When Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President without action.

Lame duck period

The time during which a President who has lost an election is still in office.

Amicus curiae brief

A written argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit.

Stare decisis

When a court follows precedent by letting a previous decision stand.

Original intent

Making judicial decisions by considering what the Founding Fathers meant in the Constitution.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action as unconstitutional.

Judicial activism

A philosophy that the Supreme Court should make bold new policy.

Writ of certiorari

A document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case.

Litigation

A lawsuit.

Uncontrollable spending

Expenditures that the federal government cannot realistically reduce because they are required by law.

Entitlements

Promises made by the government to an identifiable group of people who are guaranteed benefits.

Mandatory spending

Expenditures that the federal government is obligated to make.

Monetary policy

Influencing the economy through federal interest rates, reserve rates, and the amount of money in circulation.

Fiscal policy

Impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget.

Selective incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Suffrage

The right to vote.