AP Exam Review Concepts

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

Great Comprimise

agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation

Majority and Minority Leaders

Responsible for assigning bills to committee in the Senate.

supply-side economics

An economic philosophy that holds the sharply cutting taxes will increase the incentive people have to work, save, and invest. Greater investments will lead to more jobs, a more productive economy, and more tax revenues for the government.

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

natrual rights

Life, Liberty, and Property

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Social Contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws

elite democracy

limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders

pluralist democracy

citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

Federalist vs. Anti Federalist

those who favored the Constitution (strong national government) vs. those who opposed the Constitution (threat to individual rights)

Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation

no power to tax, President lacked power, no money to buy ships or pay soldiers

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Electoral College

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

3/5 Compromise

-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

exclusive powers

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone (10th amendment)

conccurent powers

powers shared by the state and federal government

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments.

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

Senate

A council of representatives. 2 from each state

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Taxation

Money raised to provide services for the common good of the community/country

Power to coin money

Congress printing money

raise and maintain armed forces

Congress to raise and support Armies

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Majority and minority whips

are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues

Preseident of senate

VP

President Pro Tempore

When VP isn't available in Senate

Census

the official count of a population

Fillibuster

the use of long speeches to prevent the vote on a bill

cloture rule

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress; Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

delegate

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

policy agenda

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important. (president usually sets one)

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Original vs. Appellate Jurisdiction

original - trial courts appellate - just review, no origination

writ of mandamus

written order from a court to enforce the performance of some public duty

precedent

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

judicial activism

An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures (original intent)

Cabinet Departments

the 15 largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy

Agencies

An organization, company, or bureau that provides some service for another

independent regulatory commission

an entity created by Congress outside a major executive department (Ex: IRS)

government corporation

EX: USPS

iorn triangle

Interest Groups, Bureaucracy, Congress

enumerated powers

Powers given to the national government alone

Partisan Division

Different parties as the majority in different houses

Individual Freedoms vs Social Order

Individual rights vs common good

Substantial Abruption

Is something really disrupting?

prior restraint

government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast

exclusionary rule

improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial

Implicit Rights

interpreted from law (freedom of speech)

direct action

civil rights campaigns that directly confronted segregationist practices through public demonstrations

Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights

Civil Liberties are about freedoms we possess, mostly outlined in the bill of rights. Civil Rights involves equal treatment/protection under the law

de jure segregation

segregation by law

de facto segregation

segregation by choice

affermative action

positive efforts to recruit minority group members or women for jobs, promotions, and educational opportunities

individualism

a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.

equality of opportunity

giving people an equal chance to succeed

free enterprise

free market

Rule of Law

Law applies to everyone/ no one above the law

Conservaties vs. Liberals

Strict vs Loose Interpretation of the government

Meritocracy

a system in which promotion is based on individual ability or achievement

Hoover approach

let economy fix itself

opinion poll

A method of systematically questioning a small, selected sample of respondents who are deemed representative of the total population.

sampling error (margin of error)

polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample

party platform

A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate's strength. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.

fiscal policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

Monetary policy

managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates

Libertarian policy

leave the economy alone.

Keynesian economics

The theory that the economy will work itself out

Federal Reserve System (FED)

the central bank of the United States

rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

prospective voting

voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate

party-line voting

process in which voters select candidates by their party affiliation