CLEP American History

Shelby County v. Holder

Weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by removing the preclearance requirement for certain states.

Citizens United v. FEC

Allowed unlimited political spending by corporations and unions.

McCutcheon v. FEC

Struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions to federal candidates.

War Powers Resolution

Limits the President's ability to deploy troops without congressional approval.

Executive Agreements

International agreements made by the President without Senate approval.

Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)

Legal authorization for military actions without a formal declaration of war.

National Voter Registration Act

Also known as the "Motor Voter Act," makes voter registration easier.

Help America Vote Act

Passed in response to the 2000 election controversy, aimed at improving voting processes.

Ranked-Choice Voting

Allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

Senate Hold

A practice where a senator blocks a bill or nomination.

Discharge Petition

A way to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor for a vote.

Standing Committee

Permanent congressional committees responsible for legislation.

Select Committee

Temporary committees created for specific investigations or tasks.

Conference Committee

A committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Keynesian Economics

Supports government spending to stimulate demand during economic downturns.

Supply-Side Economics

Advocates tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate business growth.

Federal Reserve Tools

Open market operations, discount rate adjustments, and reserve requirements.

Debt vs. Deficit

Debt is the total amount owed; deficit is the annual shortfall between revenue and spending.

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Agencies like the FCC and SEC that regulate specific industries.

Government Corporations

Businesses run by the government, such as Amtrak and USPS.

Dillon’s Rule

States strictly control local governments unless home rule is granted.

Home Rule

Allows local governments more autonomy from state control.

Initiative

Citizens propose and vote on new laws directly.

Referendum

Citizens vote to approve or repeal legislation.

Recall

Voters can remove an elected official before their term ends.

Tea Party Movement

A conservative movement advocating for limited government and lower taxes.

Populism

A political approach that claims to represent ordinary people against elites.

Isolationism

A foreign policy stance advocating minimal involvement in international affairs.

Interventionism

A foreign policy stance advocating active participation in global conflicts.

Realism vs. Idealism

Realism prioritizes national interests; idealism promotes democracy and human rights.

United Nations

An international organization focused on global peace and cooperation.

NATO

A military alliance between North America and European nations.

Affordable Care Act

Expanded healthcare coverage and insurance regulations.

USA PATRIOT Act

Increased government surveillance powers after 9/11.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Federal spending on transportation, broadband, and energy.