AP Gov Final Review

Social Contract Theory

Government exists by consent of the governed to protect natural rights.

Republic

A system in which citizens elect representatives to govern.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Popular Sovereignty

The people are the ultimate source of government authority.

Liberal

Favors active government, regulation, and social equality.

Conservative

Favors limited government, tradition, and free markets.

Libertarianism

Minimal government with maximum individual liberty.

Confederacy

States hold most power; weak central government.

Federalism

Power is shared between national and state governments.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. governing document with weak national government.

Declaration of Independence

Asserted natural rights and justification for independence.

John Locke

Philosopher who proposed natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Montesquieu

Advocated for separation of powers in government.

Thomas Hobbes

Argued that strong central authority prevents chaos.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed government reflects the general will.

Checks and Balances

Each branch limits the powers of the others.

Elastic Clause

Congress may pass laws necessary and proper to carry out powers.

Commerce Clause

Congress regulates interstate commerce.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law overrides state law.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States honor other states’ laws and court decisions.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

States cannot discriminate against citizens of other states.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly given to Congress.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments.

Denied Powers

Powers prohibited to federal or state governments.

10th Amendment

Powers reserved to states or the people.

Interstate Compact

Agreement between states approved by Congress.

Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification due to lack of rights protections.

Amendment Process

Proposal by 2/3 of Congress or states; ratification by 3/4 of states.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Confirmed elastic clause and federal supremacy.

US v. Lopez

Limited Congress’s commerce power.

US v. Morrison

Reinforced limits on commerce clause.

Brutus 1

Warned against strong central government.

Federalist 10

Argued large republic controls factions.

Federalist 51

Explained checks and balances.

Federalist 78

Supported judicial independence.

Judicial Review

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review.

Supreme Court

Nine justices with life tenure.

Original Jurisdiction

Court hears case first.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Court reviews lower court decisions.

Writ of Certiorari

Order to bring a case before the Supreme Court.

Rule of 4

Four justices must agree to hear a case.

Stare Decisis

Follow precedent.

Amicus Curiae Brief

Brief submitted by non-litigants.

Judicial Restraint

Courts defer to elected branches.

Judicial Activism

Courts take active role in policy making.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created the federal court system.

Common Law

Law based on precedent.

Senatorial Courtesy

Senators influence judicial appointments.

Selective Incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights to states via 14th Amendment.

Due Process

Fair treatment under the law.

Bill of Rights

First ten constitutional amendments.

Civil War Amendments

13th ended slavery; 14th equal protection; 15th voting rights.

Voting Rights Amendments

15th, 19th, 24th, 26th expanded suffrage.

Equal Protection Clause

Laws must treat people equally.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected student symbolic speech.

Schenck v. United States

Speech limited by clear and present danger.

New York Times v. United States

Prior restraint unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale

School-sponsored prayer unconstitutional.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Religious freedom over compulsory schooling.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment.

Prior Restraint

Government censorship before publication.

Exclusionary Rule

Illegally obtained evidence excluded.

Miranda v. Arizona

Suspects must be informed of rights.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Right to an attorney.

Brown v. Board of Education

Ended school segregation.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Prohibited discrimination.

Voting Rights Act

Protected minority voting.

Shelby v. Holder

Limited VRA enforcement.

De Jure Discrimination

Discrimination by law.

De Facto Discrimination

Discrimination by practice.

Title IX

Prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Affirmative Action

Policies addressing past discrimination.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Protects individuals with disabilities.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

MLK defended civil disobedience.

Presidential Qualifications

35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14-year residency.

Cabinet

Heads of executive departments.

Bully Pulpit

President uses office to influence opinion.

22nd Amendment

Two-term limit.

25th Amendment

Succession and disability.

Executive Order

Presidential directive.

Executive Privilege

Confidential communications.

Pardon Power

Forgives federal crimes.

Youngstown Steel Case

Limited executive power.

US v. Nixon

Executive privilege not absolute.

INS v. Chadha

Legislative veto unconstitutional.

Bureaucracy

Agencies that implement laws.

Pendleton Act

Merit-based civil service.

Hatch Act

Limits political activity.

Bicameral

Two-house legislature.

Appropriations

Power of the purse.

Oversight

Review of executive agencies.

Impeachment

Removal process.

Filibuster

Senate debate delay.

Cloture

Ends filibuster.

Gerrymandering

Drawing districts for advantage.

Baker v. Carr

One person, one vote.

Shaw v. Reno

Limited racial gerrymandering.

Electoral College

Indirect presidential election.