ap gov

Voter ID Law

Laws requiring people to show identification to vote, aimed at preventing fraud but criticized for possibly suppressing turnout.

Citizens United

A 2010 Supreme Court case that allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions.

Super PAC

Political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited money to advocate for or against candidates, but cannot coordinate with them.

Mandate vs Discretionary

Mandatory spending is required by law (like Social Security), while discretionary spending is decided yearly through the budget (like defense).

Federalist 51

An essay by James Madison arguing for checks and balances and separation of powers in government.

Media vs Media Silos

'Media' refers to sources of news; 'media silos' occur when people only get news from sources that reinforce their views.

Third Parties

Political parties outside of the two major ones (Democrats and Republicans), often influencing major parties despite rarely winning.

Redistricting (Not Race)

Redrawing voting district lines, usually after a census, without considering racial factors.

Liberal vs Conservative

Liberals generally favor more government action on social and economic issues; conservatives prefer limited government and traditional values.

Political Party vs Interest Groups

Parties nominate candidates and aim to control government, while interest groups advocate for policies without nominating candidates.

Nominate

The process by which political parties choose a candidate to run for office.

House vs Senate

House members serve two years and represent districts; Senators serve six years and represent entire states, with different rules and powers.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for Congress, like taxing and declaring war.

Primary Values vs Exit Polls

Primary values are people’s core political beliefs; exit polls survey voters right after they vote to predict election results.

Exclusionary Rule

A legal rule that evidence illegally obtained by police cannot be used in court.

Articles of Confederation vs Constitution

The Articles created a weak national government; the Constitution created a stronger, balanced federal government.

Different Democracies

Refers to types like direct democracy (people vote on laws) vs representative democracy (people elect leaders to make laws).

Griswold v Connecticut

A 1965 Supreme Court case that established the right to privacy, particularly regarding birth control.

Civil Rights Act

A 1964 law banning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Party Realignment

When major groups of voters shift their party loyalty, often tied to a major national event or issue.

McCulloch v Maryland

A 1819 Supreme Court case affirming federal power over state power and confirming the constitutionality of a national bank.

Categorical vs Block Grants

Categorical grants are specific with strings attached; block grants are broader and give states more freedom on spending.

Voting Rights Act

A 1965 law eliminating barriers like literacy tests that suppressed minority voting.

Tinker v Des Moines

A 1969 Supreme Court case where the Court ruled students have free speech rights at school as long as it’s not disruptive.

Selective Incorporation

The process of applying Bill of Rights protections to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in an election.

Delegate, Trustee, Politico

Models of representation: delegates vote how constituents want; trustees use their own judgment; politicos do a mix of both.

Different Polls, What’s Valid

Different types of political polls (like tracking, entrance, and exit polls); valid polls use random samples and have small margins of error.

Critical Election

An election that marks a major shift in political alliances or party dominance.

Fiscal vs Monetary Policy

Fiscal policy is government taxing and spending; monetary policy is how the central bank (Federal Reserve) controls the money supply.

Brown v Board

A 1954 Supreme Court case ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

Bureaucratic Rulemaking

The process where executive agencies create detailed regulations based on broad laws passed by Congress.

Federalist 78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton promoting judicial independence and defending the power of judicial review.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Stare Decisis

The practice of courts following precedents established in previous cases.

Political Socialization

The lifelong process where people develop political opinions and values, influenced by family, school, media, and other factors.