AP GOV

Constitutional Democracy

A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections.

Democracy

Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.

Direct democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

Representative democracy

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Constitutionalism

The set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights.

Statism

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals.

Popular consent

The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.

Majority rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Majority

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.

Plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Theocracy

Government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 and ratified in 1781.

Annapolis Convention

A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation.

Constitutional Convention

The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution.

Shays’s Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures.

Bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature.

Virginia Plan

Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a central government with a single-house legislature.

Connecticut Compromise

Compromise agreement for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

Three-fifths compromise

Compromise that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for taxation and representation.

Federalists

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government.

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.

The Federalist

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

Natural law

God’s or nature’s law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.

Separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and balances

Powers that enable each branch of government to check the others.

Divided government

Governance divided between the parties.

Direct primary

Election in which voters choose party nominees.

Initiative

Procedure where voters can propose a law or constitutional amendment.

Referendum

Procedure for submitting legislation or amendments to popular vote.

Recall

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of an official from office.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark case that established the principle of judicial review.

Judicial review

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law that conflicts with the Constitution.

Writ of mandamus

Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.

Impeachment

Formal accusation against a public official; the first step in removal from office.

Executive order

Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.

Executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential.

Impoundment

Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds authorized by Congress.

Devolution revolution

Effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning functions to the states.

Federalism

Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and state governments.

Dual federalism

View that the Constitution provides limited powers to the national government, leaving the rest to the states.

Cooperative federalism

Federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations that requires cooperation.

Marble cake federalism

Federalism where all levels of government are involved in various issues and programs.

Competitive federalism

Views national and state governments as competing over services and taxes.

Permissive federalism

States' powers rest upon the permission of the national government.

'Our federalism'

Championed by Ronald Reagan, presumes that federal power is limited in favor of the states.

Unitary system

Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.

Confederation

Arrangement where sovereign states create a central government with limited power.

Express powers

Powers granted to the national government by the Constitution.

Implied powers

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

Necessary and proper clause

Clause that allows Congress to make all laws necessary to execute its powers.

Inherent powers

Powers of the national government in foreign affairs not dependent on constitutional grants.

Commerce clause

Clause giving Congress the power to regulate business activities that affect multiple states.

Federal mandate

Requirement imposed by the federal government for receiving funds.

Concurrent powers

Powers given to both national and state governments.

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize the civil judgments and public records of other states.

Extradition

Legal process of surrendering a criminal to the state where the crime occurred.

Interstate compact

Agreement between two or more states approved by Congress.

National supremacy

Doctrine that federal actions take precedence over state actions.

Preemption

Right of federal law to preclude enforcement of state law.

Centralists

People who favor national action over state and local action.

Decentralists

People who favor state and local action over national action.

Categorical-formula grants

Federal funds appropriated for specific purposes with conditions.

Project grants

Fund appropriated for specific state/local agencies based on applications.

State’s rights

Powers reserved for the states.

Block grants

Broad state grants with few strings attached.

Direct orders

Regulation that must be complied with or face sanctions.

Cross-cutting requirements

Conditions on federal grants that apply to all activities receiving federal funds.

Crossover sanctions

Using federal funds from one program to influence policy in another area.

Total and Partial Preemption

Federal assurance of compliance in certain areas governed by state laws.

Creative federalism

Marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations during the Great Society.

Fiscal federalism

Division of government responsibilities into various grant programs.

Linkage institutions

Means by which individuals express preferences for public policy.

Photo ops

Planned photo opportunities set up by candidates.

Sound bites

Short statements used by media to simplify political issues.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs and values about government and citizen relationships.

Social capital

Democratic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences.

Natural rights

Rights of all individuals related to dignity and worth.

Democratic consensus

Widespread agreement on democratic governance principles.

American dream

Belief that the U.S. is a land of opportunity and hard work leads to success.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private property and limited government involvement.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Monopoly

Dominance of an industry by a single company.

Antitrust legislation

Laws aimed at preventing monopolies and restraining trade.

Political ideology

Consistent beliefs about political values and government roles.

Liberalism

Belief that government should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

Conservatism

Belief that limited government ensures order and personal opportunity.

Socialism

System based on public ownership of production means.

Libertarianism

Ideology advocating minimal government interference and maximal individual liberty.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one’s own nation or ethnic group.

Political socialization

Process of developing political attitudes and beliefs.

Demographics

Study of population characteristics.

Political predisposition

Characteristic predictive of political behavior.

Reinforcing cleavages

Divisions in society that reinforce each other.

Cross-cutting cleavages

Divisions that cut across demographic categories.

Manifest destiny

19th-century belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.

Race

Groupings of humans based on distinctive genetic characteristics.

Ethnicity

Social division based on national origin, religion, and language.

Gender gap

Differences in political opinions and behavior between men and women.

Fundamentalists

Conservative Christians who became politically active in recent decades.