AP US Goverrnment EXAM vocabulary terms to know

Majoritarian Tyranny

The risk that a majority faction may infringe on the rights of minority groups.

Separation of Powers

Dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

Checks and Balances

A system ensuring that no single branch of government dominates the others.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Popular Sovereignty

Power that belongs to the people, AKA the consent of the governed.

Republicanism

The people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, emphasizing a system of government where elected officials represent the interests of the citizens.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy in which citizens have the power to make political decisions directly and actively engage in broad policy-making processes.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy in which various interest groups compete to influence political decisions, ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered in governance.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy where a small number of individuals or elites hold significant power and make decisions on behalf of the populace, often limiting direct participation.

Dual Federalism

Based on a clear delineation of authority and programs among the levels of government.

Cooperative Federalism

Based on a pragmatic mixing of authority and programs among the national, state, and local governments.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds are provided to state and local governments for specific projects or programs, with defined criteria for use.

Block Grants

Federal funds awarded to state and local governments with fewer restrictions than categorical grants, allowing more flexibility in spending.

Mandates

Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments to ensure compliance with federal laws or regulations, often without accompanying funds.

Devolution

Take power from the federal government and give it back to the states and local governments.

Exclusionary Rule

States that evidence illegally seized by law enforcement in violation of the suspect’s 4th Amendment right cannot be used against that suspect in criminal prosecution.

Rational-Choice Voting

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

Retrospective Voting

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future

Party-Line Voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government.

Linkage Institutions

Channels such as parties, interest groups, elections, and media that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policymakers.

Iron Triangles

The policy-making relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that fosters mutual benefits and influence.

Incumbency Advantage

The electoral edge is afforded to candidates already in office, often due to greater visibility, experience, and established donor networks.

Caucuses

A local gathering of party members to nominate candidates and decide policy positions, often preceding state and national conventions.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the United States Constitution, which formally elects the President and Vice President based on the popular vote in each state.

The Modern Campaign

Refers to the strategies and techniques used by candidates to communicate with voters, including advertising, social media engagement, and grassroots organization.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

Legislation aimed at regulating campaign financing and reducing the influence of soft money in political campaigns.

Political Socialization

The lifelong process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs, values, and behaviors, influenced by factors such as family, education, and media.

Opinion Polls

Surveys used to gauge public opinion on various issues, candidates, or policies, often influencing political strategies and decisions.

Benchmark/Tracking Polls

Polls used to measure public opinion over time, often adjusted to reflect changes in voter sentiment.

Entrance & Exit Polls

Polls are conducted before and after elections to measure voter preferences and predict election outcomes.

Economic Policy

Guidelines and strategies implemented by the government to influence a country's economic performance, including taxation, spending, and monetary policies.

Social Policy

Policies aimed at promoting the welfare of individuals and families, addressing issues like healthcare, education, and social security.

Liberal Ideologies

Tend to think that personal privacy—areas of behavior where government should not intrude—extends further than conservation ideologies do (except in arenas involving religious and educationsal freedom).

Conservative Ideologies

Favor less government involvement to ensure social and economic equality.

Libertarian Ideologies

Disfavor any governmental intervention beyond the protection of private property and individual liberty.

Civil Liberties

Personal freedoms protected from government interference or deprivations.

Prior Restraint

Government action that prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place.

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

A standard for judging the legality of punitive measures under the Eighth Amendment, prohibiting practices that are excessively harsh or inhumane.

Selective Incorporation

The legal doctrine ensuring that certain protections in the Bill of Rights are applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Miranda Warning

A warning that must be given to individuals in custody before interrogation, informing them of their rights to silence and legal counsel.

Rights of the Accused

The legal protections afforded to individuals facing criminal charges ensure fair treatment and due process under the law.

Exclusionary Rule

It stipulates that evidence illegally seized by law enforcement officers in violation of the suspect’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures cannot be used against that suspect in criminal prosecution.

Due Process Clause

A constitutional guarantee that ensures fair legal proceedings and protects individuals from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property.

Equal Protection Clause

A provision in the Fourteenth Amendment that requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all individuals within their jurisdiction.

Powers of Congress

The powers granted to Congress by the Constitution, including the authority to make laws, levy taxes, regulate commerce, and declare war.

Economic Legislation

Laws enacted by Congress to regulate economic activity, including taxation, labor, and trade.

Environmental Legislation

Laws aimed at protecting the environment, governing issues such as pollution control, conservation, and natural resource management.

Pork Barrel Spending

Money set aside (earmarked) in a bill for a pet project in a congressman’s district.

Logrolling

One congressman votes for another congressman’s project, hoping they will return the favor.

Riders

A non-related bill was added to another bill likely to pass in the Senate.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing district boundaries in a way that gives one political party an advantage over others during elections.

Divided Government

A political situation in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Discretionary Authority

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices regarding the best way to implement laws passed by Congress.

Limited Government

A political principle that restricts government power, ensuring individual rights and freedoms are protected from government intervention.

Social Contract

An agreement among individuals to form a government, wherein they consent to surrender some freedoms to maintain social order and protect their rights.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and government actions, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Great Connecticut Compromise

A 1787 agreement during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, balancing the needs of both small and large states by creating proportional representation in one house and equal representation in the other.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body formally charges a government official with misconduct, potentially leading to removal from office.