AP GOV all units

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326 Terms

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Thomas Hobbes

English thinker who believed people need strong government to avoid chaos.

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Leviathan

Hobbes' book arguing people give up freedoms to a ruler for peace.

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Social Contract

Idea that people give government power in exchange for protection of rights.

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John Locke

English thinker who said people have natural rights: life, liberty, property.

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Second Treatise on Civil Government

Locke’s book arguing government must protect rights or be overthrown.

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Charles de Montesquieu

French thinker who believed in separating government power into branches.

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De l'Esprit des Lois

Montesquieu’s book explaining separation of powers and checks and balances.

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

French thinker who said government must follow the people's will.

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The Social Contract

Rousseau’s book saying government gets power from consent of the governed.

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Voltaire

French thinker who supported free speech, religious freedom, and reason.

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Candide

Voltaire’s novel that mocked blind optimism and supported freedom.

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Denis Diderot

French philosopher who spread Enlightenment ideas through the Encyclopedia.

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Participatory democracy

System where citizens are very involved in decision-making.

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Pluralist democracy

System where many groups compete for influence.

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Elite democracy

System where a small group (wealthy or educated) influence decisions most.

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Representative democracy

System where people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

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Popular sovereignty

Idea that government power comes from the people.

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Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government, with a weak national government.

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Federalism

System where power is divided between national and state governments.

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Northwest Ordinance

1787 law setting rules for adding new states to the U.S.

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Shays' Rebellion

1786 farmer protest showing the Articles of Confederation were weak.

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Constitution

Document creating the structure and rules of U.S. government.

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Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting where leaders wrote the new Constitution.

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Unicameral

Having one legislative house.

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Bicameral

Having two legislative houses (House and Senate).

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Virginia Plan

Plan for representation based on population (favored big states).

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New Jersey Plan

Plan for equal state representation (favored small states).

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The Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Combined both plans: House by population, Senate equal for all states.

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Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counts as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes.

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Federalists

Supported the Constitution and a strong central government.

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Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution, fearing too much central power.

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The Federalist Papers

Essays supporting ratifying the Constitution.

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Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution protecting individual freedoms.

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Electoral College

Group that formally elects the U.S. president.

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Legislative branch

Branch that makes laws (Congress).

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Executive branch

Branch that enforces laws (President).

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Judicial branch

Branch that interprets laws (Courts).

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Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers.

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Executive orders

President's commands that have the force of law.

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Executive agreements

Deals made by the president with other countries without Senate approval.

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Judicial review

Power of courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.

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Confederation

Loose group of states with weak national government.

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Delegated (enumerated) powers

Powers specifically given to the national government.

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Reserved powers

Powers kept by the states.

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Tenth Amendment

Says powers not given to federal government belong to states or people.

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Categorical grants

Federal money given for a specific purpose.

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Block grants

Federal money given for broad purposes with fewer restrictions.

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Separation of powers

Dividing government into branches to prevent one from being too powerful.

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Checks and balances

Each branch limits the others to keep power balanced.

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Veto

President's power to reject a bill.

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Overriding

Congress passing a law despite a veto (needs 2/3 vote).

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Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution.

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Ratify

To formally approve something.

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Ratifying convention

Special meeting to approve an amendment.

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Governor

Elected leader of a state.

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Pardons

President or governor forgiving someone for a crime.

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Reprieves

Delay in punishment for a crime.

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Gubernatorial veto

Governor’s power to reject a state law.

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Line-item veto

Governor's power to reject parts of a bill without rejecting the whole thing.

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Public opinion

What people think about politics and government.

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General public

Ordinary people who aren't deeply involved in politics.

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Issue public

Group that cares a lot about a specific political issue.

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Saliency

How important an issue is to someone.

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Intensity

How strongly someone feels about an issue.

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Stability

How much someone's opinion stays the same over time.

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Referendum

When voters directly decide a law or policy.

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Public opinion polls

Surveys asking people what they think about issues.

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Random sampling

Everyone has an equal chance to be chosen for a poll.

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Benchmark polls

First poll taken to find out where a candidate stands.

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Tracking polls

Ongoing polls that track changes in opinion over time.

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Entrance polls

Surveys taken before people vote at a location.

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Exit polls

Surveys taken after people vote to predict results.

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Stratified random sampling

Polling method that makes sure different groups are properly represented.

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Sampling error

How much poll results might be wrong because of random chance.

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Political socialization

How people form their political beliefs.

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Family

Biggest influence on a person's political views.

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Location

Where someone lives can shape political beliefs.

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School

Teaches civic values and influences political ideas.

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Religious institutions

Influence political beliefs through teachings and values.

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Mass media

TV, internet, newspapers that inform and shape public opinion.

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Higher education

College often broadens political views and awareness.

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Ideology

Set of beliefs about politics and government.

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Conservative

Believes in limited government, traditional values, and free markets.

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Liberal

Believes in active government, social programs, and individual rights.

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Moderate (Independent)

Holds a mix of conservative and liberal views.

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News media

Organizations that report news and shape public opinion.

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Public agenda

Issues that people and politicians pay the most attention to.

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Political parties

Groups that organize to win elections and influence government.

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Interest groups

Organizations that try to influence government policies.

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Political action committees (PACs)

Groups that raise money to support candidates or causes.

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527 groups

Tax-exempt groups that can raise money for political activities but can't directly support candidates.

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Elections

The process where citizens vote for leaders and policies.

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Media

Ways of communicating information to the public, like TV, newspapers, and the internet.

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Two-party system (bipartisan system)

A political system dominated by two major parties.

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Party platform

A political party’s official set of beliefs and goals.

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Primary elections

Elections where voters choose party candidates for the general election.

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National conventions

Big party meetings where nominees are officially chosen.

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Coalition

A group of people or parties that unite for a common goal.

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Party bases

The loyal supporters of a political party.

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Realignment

When major groups of voters switch political parties.