AP GOV all units

Thomas Hobbes

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

Leviathan

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

Social Contract

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

John Locke

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

Second Treatise on Civil Government

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

Charles de Montesquieu

French thinker who believed in separating government power into branches.

De l'Esprit des Lois

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

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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

The Social Contract

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

Voltaire

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

Candide

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

Denis Diderot

French philosopher who spread Enlightenment ideas through the Encyclopedia.

Participatory democracy

System where citizens are very involved in decision-making.

Pluralist democracy

System where many groups compete for influence.

Elite democracy

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

Representative democracy

System where people elect leaders to make decisions for them.

Popular sovereignty

Idea that government power comes from the people.

Articles of Confederation

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

Federalism

System where power is divided between national and state governments.

Northwest Ordinance

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

Shays' Rebellion

1786 farmer protest showing the Articles of Confederation were weak.

Constitution

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

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting where leaders wrote the new Constitution.

Unicameral

Having one legislative house.

Bicameral

Having two legislative houses (House and Senate).

Virginia Plan

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

New Jersey Plan

Plan for equal state representation (favored small states).

The Great (Connecticut) Compromise

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

Three-Fifths Compromise

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

Federalists

Supported the Constitution and a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution, fearing too much central power.

The Federalist Papers

Essays supporting ratifying the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution protecting individual freedoms.

Electoral College

Group that formally elects the U.S. president.

Legislative branch

Branch that makes laws (Congress).

Executive branch

Branch that enforces laws (President).

Judicial branch

Branch that interprets laws (Courts).

Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

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

Executive orders

President's commands that have the force of law.

Executive agreements

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

Judicial review

Power of courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Confederation

Loose group of states with weak national government.

Delegated (enumerated) powers

Powers specifically given to the national government.

Reserved powers

Powers kept by the states.

Tenth Amendment

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

Categorical grants

Federal money given for a specific purpose.

Block grants

Federal money given for broad purposes with fewer restrictions.

Separation of powers

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

Checks and balances

Each branch limits the others to keep power balanced.

Veto

President's power to reject a bill.

Overriding

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

Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution.

Ratify

To formally approve something.

Ratifying convention

Special meeting to approve an amendment.

Governor

Elected leader of a state.

Pardons

President or governor forgiving someone for a crime.

Reprieves

Delay in punishment for a crime.

Gubernatorial veto

Governor’s power to reject a state law.

Line-item veto

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

Public opinion

What people think about politics and government.

General public

Ordinary people who aren't deeply involved in politics.

Issue public

Group that cares a lot about a specific political issue.

Saliency

How important an issue is to someone.

Intensity

How strongly someone feels about an issue.

Stability

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

Referendum

When voters directly decide a law or policy.

Public opinion polls

Surveys asking people what they think about issues.

Random sampling

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

Benchmark polls

First poll taken to find out where a candidate stands.

Tracking polls

Ongoing polls that track changes in opinion over time.

Entrance polls

Surveys taken before people vote at a location.

Exit polls

Surveys taken after people vote to predict results.

Stratified random sampling

Polling method that makes sure different groups are properly represented.

Sampling error

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

Political socialization

How people form their political beliefs.

Family

Biggest influence on a person's political views.

Location

Where someone lives can shape political beliefs.

School

Teaches civic values and influences political ideas.

Religious institutions

Influence political beliefs through teachings and values.

Mass media

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

Higher education

College often broadens political views and awareness.

Ideology

Set of beliefs about politics and government.

Conservative

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

Liberal

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

Moderate (Independent)

Holds a mix of conservative and liberal views.

News media

Organizations that report news and shape public opinion.

Public agenda

Issues that people and politicians pay the most attention to.

Political parties

Groups that organize to win elections and influence government.

Interest groups

Organizations that try to influence government policies.

Political action committees (PACs)

Groups that raise money to support candidates or causes.

527 groups

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

Elections

The process where citizens vote for leaders and policies.

Media

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

Two-party system (bipartisan system)

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Party platform

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

Primary elections

Elections where voters choose party candidates for the general election.

National conventions

Big party meetings where nominees are officially chosen.

Coalition

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

Party bases

The loyal supporters of a political party.

Realignment

When major groups of voters switch political parties.