AP U.S Government and Politics Vocab

Activist court

Court that makes decisions that forge new grounds such as Brown v Board of Education and establishes precedent that often results in some form of legislative action

Advise and consent

Power of the senate regarding presidential appointments

Affirmative action

Programs for minorities supported by government ass means of providing equality under the law

Affordable care act

In 2010 President Obama signed into law his signature initiative the Affordable Care Act .The law was passed by Democratic votes and 2 independent; the Republicans who opposed it referred to it as Obamacare. The law provides that all Americans will have access to affordable health insurance options.

Agenda setting

Political parties setting policy goals

All politics is local

Phrase coined by former Democratic Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and refers to how the behavior of congresspersons on the local level was the determining factor for how voters perceived their representatives

Americans with disabilities act (1991)

Act that required employers, schools, and public buildings to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of handicapped individuals by providing such things as ramps and elevators with appropriate facilities

Amicus curiae

“Friend of the court”; briefs that may be sent to support the position of one side or the other

Anti Federalists

Urged the rejection of the Constitution and objected to a federal government that was too centralized. They become the Democratic-Republican party led by Thomas Jefferson

Amendment process

Manner in which the Constitution can be changed, usually by 2/3 vote of each House of Congress and ¾ of state legislatures

Appellate jurisdiction

Courts that have the right to review cases from lower courts on appeal. The highest federal court, the Supreme Court is the final court appeal

Apportionment

The determination of legislative district boundaries as a result of population changes as measured every 10 years by the census

Appropriation Bill

Congressional legislation that has spending as a basic characteristic. There are 13 total of these bills that make up the federal budget

Arraignment

Court hearing where a person accused of a crime is formally charged

Articles of Confederation

The first adopted written constitution of the newly independent United States. Because of its weakness, the period of time it was in force became known as the critical period

Baker v Carr

Case that established the principle of one man, one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Balanced budget

Public policy that advocated the federal budget spend only as much money as it receives. Attempt made to pass a constitutional amendment mandating this policy failed

Battleground stares (swing states)

Those stares in a presidential election, such as Florida, Missouri and Ohio are closely contested

Bicameral

A two house legislature

Bill of attainder

The constitutional prohibition of the legislature determining a judicial outcome without a trial

Bipartisan

Refers to two political parties working together to reach a common policy goal

Bipartisan Campaign Act of 2002

Also known as the McCain- Feingold Act it banned soft money donations by individuals to presidential candidates and set aggregate limits for individuals to presidential candidates and set aggregate limits for individual contributing to individual candidates

Block grants

A form of fiscal federalism where federal aid is given to the states with few strings attached

Bully Pulpit

The ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals

Bureaucracies

Large administrative agencies reflection a hierarchical authority job specialization and rules and regulations that drive them

Bush v Gore

Supreme Court ruled the Florida recount held after the 2000 presidential voting between Republican George W Bush and Democrat AI Gore violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment which resulted in Bush winning Floridas electoral votes and the presidential election

Cabinet

Part of the unwritten Constitution it was first established by George Washington and includes federal departments such as state, defense and so on

Campaign finance reform

Legislation aimed at placing limits on political candidates accepting money and gifts from individuals and special interest groups

Casework

Also known as constituent service a congressperson provides various services (such as helping an immigrant get a green card) to people who reside in his or her district to vote

categorical grants

Include project and formula grants and aim at assisting the states in areas such as health income security and education

Caucus

Party regulars meeting in small groups asking questions discussing qualifications regarding the candidate and voting on whether to endorse a particular candidate. In presidential campaigns, the Iowa caucus has taken on almost as much importance as the New Hampshire primary because of its timing

Census

Official count in the population of a district state or nation which includes recordings of statistics such as age, sex, occupation and property ownership

Checks and balances

A key aspect of the Constitution of the United States protecting the balance of power among the three branches of government. The concept was first promoted by James Madison in the Federalist Papers

Chief executive

A term to describe the presidents powers found in the Article 2 of the Constitution

Civil liberties

Those rights of the people that are protected by the Bill of rights

Civil rights

The application of equal protection under the law to individuals

Civil rights act of 1964

Established the legality of access to public accommodations, theaters, hotels, and other public facilities

Clear and present danger doctrine

Established in Schenck v United States it gives the government the right to censor free speech if, during national emergencies such as war it can be proven that the result of that speech will significantly endanger national security

Closed primary

Primary in which only registered party members can vote.

Closed rule

Bans amendments to a bill once the bill reaches the House floor

Cloture

The process by which 60 senators can vote to cut short debate or filibuster

Coalition building

The alliance of special interest groups with the purpose of achieving the same goal using both direct lobbying and grassroots lobbying

Commander in chief

Delegated power of the president

Commerce clause

Article 1 section 8 clause 3 of the Constitution giving Congress the authority to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with foreign countries

Committee of the whole

The whole membership of a legislative house sitting as a committee and operating under informal rules

Competitive federalism

Begun under Richard Nixon and known as the new federalism, this approach stressed the downsizing of the federal government and more reliance in revenue sharing and grants

Concurrent powers

Power shared by the state and federal governments such as the power to tax

Concurring opinion

Additional opinion in a court decision written by a member of the majority

Conference committee

A committee consisting of senators and representatives that meets to resolve differences in legislation

Congressional budget office (CBO)

Set up by the congress this office evaluates the cost of legislative proposals

Congressional District

Defined by the U.S Constitution as the people in each state should choose their representatives based on its population determined by the census, the number of critics ends per congressional district has risen from an average 33,000 in 1790 to almost 709,000 as of 2016

Congressional oversight

Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the creation of legislation, reviewing the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conducting investigations through committee hearings, and bringing to the public’s attention the need for public policy

Consent of the governed

A derivative of the doctoring of natural rights; a philosophy adopted by Jefferson when he drafted the Declaration of Independence that puts the authority of the government in peoples hands

Conservative

A person who believes in less government, lower taxes, a strong national defense, and more personal responsibility

Constituent

Person living in the district of an elected official

Constituent service

A member of Congress providing services to his or her districts voters such as providing help with federal agencies, federal grants, and students who want to attend U.S military academy

Constitution

Provides the basic framework of government. It is the Supreme law of the land

Consumer price index (CPI)

A primary measure of inflation determined by the increase in the cost of products compared to a base year

Continuing resolution

Emergency spending legislation that prevents the shutdown of any department simply because its budget has not been enacted

Contract with America

A blueprint for legislative action and congressional reform that House Republicans led by Newt Gingrich successfully campaigned for in the 1994 midterm elections, resulting in what. Was called “the Republican revolution.”

Cooperative federalism

Developed during the New Deal, it is characterized by the federal government becoming more intrusive into what were traditionally state powers

Council of Economic Advisors

White House staff agency created to give the president advice regarding economic and fiscal policies

Creative federalism

Developed during President Lyndon Johnsons Administration, it was characterized by the Great Society programs, which placed a major responsibility on federally funded programs.

Critical election

An election that results in a party realignment caused by the movement of voters from one party to another. The election of 1980 was a critical election because traditional Democrats voted for Ronald Regan. They became known as Regan Democrats

Cruel and unusual punishment

Doctrine found in the Eight Amendment that prohibits the federal government from Imposing excesive penalties for crimes committed

Culture of poverty

The establishment of an income level by government that references the point at which an individual is considered to be living in poverty

Daily tracking poll

Polls that are released every day during a campaign. They differ from other tracking polls because unlike weekly or monthly polls, they are more of an instant snapshot of how a candidate is performing

Debt ceiling

The point at which the federal government will run out of money to pay the interest to the creditors of the United States. The debts of the United States are guaranteed by the full faith and credit clause in the Constitution

De facto segregation

Segregation of schools and other public facilities through circumstance, with no law supporting it

De jure segregation

Segregation by law, made illegal by Brown v Board of Education

Declaration of Independence

Foundational document that outlines the philosophical and practical reasons the colonists declared independence from Great Britain in 1776

Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions (1848)

Drafted at the Seneca Falls Convention and taken from The History of Woman Suffrage, Vol 1 by E.C Stanton, S . B. Anthony and N.J Gage, the document outlines the case for women’s right to vote as well as other rights denied to women at that time

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

Signed into Law by president Clinton. The act defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman as the husband and wife. The law also allows states not to recognize same sex marriage performed legally in other states. Prohibits same sex couples from receiving the married couple federal benefits

Deficit spending

Refers to a budget where expenditures exceed revenues resulting in an increase in interest on the debt

Delegated powers

Defined in the Constitution as those powers that are listed in the Constitution as belonging to the federal government

Delegate model of representations (Representational view)

Voters elect their representatives as their own delegates representing them for the primary purpose of acting exclusively as their voice in Congress

Democracy

Form of government the United States developed through the United States Constitution

Democratic Party

Political party that evolved from the original Democratic Republican Party. It is one of the two major political parties

Devolution

Political theory of returning power to the states

Direct Democracy

Type of government characterized by citizens attending a town meeting and voting on issues raised, with the majority prevailing

Direct lobbying

The attempt by lobbyists to directly influence legislation through communication with a member of a legislative body or government official who has a connection with the formulation of legislation

Direct primary

A party primary that permits cross over voters from other political parties to vote for candidates

Direct tax

Money paid directly to the government in form of income taxes

Discharge petition

If a majority of representatives want to bypass regular legislative procedure, they must sign a petition to get the bill placed on the floor for debate and a vote. This action bypasses the Rules Committee but very rarely succeeds because the majority party usually applies pressure on its members not to sign the petition

Discount rates

Interest levels established by the Federal Reserve that affect the ability of the consumer to borrow money. Raising and lowering rates is used as a tool to combat inflation

Discretionary spending

Those appropriation items in the budget that are not mandatory. In the federal budget, discretionary spending consists of measures in the 13 appropriation bills that must be passed by Congress by October 1 in categories such as transportation, agriculture and education

Dissenting opinion

Written judicial opinion that is contrary to the decision of the majority

Distributive policy

Results in the government giving benefits directly to people, groups, farmers, and businesses. Typical policies include subsides and research and development funds for corporations and direct government and for highway construction and education

Divided government

Characterized by different political parties having control of different branches of the government

Division of labor

Skilled workers, each having a specialized function, resulting In increased productivity

Double Jeopardy

legal concept wherein once a verdict is handed down, you cannot be tried again for the same crime

Dual federalism

The earliest type of relationship established between the federal government and the states where the federal governments powers were defined as delegated and the state governments powers were reserved

Dual primary

Where presidential candidates are selected and a separate slate of delegates is also voted on. New Hampshire uses this type of primary

Due process clause

Clause found in the Fifth and 14th Amendment of the Constitution that guarantees a persons rights are protected through procedural processes

Earmarks

Pet projects added to appropriation bills by congresspersons, called wasteful spending and pork barrel legislation by critics

Elastic clause

Found in Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution, it gives Congress the power to make “all laws necessary and proper” to carry out the other defined powers of Congress

Electorate

Voters who are legally registered

Electoral college

Consists of presidential electors from each state. The number electors is based on the states population. The states with the greatest population have the most electoral votes. When a voter casts a vote for a president in reality the vote gore yo one og your ptrdifrnyisl electors designated by the candidate in the state.

Elite theory

A group theory that revolves around an economic stratum of society controlling the policy agenda

Entitlements

Those benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the federal government, such as nutrition assistance programs and Medicaid