AP Gov Key Terms

Natural rights:

Basic rights (life, liberty, property) that no government can take away (unalienable rights).

Social contract:

Agreement where people give up some power to the government in exchange for protection of rights (John Locke / Thomas Hobbes).

Popular sovereignty:

The idea that the government's power comes from the people.

Republicanism:

A system where people elect representatives to make laws.

Limited government:

Power is restricted by a constitution to protect individual liberty.

Declaration of Independence:

Document by Thomas Jefferson asserting independence based on natural rights.

Articles of Confederation:

The first US government; intentionally weak and decentralized.

Shays' Rebellion:

Farmer uprising that showed the Articles of Confederation were too weak to maintain order.

Philadelphia Convention:

Meeting originally intended to revise the Articles but resulted in the Constitution.

The Grand Committee:

The group at the convention tasked with forging a compromise on representation.

Virginia Plan:

Proposal for a strong central government with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan:

Proposal for equal representation for all states.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise:

Created a bicameral legislature (House and Senate).

Three-Fifths Compromise:

Agreement to count three-fifths of enslaved people for representation and taxes.

Electoral College:

The system used to elect the President rather than a direct democracy.

Ratify:

To formally approve (the Constitution needed 9 of 13 states).

Federalist:

Supporters of the new Constitution (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay).

Anti-Federalist:

Opponents of the Constitution who feared a strong central government.

Federalist Papers:

Essays written to persuade states to ratify the Constitution.

Federalist #10:

Madison's argument that a large republic handles factions (interest groups) better.

Brutus #1:

Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large republic would destroy liberty.

Federalist #51:

Madison's explanation of separation of powers and checks and balances.

Separation of powers:

Dividing government into three branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).

Checks and balances:

Each branch has powers to limit the other two (e.g., the veto).

Veto:

The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Impeachment:

The process of charging a federal official with misconduct.

Federalism:

System where power is shared between national and state governments.

Enumerated powers:

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for the federal government.

Implied powers:

Powers not stated but "necessary and proper" to carry out enumerated ones.

Inherent power:

Powers a government has simply because it is a sovereign nation.

Concurrent powers:

Powers shared by both federal and state governments (e.g., taxing).

Reserved powers:

Powers kept by the states under the 10th Amendment.

Supremacy clause:

Federal law is the "supreme law of the land" over state law.

Full Faith and Credit:

States must respect the public acts and records of other states.

Necessary and proper clause (Elastic clause):

Article I provision allowing Congress to expand its power.

Commerce clause:

Congress's power to regulate interstate business (Gibbons v. Ogden).

McCulloch v. Maryland:

Established federal supremacy and confirmed implied powers.

United States v. Lopez:

Limited Congress's power under the commerce clause (devolution).

Dual federalism (layer-cake):

National and state governments remain supreme in their own spheres.

Cooperative federalism (marble cake):

National and state governments work together on policy.

Devolution:

Transferring power from the federal government back to the states.

Categorical grants:

Money for specific, narrow purposes.

Block grants:

Money for broad purposes; gives states more freedom.

Revenue sharing:

Federal tax money distributed to states with no strings attached.

Mandates:

Requirements states must follow (unfunded mandates provide no money).

Aid programs:

General term for federal money given to states.

Writ of Habeas Corpus:

Right to know why you are being held in custody.

Bill of attainder:

A law that declares someone guilty without a trial (unconstitutional).

Ex post facto law:

A law that makes an act illegal after it was committed (unconstitutional).

Participatory democracy:

Broad participation in politics by citizens.

Pluralist democracy:

Groups (factions) compete to influence policy (Pluralism).

Elite democracy:

Limited participation; small group of wealthy/educated people rule.

Majority rule:

The idea that the greatest number should exercise greater power.

Founding Figures:

George Washington (President of Convention), Ben Franklin (Compromiser), John Adams (Federalist), John Locke (Natural Rights philosopher).

Speaker of the House:

Leader of the House, third in line for presidency.

House Majority/Minority Leaders:

Lead their respective parties on the floor.

House Majority/Minority Whips:

Pressure party members to vote with the party.

Rules Committee:

Sets the schedule and rules for debate on bills.

Committee of the Whole:

Procedural device to speed up business on the floor.

Discharge petitions:

Force a bill out of committee to the floor for a vote.

Gerrymandering:

Drawing district lines to benefit a party or group.

One person One Vote:

Principle that districts must be roughly equal in population.

President of the Senate:

The Vice President (votes only to break ties).

President Pro Tempore:

High-ranking senator who presides in the VP's absence.

Senate Majority/Minority Leaders & Whips:

Similar roles to the House counterparts.

Filibuster:

Delaying a vote by talking; ended by Cloture (60 votes).

Logrolling:

Vote-trading ("you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours").

Pork barrel legislation:

Spending that benefits a specific district to win votes.

Gridlock:

Inability of government to act because of partisan disagreement.

Divided government:

One party controls the White House, another controls Congress.

Mandatory spending:

Spending required by law (Social Security/Medicare).

Discretionary spending:

Spending that must be approved each year (Defense/Education).

Delegate:

Representative who votes exactly how constituents want.

Trustee:

Representative who uses their own judgment to vote.

Politico:

Representative who acts as a delegate or trustee depending on the issue.

22nd Amendment:

Limits the President to two terms.

Commander in Chief:

The President's role as leader of the military.

Executive order:

Presidential directive that has the force of law.

Signing statements:

President's notes on a bill explaining their interpretation.

Bully pulpit:

Using the presidency's prestige to advocate for an agenda.

Pocket veto:

Indirect veto by letting a bill die unsigned when Congress adjourns.

Nomination and confirmation:

President picks officials; Senate approves them.

Judicial review:

Power to declare laws unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison).

Precedent/stare decisis:

Using past court decisions to guide current ones.

Judicial activism:

Interpreting the Constitution to reflect modern social needs.

Judicial restraint:

Limiting judicial power; sticking to original intent.

Section 3: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

Bill of Rights:

The first ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Civil liberties:

Legal protections against government actions.

Civil rights:

Protections against discrimination by the government or individuals.

Establishment clause:

Government cannot favor one religion (Engle v Vitale).

Free exercise clause:

Right to practice religion freely (Wisconsin v Yoder).

Symbolic speech:

Non-verbal communication (Tinker v Des Moines).

Clear and present danger:

Speech can be limited if it causes immediate harm (Schenck v US).

Obscenity:

Speech/art not protected if it is offensive and lacks value.

Prior restraint:

Government stopping publication before it happens (New York Times v US).

Selective incorporation:

Applying the Bill of Rights to states via the 14th Amendment.

Due process:

Fair treatment through the judicial system (5th and 14th Amendments).

2nd Amendment:

Right to bear arms (McDonald v Chicago).

4th Amendment:

Protection against unreasonable search and seizure.