AP Government and Politics Top 82 Vocab

Articles of Confederation

A governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the national government, were supreme.

Block Grants

A type of grant-in-aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds.

Brutus No. 1

An Antifederalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government.

Categorical Grants

Grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use.

Commerce Clause (Congressional Power)

Grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted in 1776 that proclaimed the American colonies' separation from British rule, outlining the principles of individual rights and government by consent.

Devolution

Returning more authority to state or local governments.

Elite Democracy

When elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

Federalism

The sharing of power between the national government and the states.

Federalist 10

An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government.

Federalist 51

An essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state.

Mandates

An official order for states to comply with certain laws or standards.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Established the balance of power between state and federal governments. Strengthened federal power and added onto the implied powers of the federal government.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic Clause)

Language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Participatory Democracy

A theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Pluralist Democracy

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process.

Reserved Powers

Powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states, and the people.

Social Contract

People allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

Supremacy Clause

Constitutional provision declaring that the Constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

U.S. v. Lopez

Limited Congress’ reach of power by the commerce clause, signifying a check against Congress and limiting federal power.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear and review decisions made by lower courts in that system.

Baker v. Carr

The equal protection clause requires legislative district boundaries to be drawn to have roughly the same number of constituents under the principle of “one man, one vote.”

Bully Pulpit/State of the Union

Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies.

Bureaucracy

The departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation.

Cabinet

A body of advisers to the president, composed of the heads of the executive departments.

Cloture

A procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided 60 senators agree to it.

Conference Committee

A temporary panel formed to reconcile differences in legislation passed by both chambers

Congressional Leadership

The leaders of Congress, shaping how policies are made, budgets are set, and the overall balance of power.

Court Opinion

An explanation of why a court settled the way that they did.

Executive Privilege

The right of the President and some members of the executive branch to withhold information from Congress or the courts, often related to national security or diplomatic matters.

Federalist 70

Argues for a strong, unitary executive for effective government.

Federalist 78

Argument by Alexander Hamilton that the federal judiciary would be unlikely to infringe upon rights andliberties but would serve as a check on the other two branches.

Filibuster

A tactic through which an individual senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation.

Franking Privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense, thereby facilitating communication and outreach.

Gerrymandering

The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters.

Incumbency Advantage

Institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election.

Judicial Activism v. Judicial Restraint

A philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should wield the power of judicial review, sometimes creating bold new policies V. A philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should be cautious in overturning laws.

Logrolling

Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court decision that established judicial review over federal laws.

Pork Barrel

Legislation that enables representatives to secure projects and funding for their constituents, often leading to inflated spending.

Rule of Four

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to do so.

Shaw v. Reno

The Supreme Court overturned the race-conscious drawing of a strangely shaped legislative district.

Solicitor General

The lawyer who represents the federal government before the Supreme Court, responsible for arguing cases and influencing the Court's agenda.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in Congress that focuses on specific areas of legislation, responsible for reviewing, amending, and deciding whether to advance bills related to that subject.

Stare Decisis/Precedent

The practice of letting a previous legal decision stand/ a judicial decision that guides future courts In handling similar cases.

Writ of Certiorari

A request for the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision.

14th Amendment: Due Process Clause

The clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that restricts state governments from denying citizens their life, liberty, or property without legal safeguards.

14th Amendment: Equal Protection Clause

The clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons, regardless of race, gender, or ethnicity. They cannot be discriminated against.

Brown v. Board of Education

The ruling that segregation violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in various areas including employment and public accommodations.

Engel v. Vitale

First Amendment, Establishment Clause

Gideon v. Wainwright

Sixth Amendment, right to legal counsel

Letter from a Birmingham jail

A letter from Martin Luther King Jr. that highlighted the civil injustices happening. A large spark for the civil rights movement.

McDonald v. Chicago

Second amendment, right to bear arms

NY Times v. U.S.

The Supreme Court ruling that created the idea of Prior Restraint for news and media releasing harmful or classified government information.

Schenck v. U.S.

First Amendment, political speech, clear and present danger” test

Selective Incorporation

The process through which the Supreme Court applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis.

Tinker v. Des Moines

First Amendment, symbolic speech

Wisconsin v. Yoder

First Amendment, free exercise clause

Conservative

Emphasizes tradition, individual responsibility, and limited government.

Liberal

Advocates for social justice, environmental protection, and progressive taxation.

Polling

The process of surveying public opinion to gauge preferences and attitudes on various issues or candidates.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain/Feingold Law)

Legislation aimed at regulating the financing of political campaigns.

Citizens United v. FEC

A Supreme Court case that allowed unlimited spending by corporations in elections.

Closed Primary

Closed limit voting to registered party members.

Executive Order

A order issued by the President of the United States to manage the operations of the federal government.

Free Riders

Individuals who benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them, often leading to issues in collective action.

Grassroots Campaigns

Campaigns driven by the community and individual voters, often utilizing local organizing and volunteer efforts to mobilize support for candidates or issues.

Iron Triangle

Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.

Issue Networks

Web of influences between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates.

Linkage Institutions

Structures that connect citizens to the government (e.g., parties, interest groups).

Lobbying

The process by which interest groups attempt to influence government decisions and policy-making.

Midterm v. Presidential Elections

Midterm elections occur halfway through a president's term, while presidential elections determine the president and vice president.

National Conventions

Large gatherings of party delegates to nominate candidates and establish party platforms.

Party Caucuses

Meetings of party members to discuss and select candidates for elections.

Party Platforms

A party platform is a formal set of principles and objectives that a political party agrees upon during its national convention, outlining its stance on various issues and guiding its policies.

Primary v. Caucus

Primaries determine party nominees v. caucuses involve local gatherings to select delegates.

Open Primary

Open primaries allow any voter to participate

Super PAC’s

Political Action Committees that raise and spend money to elect or defeat candidates. Different types of funding organizations with varying regulations on contributions.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans and enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments.

Winner-Take-All

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the majority of votes in a district wins all the electoral votes or delegates.