AP Gov Monster Vocab

Inherent Powers

powers that are naturally derived from the duties of a specific government position

\#Grassroots lobbying

Ordinary citizens raising awareness for a cause and pushing the government to adopt a particular policy

\#Caucus

Face to face meetings of party members at the local or state level to determine their party's candidate for office.

\#Direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens vote directly on policy.

\#Block grants

Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent.

\#Oversight

Congressional committee hearings held to determine how well an agency is doing its job.

\#Dealignment

When voters no longer identify with one of the two major parties and become independent voters.

\#Fiscal policy

Impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget.

\#General election

An election to select the person who will hold office.

\#Closed primary

A vote by party members to determine their party's candidate for office which is restricted to registered party members.

\#Motion for cloture

A vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster

\#Super PAC

An organization that can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign and must disclose its donors semiannually.

\#Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states.

\#Political socialization

The process by which an individual develops his or her political beliefs.

\#Expressed(enumerated) powers

Powers that are given to an institution of government (branch) directly in the Constitution, such as Congress' power to tax.

\#Lame duck period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president is sworn in.

\#Midterm election

An election in which voters elect members of Congress but not the President.

\#Franking privilege

The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress.

\#Lobbying

Efforts by an interest group or individual to contact a member of Congress and advocate for a particular policy.

\#Party polarization

When political parties move farther away from each other ideologically and also move farther from the center.

\#Amicus curiae

An argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit.

\#Judicial activism

A philosophy that the Supreme Court should make bold new policy with their decisions.

\#Horse race journalism

The tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues.

\#Casework

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem.

\#Issue network

A relationship between interest groups, agencies, universities, think tanks, media, and congressional committees in a certain policy area.

\#Political party

A group of people who organize to elect candidates for office.

\#Gerrymandering

Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party.

\#White House staff

The President's personal assistants and advisers.

\#Filibuster

A procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death.

\#Executive order

A presidential directive.

\#Pork barrel spending

A provision added to a bill that benefits a specific congressional district.

\#Entitlements

Promises made by the government to an identifiable group of people who are guaranteed benefits regardless of need.

\#Original intent

Making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the Constitution.

\#Logrolling

When members of Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they supported passed.

\#Monetary policy

Influencing the economy through federal interest rates, reserve rates, and the amount of money in circulation.

\#Selective incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment.

\#Fiscal federalism

The use of spending by the national government through the grant process to influence state policies.

\#Writ of Certiorari

A document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case.

\#Political efficacy

An individual's belief that his or her political participation can make a difference.

\#Gender Gap

The tendency of men to support the Republican party at greater rates than women.

\#Single-member districts

The electoral system used to select members of the House of Representatives.

\#Pocket veto

When the President does not sign a bill within 10 days when Congress is not in session.

\#Redistricting

Changing congressional district boundaries based on a new census.

\#Independent expenditures

Money spent on ads that are not sponsored by a candidate or party.

\#Policy agenda

Problems that have the attention of the government and the public.

\#Cooperative federalism

A system where the federal government and the states work together in funding and administering programs.

\#Stare Decisis

When a court follows precedent by letting a previous decision stand.

\#Devolution

A process by which the federal government gives more power and authority to the states.

\#Demographics

The statistical characteristics of a population.

\#Political culture

The shared political values of a society.

\#Divided government

When the President is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing party.

\#Open primary

An election to determine a party's candidate for office in which the party allows non-party members to vote.

\#PAC

An organization the is registered with the Federal Election Committee and raises and donates money to a candidate or campaign.

\#Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action as unconstitutional.

\#Categorical grants

Money given by the federal government to the states to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.

\#Interest groups

An organization that advocates for policies through lobbying, electioneering, grassroots mobilization, and protesting.

\#Pluralism

A theory of government in which many groups compete for policy.

\#Unfunded mandate

A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money to pay for it.

\#Implied powers

Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution, like the power of Congress to establish a bank.

\#Incumbent

An officeholder who is running for re-election.

\#Realignment

The process through which voters leave one party coalition and join the other party's coalition.

\#Republic

A system of government in which people elect representatives to make policy in the citizen's interest.

\#Bipartisan

When both parties work together to sponsor a bill.

\#elite democracy

A system of government which emphasizes limited participation by wealthy and well educated citizens in politics and civil society.

\#federalist

Those who attended the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government and a system of separated powers.

\#concurrent powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

\#mandatory spending

Expenditures that the Federal government is obligated to make, like entitlements and interest on the national debt.

\#discharge petition

a method where a majority of members can force a bill in the House of Representatives out of a committee to the House floor for a vote.

\#constituents

the people who a member of Congress represent.

\#trustee model

model of representation where a member of Congress votes how they want to even if it sometimes is against the wishes of the majority of their constituents.

\#Delegate Model

a model of representation where a member of Congress loyally votes in their constituent's interest even if they personally object.

\#politico model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

\#signing statement

an informal power where the president issues a statement after signing a bill explaining his or her interpretation of the law.

\#Bully Pulpit

the president's ability to speak directly to the public in order to influence opinion and policy.

\#discretionary spending

spending that can be increased or cut without changing any laws, which is everything besides contracts, entitlements, and interest on the debt.

\#deficit

the result when the government spends more than it makes in taxes in a single year.

\#iron triangle

the informal relationship between government agencies and departments, congressional committees, and interest groups, also known as the revolving door.

\#judicial restraint

the idea that judges should decide cases based on the language of laws and the Constitution, deferring to the legislative and executive branches.

\#Civil Liberties

the right of people to be protected from government abuse according to the Bill of Rights.

\#civil rights

Rights that guarantee individuals freedom from discrimination according to the 14th Amendment.

\#establishment clause

the 1st amendment's ban on laws establishing or favoring a religion.

\#Free Exercise Clause

1st amendment clause that states the government cannot prohibit the practice of religion.

\#Due Process

The right that forbids the government from denying "life, liberty, or property" without the legal process of fair trials, etc, as stated in the 5th and 14th amendments.

\#Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment clause that forbids states from denying equal protection of the law thus denying discrimination.

\#exclusionary rule

the idea established in Mapp v. Ohio that evidence that is illegally obtained cannot be used in a trial.

\#random sample

a subsection of a population chosen to participate in a survey in which every member of the whole population has an equal chance of being chosen.

\#liberal

ideologically supports a stronger government programs and market regulation.

\#conservative

ideologically supports lower taxes, less government, and a free market.

\#Keynesian economics

theory that the government should use fiscal policy to manage the economy through taxing and spending to create more economic stability.

\#supply side economics

the theory that lower taxes stimulate the economy by encouraging spending and investment.

\#rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest.

\#retrospective voting

Voting to decide whether a party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past

\#prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

\#party line voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot.

\#linkeage institutions

a structure within society that connects people to the government such as political parties, the media, interest groups, and elections.

\#free rider

The problem faced by interest groups, including unions, when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group actions without actually joining the group.

\#Intensity

how strongly a person feels about a political issue.

\#salience

the extent to which people believe political issues are relevant to them.

\#Platform

the official position of a political party.

\#coattail effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of the president.