AP GOV all terms

3/5 Compromise

3 out of every 5 slaves counted for congressional representation and federal taxation - Boosted Southern political power

COURT CASE: Marbury v. Madison

1803, President John Adams appointed Marbury to be a Justice but he was leaving office. Marbury he never received his commission because new President Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (secretary) refused to pay him. The Supreme Court did not have the jurisdiction to force the government to pay him, instead it gave the courts the power to strike down laws that they interpret as unconstitutional

Amendment Process

Proposal and ratification. Proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by two-thirds of state legislature. Ratification requires approval by three-fourths of state legislatures or state conventions

Anti-Federalist

People who were opposed to the ratifying the Constitution, wanted States to have all the rights, fear of tyranny

Articles of Confederation

The first Constitution, gave federal gov NO power, no judicial branch, no power to tax, no executive, one chamber legislation

Brutus 1

Argument against centralized government, arguing that states would have no rights, no individual liberties, and fed gov tyranny

Centralized Government

Federal government

Checks and Balances

The 3 different branches check each others power so no branch gets too powerful

Commerce Clause

Article 1, Congress has the power to regulate commerce between states, foreign nations and tribes

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

Forbidding Congress from banning International Slave Trade to secure Southern ratification of the Constitution

Concurrent powers

Powers shared between federal gov and state gov

Decentralized Government

Less power for federal gov, distribute the power to local/regional govs

Declaration of Independence

Declaring independence from British rule, 1776

Elite Democracy

A singular person or small group of well-educated, rich men hold all the political power and makes decisions

Enumerated powers

Powers explicitly given to the federal gov, specifically congress

Exclusive powers

Powers given to the federal gov that states are not allowed to exercise (declaring war, regulating immigration, etc)

Factions

Smaller groups of people with political views/values

Fed 10

James Madison, factions are inevitable, a large republic is the best way to control them

Fed 51

James Madison, the separation of power will protect us from tyranny

Great Compromise

Dispute between large and small states based on representation in Congress, House - population, Senate - 2 per state

Impeachment

Charging a government official (President) with misconduct, firing him

Implied powers

Powers that are not explicitly written to the federal gov, but are implied “necessary and proper”

Limited government

Limited federal gov so no tyranny

Natural rights

Unalienable rights for being human, life liberty and property

Necessary and Proper Clause

Authorizes Congress to create laws to carry out its enumerated powers

Participatory Democracy

Citizens are involved, participating

Pluralist Democracy

Multiple interest groups impact how the gov works

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that citizens GIVE the power/authority to the gov, and that the gov exists to serve the people

Ratification

Official way to confirm something, ratification of the US Constitution

Republicanism

Political ideology where government is limited, and representative, emphasis on common good

Social Contract

The idea that citizens surrender certain rights to the gov in exchange for safety, security and order

State Sovereignty

States freedoms

Benchmark Polls

Poll at the beginning of a political campaign to gauge how the public will respond

Caucus

Closed meeting of members of a party to select candidates, set policy and strategize

Closed Primary

Only voters registered with that party can vote in the primary

Dealignment

When votes abandon their party and become independent

Democratic Party

A US political party, tend to be liberal

Electoral College

The way we count votes in US elections, representative to population in that states

Exit polls

Polls outside voting stations asking citizens who they just voted for

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Independent regulatory agency that regulates/oversees federal campaign finance laws

Hard money

Money spent by candidate, is regulated, and transparent

Interest group

Organization with a shared common interest, effect political process

Lobbying

Trying to effect laws, policies, political officials, etc. in favor of some way

Mass Media

TV, articles, news, social media, etc

National Party Convention

Between the primaries and the official election, when a party comes together to finalize the POTUS and VPOTUS candidates

Opinion Saliency

How much a voter values a certain criteria/idea

Party Convention

Launches general election, unifies party

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Private group organized to raise and spend money to impact elections

Political socialization

The lifelong process in which people develop political beliefs, attitudes, values and ideas

Prospective issue voting

When voters vote based on how they believe the candidate will act in the future

Push Polling

A survey that is actually meant to spread negative info about a candidate, disguised in questions

Selective exposure

Close-minded view, only consuming media in favor of their beliefs

Winner-takes-all-system

Winners of electoral colleges win, which means that some groups are be underrepresented,

Gerrymandering

Drawing boundaries of electoral districts in a certain way in favor of certain party

Discretionary spending

Non-essential, flexible spending

Standing Committee

Permanent, multiple, help pass “must pass” legislation

Select Committee

Temporary, usually dissolve after a term, help with a specific short-term problem

Joint Committee

Made up of members of both houses, usually for research purposes

Conference Committee

Temporary, members of house and senate to alter and compromise differences in a bill

Congressional oversight

Congress reviewing, monitoring, and overseeing federal agencies

Filibuster

Only in the senate, members can talk for unlimited amount of time to delay/prevent voting on certain legislation

Cloture

End filibusters

Trustee Representative

“Trust me, I got this”, elected officials use their “best judgement” to make decisions on behalf of the people

Delegate representative

No personal judgement at all, strictly what the people want/tell him to do

Partisan representative

Elected officials vote solely based on the parties success

Politico representative

An elected official who balances voters wants/needs with his own judgement

Logrolling

Trading votes or favors, “an IOU,” legislators help each other get bills passed

Fiscal policy

The use of government spending and taxation to influence the US economy, particularly macroeconomic conditions like employment, stability, and growth

Monetary policy

Strategic actions taken by a central bank (Federal Reserve) to maintain money supply, interest rates,

Keynesian Economics

Government needs to spend money during recessions to help its citizens, stabilize the economy

Supply-side economy

The belief that economic growth is best created by lowering taxes, decreasing regulation, and encouraging free-market policies to boost production

Pork barrel spending

The specific local spending that a legislator spends to benefit a specific district or state

Earmarks

Setting aside money for a specific, local project/expenditure

Grants in aid

During times of aid, the federal gov giving money to lower levels of gov or organizations to help that specific issue, does not need to be paid back (grant)

Substantive representation

When the elected official advocates for their constituents wants and needs

Descriptive representation

The idea that the elected official should mirror the demographic characteristics (race, socio-economic class, ethnicity, etc)

Virtual representation

The idea that gov officials should act for the good of the country, not for themselves, the people who elected them or their local district

Polarization

The inability to agree/compromise because of differences in partisan values

Gridlock

Due to polarization, no compromise and no political progression happens

Budgeting process

President proposes a budget, Congress reviews and approves it, then they enact bills for agencies to ensure our spending do no exceed the budget

Bill process

Proposal from Congressman. Bill to a committee, they vote, 50% in favor gets it passed. Then, floor debate in senate, 50% in favor it’s passed. Then sent to house, a standing committee helps the house to amend, debate and vote, 50% gets it passed. Conference committee combines the amendments from the house and senate, compromise. Then sent to president, he signs it and it becomes a law. VETO- Congress and the POTUS can veto the law during their turn. Both house and senate have to have a 2/3 majority to override the presidents veto.

Structure of Congress

Bicameral, house (435 members, 2 year terms, representation based on population) and senate (100 members, 6 year terms, equal representation per state)

Implied powers of congress

Necessary and proper clause - allow Congress to adapt to new challenges, such as creating a bank, drafting citizens, or regulating interstate commerce

Enumerated powers of congress

Specific authority written in article 1, and/or Constitution, including taxing, borrowing money, regulating commerce, coining money, and declaring war

Congress role in impeachment

The House of Representatives investigates and impeaches (charges) federal officials with a simple majority, while the Senate sits as a court, conducting a trial and requiring a two-thirds vote to convict and remove them

Iron Triangle

An iron triangle is a mutually beneficial, three-way relationship between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that dominates policymaking in specific areas. These alliances work together to create policy that serves their shared interests

Judicial Activism

When justices are willing to overturn laws, precedent, or executive decisions to modernize them, often interpreting the constitution more up to date

Judicial restraint

When judges limit their own power, strictly interpreting the Constitution and deferring to the decisions of elected legislative and executive branches, upholding precedent and avoid policy making

Strict Scrutiny

The highest standard of judicial review used to evaluate the constitutionality of government actions, often resulting in laws being ruled unconstitutional. Usually for race or national origin cases

Fed 78

Alexander Hamilton, Judicial branch is most weak, so they need to be independent and life-long terms

Cabinet departments

Executive departments that advise the president on specific things (state, defense, treasury) and execute the law

Independent executive agencies

Federal organizations established by congress that exist outside the 15 executive cabinet departments and the executive office. They are part of the executive branch but operate with greater autonomy, focusing on specialized, non-regulatory functions such as research, administration, or specific public services.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Federal agencies created by Congress, not cabinet departments, tasked with regulating specific economic sectors or interests to protect the public.

Government Corporations

Federal agencies, created by congress, that provide public services, similar to private businesses, USPS, Amtrak

Administrative discretion

Creating agencies and giving them decision making power

Spoils system

Awarding positions to people who helped even though they don’t have the qualifications

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Shifted governmental hiring from the spoils system to the merit-based system, making sure that people with proper qualifications are hired

Hatch Act

Government employees, while on duty, cannot promote a certain political party, ex. teacher cannot say “I voted for ____, you should too”

Civil Service Reform Act

Replacing political patronage with merit-based hiring

Political Patronage

Rewarding friends, family and/or helpers after getting elected with political jobs