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A comprehensive guide to everything that AP government requires you to know
Social contract
Some freedoms sacrificed (respecting government) in exchange for government protection
Natural rights
Described by John Locke; life, liberty, and property; must be protected by the government
Republicanism
Supports individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, encourages civic participation
Representative democracy
Elected officials representing a group of people
Popular sovereignty
The idea that government power derives from the consent of the governed
Participatory democracy
Broad participation in politics/society by people at various statuses
Pluralist democracy
Group-based activism by citizens with common interests who seek the same goals
Elite democracy
Power to the educated/wealthy, discourages participation by the majority of people
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
A formal declaration of war between America and Great Britain written by Thomas Jefferson, including a list of grievances
Articles of Confederation (1777)
Outlined the first US government, predecessor to the Constitution
Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederatoin
created federalismended the Revolutionary War on favorable terms for the United Statesestablished the Northwest Ordinance
Federalism
The way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Could not impose taxesNo national militaryNo national currencyNo Supreme CourtNo executive branchNo control over taxes imposed between states and could not control interstate tradeNeeded unanimous votes to amend it and 9 states to approve legislation before it was passed
The Constitutional Convention (1787)
A meeting of the framers in Philadelphia during which the government’s structure was debated and decided
Unicameral legislature
Legislature with one house
Bicameral legislature
Legislature with two houses
Virginia Plan
Bicameral legislature based on population size; supported by larger states
New Jersey Plan
Unicameral legislature with one vote per state; supported by smaller states
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
Created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and Senate (equal representation)
Three-Fifths Compromise
Enslaved people would be counted as 3/5 of a person when deciding seats in the House of Representatives
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution; advocated for a strong central government
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the Constitution; preferred smaller state governments
The Federalist Papers
Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; a collection of articles supporting the Constitution
The Bill of Rights (1791)
Written by James Madison and supported by Anti-Federalists; the first 10 amendments of the Constitution which protects the rights of citizens from the government
Electoral College
Composed of elected officials from each state based on population (each given 2 votes + 1 vote per member of House of Representatives) with a total of 538 electors
Brutus No. 1
Argued that the national government had too much power, an army could prevent liberty, and representatives may not truly be representative of the people
Federalist No. 10 (Madison)
Addresses dangers of factions + how to protect minority interest groups in a nation ruled by majority, argues that a large republic keeps any single faction from taking control
Federalist No. 51 (Madison)
Argued that separation of powers would make the government efficient, dividing responsibilities and tasks
Federalist No. 70 (Hamilton)
Argued that the executive branch should only have one member: the president, proposed term limits as another way to limit the president’s power
Federalist No. 78 (Hamilton)
Addressed concerns about the power of the judicial branch, argued that the judicial branch would have the least amount of power under the Constitution but would also have the power of judicial review
Article I
Described the legislative branch
Article II
Described the executive branch
Executive order
Same effect as law, bypasses Congress in policy-making, not mentioned in the Constitution but used as part of the enforcement duties
Executive agreement
Similar to treaties between country leaders, bypass ratification power of the Senate
Article III
Described the judicial branch
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Supreme Court increased its own power by giving itself the power to overturn laws passed by legislature (judicial review)
Judicial review
The power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws passed by legislature which are unconstitutional
Necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8)
Aka the elastic clause; allows Congress to make any legislation that seems “necessary and proper” to carry through its powers
Supremacy clause
Supremacy of Constitution and federal laws over state laws
Confederation
A system in which decisions are made by an external member-state legislation; decisions on daily issues are taken by special majorities, consensus, or unanimity
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Court ruled that states could not tax national bank because of the supremacy clause (issues between state and federal laws should be ruled in favor of federal) and necessary and proper clause (banks were necessary to implement federal powers)
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Held that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional because the commerce clause didn't allow regulation of carrying guns
Delegated/enumerated powers
Powers that belong to the national government
Reserved powers
Powers that belong to the states
10th Amendment
Any power not given to the national government nor denied to the states in the Constitution belongs to the states
Concurrent powers
Powers shared by federal and state government
Federal government programs
Paid for by federal government through grants-in-aid, mostly administered by states
Categorical grants
Aid with strict rules from the federal government about how it should be used
Block grants
Aid that lets the state use the money how it wants
Separation of powers
Assigns different tasks to each branch of government Legislative makes lawsExecutive enforces lawsJudicial interprets laws
Checks and balances
Each branch checks the other; designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant, requires different branches to work together and share power
Veto
The power of the president to reject laws
Amendment
The addition of a provision to the Constitution
Ratifying convention
Delegates elected to vote on an amendment
Main amendment process
Proposed amendment approved by 2/3 of both houses3/4 of state legislatures must ratify the amendment
21st Amendment
Ended prohibition, used a ratifying convention
Gubernatorial veto
A governor’s veto
Line-item veto
The power to reject specific parts of a bill; denied to presidents by Supreme Court
Congress
The bicameral legislature for writing laws
House of Representatives
A 435-member house with members apportioned by each state’s population
Senate
A 100-member house with 2 members per state
Census
A survey taken every 10 years to count population and determine the number of congressional districts each state has
Redistricting
The redrawing of district boundaries to ensure each district has an equal population, done by state legislature
Gerrymandering
Drawing district boundaries to give the majority party a future advantage
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Charles Baker sued Tennessee for not redrawing its state legislative districts because his county’s population had grown but not gained representation, violated 14th Amendment
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
White voters living in North Carolina’s 12th district sued the state for gerrymandering to isolate African Americans into the 12th district, violated equal protection clause because the state was using racial bias in redistricting
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Encouraged state to increase minority representation Congress
Hijacking
Redrawing two districts in a way that forces two incumbents to face each other in a single district
Kidnapping
Moving an incumbent’s home into another area after redistricting
Taxing and spending clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause I)
Gives Congress much control over budgetary spending
Power of the purse
Gives Congress power to influence others by preventing access to funds or addint conditions
House of Ways and Means Committee
Oversees spending laws and taxing
Delegate model (representational view)
Congress members consider themselves delegates who mirror the views of their districts
Trustee model (attitudinal view)
Congress members consider themselves trustees who should think about constituents’ views but use their judgement when making decisions
Bill sponsor
A Congress Member who proposes a bill
Rules Committee (House)
Determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules are used for amending
Open rules
Allow amendments; decided by Rules Committee
Closed rules
Forbid amendments; decided by Rules Committee
Filibuster
Used to delay bill’s vote and tie up Senate’s work, usually by a senator making a very long speech
Cloture
The vote which is the only way to end a filibuster, required votes of 60 Senate members
Riders
Amendments that are not relevant to a bill
Pork barrels
Riders created to get money to a home state
Earmark
Provisions in legislation that allot money to a project, not allowed by House
Conference committee
Temporary committees made up of members from committees of both houses who wrote a bill, try to create compromise bills and submit to both houses
Pocket veto
A veto which occurs if president doesn’t sign a bill into law and congressional session ends during 10 days
Line-item veto
The ability of a president to veto certain parts of a bill, struck down by Supreme Court
Committee chair
A member of the majority party and oldest/most experienced member of majority party
Markup sessions
A meeting in which committees amend and rewrite parts of bills after investigations
Pigeonholed
A bill stuck in committee
Discharge petition
The way to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote
Standing committee
Permanent, specialized committee
Joint committee
A committee made of members of both houses, normally used for investigations or communicating with the public
Select committee
Temporary committee created in each house for a special reason, usually carry out investigations to write special bills
Speaker
The leader of the house, chosen by majority party in an election; directs floor debate, has influence over committee assignment and Rules Committee
Majority leader
The member of the majority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda
Minority leader
The member of the minority party who is in charge of party embers and determines party policy and agenda
Whips
Help leaders keep members loyal to agenda, coordinate members, and get support for legislation
President of the Senate
Vice president, only votes to break a tie
President pro tempore
Temporary Senate president when the vice president is absent; mostly honorary position given to most senior member of majority party
Logrolling
Congress members agreeing to help each other by voting for each other’s bills
Note 
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