AP Gov: Vocabulary and Terms

Test 5/5

social contract

theory that individuals consent, either explicitly or implicitly, to form a society and establish a government that will protect their rights and maintain order in exchange for some individual freedoms.

popular sovereignty

gov. right to rule comes from the people

republicanism

system where gov. authority comes from the people

participatory democracy

theory that political participation is essential for a democratic gov.

civil society groups

organizations that promote citizens' interests and facilitate political participation in a democracy

pluralist theory

theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in policymaking

elitist theory

theory that a small, privileged ruling class holds significant power over the majority in a democracy.

constitutional republic

A form of government in which representatives are elected to create and enforce laws, operating under a constitution that protects individual rights.

republic

a gov ruled by representatives of the people

articles of confederation

the first constitution of the United States, created a weak central government and was later replaced by the current Constitution.

unicameral

describing a legislative body with a single chamber, as opposed to a bicameral system.

shay’s rebellion

an uprising in 1786 by farmers in western Massachusetts protesting economic injustices and lack of government response.

constitutional convention

A gathering in 1787 where delegates drafted the current United States Constitution, addressing issues of governance and representation.

writ of habeas corpus

right of people detained to know the charges against them

bills of attainder

when legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

ex post facto laws

laws punishing people for acts that weren’t crimes when they were committed

virginia plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention to create a strong national government with a bicameral legislature based on population. It aimed to give larger states more representation in Congress.

new jersey plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of population, aimed at protecting the interests of smaller states.

grand committee

A group of delegates at the Constitutional Convention tasked with resolving disagreements between states regarding representation and developing the framework for the Constitution.

great compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature, combining elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey plans by providing proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

bicameral

Consisting of two legislative chambers or houses.

three-fifths compromise

A constitutional provision that counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation, aimed at resolving disputes between northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention.

compromise on importation

congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808

separation of powers

The principle of separating government powers into distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This ensures that no single branch has complete control, promoting a system of checks and balances.

checks and balances

A system that ensures each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

federalism

sharing of power between the national gov. and states

legislative branch

The part of the government responsible for making laws, consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

expressed or enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution, primarily found in Article I, Section 8.

necessary and proper/elastic clause

A constitutional provision allowing Congress to make laws required to carry out its enumerated powers, providing flexibility in governance.

implied powers

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but inferred from the expressed powers, allowing the federal government to carry out its functions effectively.

executive branch

The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws, headed by the President of the United States.

judicial branch

The branch of government that interprets laws, administers justice, and ensures the rule of law, comprising the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

supremacy clause

A constitutional provision that establishes that federal law takes precedence over state laws and state constitutions, ensuring a unified legal framework across the nation.

amendment

A formal change or addition to the Constitution or a legislative bill, often intended to clarify, add, or alter existing laws.

federalists

supporters of proposed constitution who wanted a stronger national gov.

antifederalists

those who opposed the proposed constitution, favored stronger state gov.

federalist papers

A series of 85 essays written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution, authored primarily by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

fed. 51

A document written by James Madison addressing the need for checks and balances in government to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

faction

A group of individuals, often within a political party, united by a common purpose or interest that may conflict with the rights of others or the interests of the community.

fed. 10

An essay written by James Madison discussing the dangers of factions and how a large republic can mitigate their negative effects.

brutus no. 1

An essay arguing against the ratification of the Constitution, emphasizing the dangers of a large central government and advocating for a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

federalism

system that divides power between national and state gov.

unitary system

A political system where all power is centralized in a single national government, with little to no power given to regional or local authorities.

confederal system

system where subnational gov. have most power

federal system

power divided by national and state gov.

commerce clause

The commerce clause is a provision in the U.S. Constitution that grants Congress the power to regulate trade and commerce among the states and with foreign nations.

tenth amendment

reserves powers not delegated to national gov. to states and people, basis of federalism

concurrent powers

powers granted to both states and fed. gov in constitution

full faith and credit clause

A provision in the U.S. Constitution that requires states to recognize and enforce the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

extradition

requirement where officials in one state return a defendant to another state where the crime was committed

privileges and immunities clause

clause that prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state

thirteenth amendment

amendment that outlaws slavery

fourteenth amendment

amendment that guarantees equal protection under the law and due process to all persons.

fifteenth amendment

amendment that gave African American males the right to vote

dual federalism

a system of government where power is divided between the national and state governments, each with its own distinct responsibilities.

selective incorporation

the process by which the Bill of Rights is applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

cooperative federalism

a system of government in which national, state, and local governments work together to implement policies and programs, often sharing powers and responsibilities.

grants-in-aid

funds provided by the federal government to state or local governments for specific projects or programs.

fiscal federalism

gov. use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in states

categorical grants

federal funds provided to states for specific purposes, with detailed requirements and regulations.

unfunded mandate

A regulation or policy imposed by the federal government on state or local governments without providing funding to cover the costs.

revenue sharing

when fed. gov apportions tax money to states with no strings attached

devolution

returning more authority to state/local gov.

pork barrel spending

A government spending program that benefits a specific region or constituency, often used to gain political support through local projects funded by federal money.

logrolling

the practice of exchanging political favors, typically by politicians agreeing to vote for each other's proposed legislation.

oversight

the process by which Congress monitors and evaluates the implementation of laws and the actions of federal agencies.

constituency

A body of voters or supporters in a specified area that elects a representative to a legislative body.

apportionment

process of determining number of representatives for each state using census data

redistricting

the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to ensure equal representation based on population changes.

gerrymandering

the practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.

partisan gerrymandering

the practice of drawing district boundaries to benefit a particular political party, often resulting in unequal representation.

majority-minority district

A voting district in which the majority of constituents belong to a racial or ethnic minority group, designed to enhance minority representation in elections.

malapportionment

the unequal distribution of voters among electoral districts, leading to disparities in representation.

incumbency

being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

incumbency advantage

The electoral edge afforded to incumbents over challengers, due to factors such as name recognition, access to campaign finance, and established relationships with constituents.

speaker of the house

leader of house of rep. who is chosen by an election of its members

PAC

A Political Action Committee (PAC) is an organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates, typically supporting specific political interests.

house majority leader

The House Majority Leader is the primary assistant to the Speaker of the House and is responsible for scheduling legislation and overseeing party strategy.

whip

A member of Congress who aids the party leadership by ensuring party discipline and mobilizing votes on legislation.

minority leader

head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members

senate majority leader

person who has the most power in the Senate and is head of the party with the most seats

committee chair

A member of Congress who leads a specific committee, responsible for overseeing its functions and guiding legislation.

discharge petition

motion filed by member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the house of rep. for a vote

house rules committee

A committee in the House of Representatives that establishes the rules and procedures for the consideration of legislation, including the scheduling of bills for debate.

committee of the whole

A procedural mechanism in the House of Representatives where all members convene as a single committee to discuss and amend a bill, allowing for a more informal review process.

hold

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination by one or more senators, allowing them to raise objections.

unanimous consent agreement

agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, often involving extended speechmaking.

cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster or limit debate on a bill, requiring a supermajority vote to take effect.

veto

The constitutional power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law.

office of management and budget

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a U.S. government agency responsible for preparing the federal budget, overseeing its implementation, and coordinating financial management across federal agencies.

entitlement program

A government program that guarantees certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population, often related to social welfare and assistance.

mandatory spending

Government spending that is required by existing laws, including entitlement programs and interest on debt.

discretionary spending

spending for policies and programs at the discretion of Congress and the president

budget surplus

amount of money remaining when gov. takes in more than it spends

budget deficit

shortfall when a gov. takes in less money than it spends

national debt

The total amount of money that a government owes to creditors, resulting from accumulated budget deficits over time.

delegate role

idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents’ wishes

trustee role

idea that members of Congress should make decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

politico role

the concept that members of Congress act as delegates on important issues while serving as trustees on less critical matters