AP U.S. Government: Semester 1 Final Review

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key concepts from the AP U.S. Government course, focusing on foundational documents, principles, and landmark Supreme Court cases.

Federalist No. 70

Argues for a strong, unitary executive for effective governance- Hamilton

Federalist No. 78

Argues for an independent judiciary with the power of judicial

review

Brutus No. 15

An Anti-Federalist critique arguing against life terms for judges due to potential power.

Separation of Powers

Divides government into three branches to prevent concentration of power.

Checks and Balances

Mechanisms allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from the Constitution's enumerated powers

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional

Executive Privilege

The president's right to keep certain information confidential for national security.

War Powers Resolution (1973)

Limits presidential power to deploy troops without congressional approval.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.

One Person, One Vote

Each individual's vote should carry equal weight in elections.

Bicameralism

The division of the legislature into two separate chambers.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the majority party in the House and next in line for presidency after the vice president

Filibuster

Senate practice of prolonging debate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster, requiring 60 votes.

Power of the Purse

Passing a federal budget, raising revenue by collecting taxes, borrowing money  

Legislative Oversight

Congress's review of the executive branch's implementation of laws.

Reapportionment

The process of reallocating House seats based on census results.

Advice and Consent

Senate's power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

Pocket Veto

Occurs when the president fails to sign a bill within 10 days of receiving it and Congress has adjourned

Executive Order

Directive issued by the president to federal administrative

agencies

Bully Pulpit

using direct appeal to voters (speeches, media) to sway public opinion 

Executive Agreement

Pact made between the president and a foreign government without Senate ratification

Judicial Independence

Judges serve for life to minimize political pressure.

Stare Decisis

The principle of adhering to precedent in judicial decisions

Judicial Activism

Judges make significant rulings that shape policy.

Judicial Restraint

Judges adhere closely to existing law and avoid policy-making.

Originalism

Interpreting the Constitution based on the founders' intended meaning.

Living Constitution

The interpretation of the Constitution as having the ability to change with societal norms.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear appeals from lower courts.

Rule of Four

The principle that four justices must agree to hear a case.

Majority Opinion

A formal statement explaining the Court's decision, agreed upon by more than half of the justices

Dissenting Opinion

Written by justices who disagree with the majority decision

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark 1803 Supreme Court case led by Chief Justice John Marshall. It established \"judicial review,\" meaning the Supreme Court can decide if a law passed by Congress or an action by the President goes against the Constitution. In this case, the Court declared a part of a federal law (Judiciary Act of 1789) unconstitutional, asserting its power to interpret the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland

This 1819 Supreme Court case, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, decided two main things: First, it said that Congress has 'implied powers' to do things not directly written in the Constitution (like creating a national bank) if they are 'necessary and proper' to carry out its duties. Second, it ruled that states cannot tax federal government agencies because federal laws are supreme over state laws, famously stating 'the power to tax is the power to destroy.'

United States v. Lopez

This 1995 Supreme Court case was a significant ruling that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause. The case involved a high school student, Alfonso Lopez Jr., who was charged under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act for carrying a gun into a school. The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had overstepped its authority because carrying a gun in a local school zone was not an \"economic activity\" that substantially affected interstate commerce.

Brown v. Board of Education

The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, stating that 'separate but equal' facilities were inherently unequal and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Baker v. Carr

This Supreme Court case allowed federal courts to rule on challenges to legislative redistricting. It established the principle of 'one person, one vote,' meaning electoral districts must have roughly equal populations.

Gibbons v. Ogden

The Court ruled that the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution granted Congress broad authority to regulate interstate commerce, including navigation. This decision struck down a New York state monopoly on steamboat operation, affirming that federal law is supreme when it conflicts with state law in areas of interstate commerce.