AP Government Vocabulary Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts in AP Government.

Bipartisan

Refers to an approach, decision, or policy that enjoys support or cooperation from members of the two major political parties.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms protected by law that safeguard citizens from government interference.

Civil Rights

Protections against discriminatory practices and unequal treatment under the law.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress the power to regulate Commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared between the federal government and state governments.

Constituent Accountability

Elected officials must answer to their voters through democratic mechanisms.

Delegate Model

A model of representation where legislators act strictly as messengers of their constituents’ wishes.

Due Process Clause

Guarantees fair procedures before depriving any person of life, liberty, or property.

Elite Democracy

A theory suggesting a small, select group exerts disproportionate influence over policy decisions.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Equal Protection Clause

Mandates that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed before its enactment.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the President that has the force of law.

Executive Privilege

The claimed right of the President to keep certain communications confidential.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central government and state governments.

Filibuster

A procedural tactic to delay or block legislative action in the Senate.

Free Exercise Clause

Protects an individual’s right to practice their religion without governmental interference.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires each state to respect the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other state.

Gerrymandering

The deliberate manipulation of electoral district boundaries to gain an advantage.

Horse Race Journalism

Reporting focusing on the competitive aspects of political campaigns instead of substantive issues.

Implied Powers

Powers not expressly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Iron Triangle

Strong, enduring relationships among governmental agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups.

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy where judges interpret the Constitution in broad terms affecting social policy.

Judicial Restraint

The concept that judges should limit their power by adhering closely to the text of the Constitution.

Judicial Review

The authority of courts to examine and invalidate legislative or executive actions that conflict with the Constitution.

Linkage Institutions

Organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties and elections.

Lobbying

The process of influencing policy decisions made by public officials.

Logrolling

Members exchange support for each other’s proposals or bills in legislative bodies.

Miranda Rule

Requires law enforcement to inform suspects of their constitutional rights prior to interrogation.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Grants Congress the authority to pass laws necessary for executing its enumerated powers.

Judicial Opinion

A formal written explanation by a judge or court that accompanies a judicial decision.

Congressional Oversight

The process by which Congress monitors federal agencies, programs, and policies.

Participatory Democracy

A model where citizens are directly involved in decision-making processes beyond casting votes.

Party-Line Voting

Legislators voting according to their political party’s position.

Pluralist Democracy

A theory suggesting political power is distributed among a range of diverse interest groups.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that collects contributions to support political candidates and initiatives.

Political Efficacy

The belief that individual political actions can affect government policies.

Political Socialization

The lifelong process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Pork Barrel

Government spending earmarked for localized projects that primarily benefit a legislator’s district.

Power of the Purse

The constitutional authority of the legislative branch to control government spending.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, typically after a census.

Selective Incorporation

Applied portions of the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Split-Ticket Voting

Choosing candidates from different parties for different offices on the same ballot.

Stare Decisis

Legal principle emphasizing adherence to precedents established in previous court decisions.

Straight-Ticket Voting

Voting exclusively for candidates from a single political party across all races.

Strict Scrutiny

The highest level of judicial review for laws infringing upon constitutional rights.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that the federal Constitution and laws are the supreme Law of the Land.

Winner-Take-All Method

An electoral system where the candidate with the majority votes receives all representation from that region.

Writ of Certiorari

An order issued by a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.