AP U.S. Government Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for AP U.S. Government, covering key concepts, terms, and definitions.

Limited government

A government's power cannot be absolute; ensured by the interaction of principles like separation of powers and checks and balances.

Natural rights

Rights that all people have that cannot be taken away.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that all government power comes from the consent of the governed.

Republicanism

The democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government through their representatives.

Social contract

An implicit agreement among individuals in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain social order.

Representative democracy

A system of government in which eligible citizens vote for representatives to make public policy.

Participatory democracy

A democratic model emphasizing broad participation in politics and civil society.

Pluralist democracy

A democratic model emphasizing group-based activism by non-governmental interests.

Elite democracy

A democratic model focusing on limited participation in politics and civil society.

Declaration of Independence

A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson that restates the philosophy of natural rights and provides a foundation for popular sovereignty.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the land that establishes a system of limited government.

Federalist 10

An essay arguing for the superiority of a large republic in controlling the mischiefs of faction.

Brutus 1

An essay favoring a small, decentralized republic to protect personal liberty.

Articles of Confederation

The original constitution of the US that had significant weaknesses leading to its replacement.

Anti-Federalist

Opponents of the ratification of the Constitution advocating for states' rights.

Federalist

Supporters of the ratification of the Constitution advocating for a strong central government.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people.

Faction

A group or party that is contentious or self-seeking.

Shays's Rebellion

An armed uprising against high taxes in Massachusetts, revealing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Created a bicameral system of congressional representation based on population and equal state representation.

Electoral College

A body formed to elect the President through electors from each state.

3/5ths Compromise

Agreed formula for counting enslaved individuals for representation and taxation purposes.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting held in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation that ultimately drafted the U.S. Constitution.

Article V/Amendment process

Entails either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from state legislatures for amendments.

Ratification

The act of consenting to the U.S. Constitution requiring approval from nine states.

Separation of powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.

Checks and balances

Mechanisms that allow one branch of government to limit the powers of another branch.

Federalist 51

An essay explaining how checks and balances and separation of powers prevent abuses by majorities.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body formally charges a public official with misconduct.

Removal (impeachment process)

Occurs if the official is convicted in a Senate trial.

Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between national and state governments.

Enumerated powers

Powers explicitly written in the U.S. Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Reserved powers

Powers not delegated to the national government, reserved for the states as indicated by the Tenth Amendment.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both national and state governments.

Revenue sharing

National funding to the states with few restrictions.

Categorical grants

National funding with restrictions for specific purposes.

Block grants

National funding to states with minimal restrictions.

Mandates

Requirements imposed by the national government on the states.

Tenth Amendment

Defines the balance of power between the federal and state governments.

Fourteenth Amendment

Contains the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses applied to the states.

Commerce clause

Gives the national government the power to regulate interstate commerce.

Necessary & Proper clause/Elastic clause

Grants Congress the power to create laws necessary for executing its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law.

Formal power

Powers explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two houses.

Senate

One of the two chambers of Congress consisting of 100 members, representing states equally.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress consisting of 435 members, representing the populace.

Federal budget

The financial plan created by Congress addressing both mandatory and discretionary spending.

Oversight

Congressional authority that ensures legislation is implemented as intended.

Speaker of the House

Elected leader of the House of Representatives.

Bill

A proposed law presented in Congress.

Committee

A group in Congress that conducts hearings, debates, and revisions of bills.

Committee hearing

Meetings where committee members gather information and analyze bills.

Mark up

The process of making revisions to a bill in committee.

Rules Committee

Committee that establishes rules for debate on bills in the House.

Committee of the Whole

A House committee formed to expedite debate on legislation.

Discharge petition

A procedure in the House to force a bill to the floor for consideration.

Unanimous consent

A common procedure in the Senate for bringing bills to the floor.

Hold

A procedure by which a Senator can delay a bill.

Filibuster

A tactic used to prolong debate and delay a vote.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Conference committee

A committee formed to reconcile differences in bills passed by both chambers.

Mandatory spending

Required spending by law on entitlement programs.

Entitlements

Government programs that guarantee certain benefits to a specific group.

Social Security

A federal program that provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.

Medicare

A federally funded program providing healthcare to the elderly.

Medicaid

A federally funded program providing healthcare to low-income individuals and families.

Discretionary spending

Annual spending approved by Congress on various programs.

Infrastructure

Facilities and systems serving a country, including transportation and utilities.

Pork barrel

Funding for local projects through larger appropriation bills.

Logrolling

The practice of combining several policies into one bill to secure enough votes.

Partisan voting

Voting based on party affiliation.

Polarization

The process in which political attitudes become more extreme.

Gridlock

A situation where no legislative action can be taken due to lack of consensus.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of congressional seats based on the U.S. Census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to give a political advantage to a party.

Divided government

When different parties control the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress.

Lame duck

Outgoing officials who continue to serve until successors are elected.

Trustee representative

A representative who votes according to their own judgment.

Delegate representative

A representative who votes according to the interests of their constituents.

Politico representative

A representative who combines the trustee and delegate roles.

Policy agenda

A list of issues that officials agree to consider in public policymaking.

Cabinet

Advisory body to the President made up of heads of executive departments.

Executive Office of the President

Agencies that support the work of the President.

Veto

The President's formal power to reject bills passed by Congress.

Pocket veto

The President's ability to indirectly veto legislation.

Line item veto

Presidential power to reject specific provisions of a bill (unconstitutional).

Commander in Chief

The President's role as the head of the armed forces.

Executive agreement

An informal agreement between the President and another country.

Treaty

A formal agreement between countries requiring Senate approval.

Bargaining and persuasion

Presidential strategies used to secure legislative action.

Executive order

A rule or order issued by the President to manage the federal government.

Signing statement

A written declaration by the President upon signing a bill into law.

Senate confirmation

A check on the President's appointment powers, requiring Senate approval.

Congressional agenda

The formal list of policies Congress is considering.

Federalist 70

Advocates for a strong executive as essential for national security and liberty.

22nd Amendment

Limits presidential terms to two.

State of the Union

A yearly address by the President to set the legislative agenda.