AP Gov Quizlet (Vocab from Entire Year)

Limited Government

The democratic ideal that suggests that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Natural Rights

The democratic ideal that suggests that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Popular Sovereignty

The democratic ideal that proposes that it is the people who should hold absolute power

Social Contract

The democratic ideal that suggests people should give up some rights to their government in return for security

Declaration of Independence

The document that formally separated the United States from Britain and outlined the democratic ideals of the new country

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to form a new government

Participatory Democracy

A theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly oversee the government

Pluralist Democracy

A theory of democracy that holds that competition between groups / factions keeps democracies balanced

Elite Democracy

A theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing, qualified leaders

Federalist 10

A foundational document outlining the way in which a large republic can limit factions

Federalist 51

A foundational document suggesting that checks and balances and separation of powers is the way to control an ambitious government

Brutus 1

A foundational document that says a large republic is inferior to small, locally-controlled states within a confederacy

Articles of Confederation

A foundational document that served as America's first government and provided sovereignty to the States

Shays' Rebellion

Rebellion in 1786 / 1787 that showed the weakness of the early federal government in maintaining order

Connecticut Compromise

System outlined by the Constitution that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.

Electoral College

System outlined by the Constitution that provides for a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

3/5 Compromise

System outlined by the Constitution that slaves would be worth 3/5 of a person for counting a State's population

Amendment Process for the Constitution

Requires a 2/3 vote in Congress or in a Constitutional Convention to propose, and a 3/4 vote by the states to be ratified

Commerce Clause

Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution setting forth the implied powers of Congress to fulfill their enumerated powers

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case that ruled that the federal government had the power to establish a national bank as an implied power under the Necessary and Proper Clause

US v. Lopez

Supreme Court case that ruled that the federal government could not use the Commerce Clause to justify regulating guns in schools

10th Amendment

Amendment of the Constitution that provides states the right to Reserved Powers

Supremacy Clause

Clause of the Constitution that describes the Constitution as outweighing / overruling federal laws, and federal laws as outweighing / overruling state laws

Enumerated Powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

Concurrent Powers

The powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Reserved Powers

Powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

Unfunded Mandates

Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants given to states for specific purposes, such as for education programs

Block Grants

Federal grants given to states that leave most of the decisions about how the money will be used to the states

Senate

The upper house of Congress, made up of two representatives from each state

House

The lower house of Congress, made up of a number of representatives proportional to each states' population

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives decides which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered

Filibuster

A practice in the Senate that stems from unlimited debate and allows a Senator to delay a vote on a bill by continuously talking

Cloture

A procedure which requires 60 votes and ends a filibuster

Discharge Petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will bring a bill out of its committee and to the full floor for debate

Mandatory Spending

Budget categories that must be funded at a certain level by law, for example, entitlement programs such as Social Security

Discretionary Spending

Budget categories that may be funded at a level determined by Congress, for example, military spending

Interest

The price paid at a given rate for the use of borrowed money

Keynesian Economics

Theory that suggests the government should boost the economy by spending, especially on infrastructure or other programs that will create jobs

Supply-Side Economics

Theory that suggests the government should boost the economy by cutting taxes

Pork Barrel

The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes in a congressperson's own district or state

Logrolling

Vote trading between two congresspeople

Divided Government

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Gridlock

The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Trustee Model

A system where congresspeople see it as their role to make the decision they think is best when voting

Delegate Model

A system where congresspeople see it as their role to vote as a perfect representation of their constituents as possible

Politico Model

A system where congresspeople vote in such a way to please as many people as possible, including party leaders, voters, and the media

Formal Powers of the President

Executive powers directly stated in the Constitution; e.g., the veto

Informal Powers of the President

Executive powers not directly stated in the Constitution; e.g., executive agreements

Commander-in-Chief

The role of the president that allows them to order troops

Executive Agreements

Informal agreements between the president and other world leaders

Executive Orders

Formal orders issues by the president that carry with them the force of a law

Signing Statements

Occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

Lame Duck

A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection / cannot be reelected any more

22nd Amendment

Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents.

Federalist 70

A foundational document that suggests the country should have a strong, unified, energetic executive branch

Advice and Consent

Term in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Power of the Purse

Congress' power to influence public policy by setting the budget for the federal government

Origination Clause

Part of the Constitution describing that all taxation bills must begin in the House of Representatives

Bully Pulpit

The ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals

Citizens United v. FEC

Supreme Court case that ruled that corporations may spend an unlimited amount toward elections and campaigns so long as they remain independent, under the First Amendment

Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case that established the judicial branch's power of judicial review

Federalist 78

Foundational document that outlines the importance of judicial review in protecting the Constitution and the judicial branch's independence

Stare Decisis

The practice of relying on precedent in deciding most cases

Precedent

A previous court case ruling

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy in which judges interpret the Constitution as "living," adapting it to the current times and issues

Judicial Restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play a minimal role, only intervening / striking down laws when absolutely necessary

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the Constitutionality of laws and actions of the government

Bureaucracy

A large organization consisting of all government officials who carry out the daily work of the government, organized under the executive branch

Patronage System

A method of choosing bureaucrats based on their party loyalty / contributions

Merit System

A method of choosing bureaucrats based on their expertise or qualifications for the job

Iron Triangles

A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

Bureaucratic Discretion

Bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Oversight

Congress' ability to check the bureaucracy through hearings, investigations, and the power of the purse

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Regulatory agency responsible for the environment

SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

Regulatory agency responsible for investments and trading markets

FEC (Federal Election Commission)

Regulatory agency responsible for elections and campaign finance laws

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms granted to individuals

Civil Rights

Constitutional protections from discrimination granted to groups based gender, race, age, etc.

1st Amendment

Amendment protecting free speech, religion, and the press

2nd Amendment

Amendment protecting the states' right to a militia and an individual's right to bear arms

4th Amendment

Amendment protecting individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

Amendment protecting individuals from self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and eminent domain without compensation

8th Amendment

Amendment protecting individuals from cruel or unusual punishment, often associated with death penalty cases

Engel v. Vitale

Supreme Court case ruling that a school's morning prayer violated the Establishment Clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Supreme Court case ruling that a state's compulsory education for an Amish family violated the Free Exercise Clause

Schenck v. United States

Supreme Court case ruling that speech that caused a "clear and present danger" was not protecting as free speech

Tinker v. Des Moines

Supreme Court case that protected a student's right to symbolic, non-disruptive speech in school

New York TImes v. United States

Supreme Court case ruling that the government almost never had the right to exercise prior restraint (the censorship of the press before publishing)

Clear and Present Danger

Speech that can be limited on the basis of its consequences; e.g., "falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre"

Symbolic Speech

An action that carries a message and is therefore protected as speech

Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions

Regulations regarding how the freedom of expression may occur, but not limiting that expression altogether

McDonald v. Chicago

Supreme Court case ruling that the 2nd Amendment is incorporated to state and local governments

Selective Incorporation

Process of applying the Bill of Rights' fundamental rights to the states through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment

Gideon v. Wainwright

Supreme Court case ruling that the right to an attorney extends to all cases, even when the accused cannot afford an attorney

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court case ruling that early term abortions are protected under the right to privacy

Right to Privacy

The right to be left alone by the government, interpreted through a combination of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th amendments.