AP Gov Vocab FInal

politics

politics

the process of deciding who gets benefits in society and who does not.

efficacy

citizens’ belief that they have the ability to achieve something desirable and that the government listens to people like them.

civic engagement

individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern.

political engagement

citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through political means.

government

the institution that creates and implements policy and laws that guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens

citizens

members of the polity who, through birth or naturalization, enjoy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to membership in a given nation.

naturalization

the process of becoming a citizen by means other than birth, as in the case of immigrants.

legitimacy

a quality conferred on government by citizens who believe that its exercise of power is right and proper

public goods

goods whose benefits can’t be limited and that are available

Monarchy

government in which a member of a royal family, usually a king or queen, has absolute authority over a territory and its government.

oligarchy

govenment in which an elite few hold power

democracy

government in which supreme power of governance lies in the hands of its citizens

totalitarianism

system of government in which the government essentially controls every aspect of people’s lives

authoritarianism

system of government in which the government holds strong powers but is checked by some force.

constitutionalism

government that is structured by law, and in which the power of government is limited.

limited government

government that is restricted in what it can do so that the rights of the people are protected.

divine rights of kings

the assertion that monarchies, as a manifestation of god’s will, could rule absolutely without regard to the will or well-being of their subjects.

social contract

an agreement between people and their leaders in which the people agree to give up some liberties so that their other liberties are protected.

natural law

the assertion that standards that govern human behavior are derived from the nature of human themselves and can be applied universally.

popular sovereignty

the theory that government is created by the people and depends on the people for the authority to rule

social contract theory

the idea that individuals possess free will, and every individual is equally endowed with the god-given right of sell-determination and the ability to consent to be government.

direct democracy

a structure of government in which citizens discuss and decide policy through majority rules

indirect democracy

sometimes called representative democracy, a system in which citizens elect representatives who decided policies on behalf of their constituents.

political culture

the people’s collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political processes

liberty

the most essential quality of american democracy; it is both of the freedom from governmental interference in citizens’ lives and the freedom to pursue happiness

declaration of independence

the document adopted at the 2nd continental congress in 1776 that severed the american colonies’ ties to the british crown and formed a new nation, the united state of america

consent of the governed

the idea that , in a democracy, the government’s power derives from the consent of the people.

majority rules

the idea that in a democracy, only policies with 50% + one vote are enacted, and only candidates that win 50% + one vote are elected

political ideology

an integrated system of ideas or beliefs about political values in general and the role of government in particular.

liberalism

an ideology that advocate change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well-being of individuals and to produces quality within society.

conservatism

an ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community and family as mechanisms of continuity in society.

socialism

an ideology that advocated economic equality, theoretically achieved by having the government or workers own the means of production(business and industry)

Libertarianism

an ideology whose advocates believe that the government should take a hands off approach in most matters.

Constitution

the fundamental principles of a government and the basic structures and procedures b which the government operates to fulfill those principles; may be written or unwritten

natural rights

the rights possessed by all humans as a gift from nature, or god, including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (also called unalienable rights).

republic

a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the process by which laws are made; a representative democracy.

bicameral legislative

legislature comprising 2 parts; called chambers

articles of confederation

a document drafted in 1777 establishing a union of independent states that agreed to work together for mutual well-being

confederation

a union of independent states in which each state retains its sovereignty, that is, its ultimate power to govern, and agrees to work collaborative on matters the state expressly agree to delegate to a central governing body.

dual sovereignty

a system of goverment in which ultimate governing authority is divided between 2 levels of government, a central and regional government, with each level having ultimate authority over different policy matters.

supremacy clause

a clause in article IV (4) of the constitution that states that the constitution and the treaties and laws created by teh national government in compliance with the constitution are the supreme law of the land.

separation of powers

the constitution’s delegation of authority for the primary governing functions among 3 branches of government so that no one group of government officials controls all of the governing functions. `

checks and balances

a system in which each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of other branches

virginia plan

the new governmental structure proposed by the virginia delegation to the constitution convention, which consisted of a bicameral legislation (congress), an executive elected by the legislature and separate national judiciary; state representation in congress would be proportional, based on state population; the people would elect members to the lower house, and members of the lower house would elect the members of the upper house.

new jersey plan

the proposal presented in response to the virginia plan by the less populous states at the constitutional convention, which called for a unicameral national legislature in which all states would have an equal voice (equal representation), an executive office composed of several people elected by congress, and a supreme court whose members would be appointed by the executive office.

connecticut compromise

the compromise between the virginia plan and the new jersey plan that created a bicameral legislature with one chamber’s representation based on population and the other chamber having 2 member for each state (also known as the great compromise)

electoral college

the name given to the body of representative by voters in each state to elect the president and the vice president

3/5 compromise

the negotiated agreement by the delegates to the constitutional convention

U.S. constitution

the document that established the framework for the government of the united states as a republic with separation of powers and checks and balances,

veto

the president’s rejection of a bill, which is sent back to congress with the president’s objections noted.

advice and consent

the senate’s authority to approve and reject the president’s top appointments or negotiated treaties.

marbury v. madison

the 1803 supreme court case that established the power of judicial review, which allows the court to strike down laws passed by the other branches that it views to be in conflict with the constitution

judicial review

court authority to determine that an action taken by the government officials or governing body violates the constitution; established by the supreme court in the 1803 marbury v. madison case.

federalist

individuals who supported the new constitution as presented by the constitutional convention in 1787.

anti-federalist

individuals who opposed ratification of the constitution because they were deeply suspicious of the powers it gave to the national government and of the impact those powers would have on state’s authority and individual freedoms.

the federalist papers

a series of essays, written y james madison, alexander hamilton, and john jay, that argued for the ratification of the constitution

bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the constitution, which were ratified in 1791 constitution an enumeration of the individual liberties with which the government is forbidden to interfere.

federal system

a governmental structure with 2 levels of government in which each level has sovereignty over different policy matters and geographic areas; a system of government with dual sovereignty.

unitary system

a governmental system in which one central government is the sovereign government and it creates other regional governments to which it delegates some governing powers and responsibilities, however, the central government retains ultimate authority (sovereignty)

confederal system

a governmental structure in which several independent sovereign states agree to cooperate on specified policy matters by creating a central governing body; each sovereign state retains

concurrent powers

basic governing functions that are exercised by the national and state governments independently, and at the same time, including the power to make policy, raise revenue, implement policies and establish courts.

enumerated powers

the powers of the national government that are listed in the constitutions.

implied powers

the powers of the national government that are not enumerated in the constitution but that congress claims are necessary and proper for the national government to fulfill its enumerated powers in accordance with the necessary and proper clause of the constitution.

necessary and proper clause

a clause in article 1, section 8, of the constitution that gives congress the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for implied powers

reserved powers

the matters referred to in the 10th amendment over which states retain sovereignty

interstates compacts

agreements between states that congress has the authority to review and reject.

extradition

the return of individuals accused of a crime to the state in which the crime was committed upon the request of that state governor.

privileges and immunity clause

the constitution’s requirement that a state extend to other state’s citizens the privilege and immunities it provides for its citizens

full faith and credit clause

the constitutional clause that requires states to comply with and uphold the public acts, records, and judicial decisions of others states.

grant-in-aid

the transfer of money from one government to another government that does not need to be paid back.

cooperative federalism

intergovernmental relations in which the national government supports state governments’ effort to address the domestic matters reserved to them.

devolution

the process whereby the national government returns policy responsibilities to state or local government.

fiscal federalism

the relationship between the national government and states and local governments whereby the national government provides grant money to state and local governments.

categorical formula grant

a grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose, whose dollar value is based on a formula

categorical project grant

a grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose for which governments compete with each other b proposing specific projects.

block grants

a grant-in-aid for a broadly defined policy area, whose funding amount is typically based on a formula

mandates

clauses in legislation that direct state and local government to comply with national legislation and nation standards.

preemption

the constitutionally based principle that allows a national law to supersede state or local laws.

waivers

exemptions from a particular condition normally attached to grants.

political socialization

the process by which we develop our political values and opinions

agents of socialization

the individuals organizations and institutions that facilitate the acquisition of political views

gender gap

the measurable different in the way women and men vote for candidates and in the way they view political issues.

generational effect

the impact of an important external event in shaping the views of a generation.

public opinion

the public’s expressed views about an issue at a specific point in time

public opinion poll

a survey of a given population’s opinion on an issue of candidate at a particular point in time.

straw poll

a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes.

population

in a poll, the group of people whose opinions are of interest and/or about whom information is desired

random sampling

a scientific method of selecting in which each member of the population has an unequal chance of being included in the sample.

quota sample

a method by which pollsters structure a sample so that it is representative of the characteristics of the target population

stratified sampling

a process of random sampling in which the national population is divided into fourths and certain areas within these regions are selected as representative of the national population

sampling error

also called margin of error; a statistical calculation of the difference in results between a poll of a randomly drawn sample and a poll of the entire population.

tracking polls

polls that measure changes in public opinion on the course of days, weeks, or months by repeatedly asking respondents the same questions and measuring changes in their responses.

push polls

a special type of poll that both attempts to skew public opinion about a candidate and provides information to campaigns about candidate strengths and weaknesses

exit poll

polls conducted at polling places on election day to project the winner of an election before the polls close.

civil liberties

constitutionally established guarantees that protect citizens, opinion, and property against arbitary government interference.

due process

the legal safeguards that prevent the government from arbitrarily depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property; guaranteed by the 5th and 14th amendment.

selective incorporation

the process by which, over time, the supreme court applied those freedoms that served some fundamental principle of liberty or justice to the states, thus rejecting total corporation

clear and present danger test

a standard established in the 1919 supreme court case schenck v. U.S. whereby the government may silence speech or expression when there is a clear and present danger that this speech will bring about some harm that the government has power to prevent.

habeas corpus

an ancient right that protects an individual in custody from being held without the right to be heard in a court of law

symbolic speech

nonverbal “speech” in the form of an action