AP GOV MASTER SET

Anti-Federalists

group that OPPOSED the ratification of the Constitution, wanting decentralized government and greater power allocated to the states

Articles of Confederation

pre-Constitution government which created a weak central government (only a unicameral legislature) and gave the majority of the power to the states

Bicameral legislature

a legislature with two houses (like the US Congress)

Block Grant

federal funds provided to states for a broad purpose, few strings attached

Bureaucracy

system of civil servants and political appointees who implement congressional or presidential decisions (aka administrative state)

Categorical grant

federal funds provided to states for a specific program, strings attached

Checks and Balances

each branch of government has powers and functions that keep the other two branches in check

Commerce clause

clause in Article I of the Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, across state lines, and with Native American tribes

Concurrent powers

authority not exclusively given to either the federal or state governments, used by both (taxation, borrowing money, establishing courts, etc)

Reserved powers

via the 10th amendment, any power not granted to the federal government is “reserved” for the states

Democracy

a form of government where policy reflects public preferences either directly or through elected representatives

Devolution

the transfer of power from the federal government back to state and local governments

Elite democracy

model of democracy emphasizing the influence of a small privileged group and limiting participation of the general public

Enumerated/expressed powers

specific authority granted to the federal government in the Constitution

Ex post facto laws

retroactive laws criminalizing or increasing the punishment for actions committed before the law was passed (explicitly banned for Congress and the states)

Extradition

legal process requiring states to return a person charged with a crime in another state to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed

Faction

group of citizens united by a common passion or interest potentially adverse to the common good

Federalism/division of powers

the constitutional sharing of power between national and state governments

Cooperative federalism

a system where national and state governments share responsibilities, costs, and administration for policy goals (marble cake federalism)

Dual federalism

a system where federal and state governments operate withinindependent spheres of authority (layer cake federalism)

Federalists

group that SUPPORTED the ratification of the Constitution, wanting centralized government and lesser power allocated to the states

Full faith and credit clause

requires states to recognize and enforce the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states

Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

Constitutional Convention agreement to establish a bicameral legislature allowing for a house with population-based representation and a house where each state is represented equally

Impeachment

the constitutional process by which the House of Representatives formally charges a federal official with "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”

Implied Powers

federal powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but inferred from the enumerated powers

Importation of slaves compromise

Constitutional Convention agreement prohibiting Congress from banning the international slave trade until 1808 (in order to protect Southern economies and ensure the ratification of the Constitution)

Funded mandates

federal regulations providing funding to state/local governments to do something

Unfunded mandates

federal regulations requiring state/local governments do something without providing funding

Natural Rights

inherent fundamental human rights that must be protected by government

Necessary and proper clause/Elastic clause

clause in Article I of the Constitution empowering Congress to make any appropriate laws for executing its enumerated powers

Participatory democracy

model of democracy emphasizing broad, direct participation by citizens

Pluralist democracy

model of democracy emphasizing political participation through interest groups

Popular sovereignty

the idea that the people are the source of political authority and that governments are sustained by the consent of the governed

Privileges and immunities clause

clause in Article IV of the Constitution requiring states to provide the same fundamental rights and privileges to citizens of other states as in-state residents

Ratification

the legal process of adopting a Constitutional amendment or other important document

Republic

form of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf

Separation of Powers

separation of federal authority into three distinct branches to prevent tyranny

Shay’s Rebellion

armed rebellion of Massachusetts farmers protesting high taxes, debt, and farm foreclosures (reflecting the severity of post-Revolutionary War economic crisis and failure of the Articles of Confederation government)

Social Contract

the implied agreement that individuals consent to surrender some freedoms in exchange for government protection

Supremacy clause

clause found in Article VI of the Constitution establishing that federal law takes precedence over state law

Three-Fifths Compromise

Constitutional Convention agreement counting five enslaved people as three individuals for the purposes of determining a state’s House representation

Writ of habeas corpus

court-ordered document requiring a detained person be brought before a judge to determine the legality of their detention

1st amendment

prohibits Congress from restricting essential liberties: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

2nd amendment

protects the individual right to possess firearms

3rd amendment

prohibits the government from forcing citizens to quarter soldiers in their homes during peacetime without consent

4th amendment

protects people from unreasonable government searches and seizures and requires warrants be backed up by probable cause

5th amendment

protects the rights of individuals against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and the deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process

6th amendment

guarantees individuals accused of crimes a fair trial within the criminal justice system

7th amendment

guarantees the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases

8th amendment

prohibits the federal government from imposing cruel and unusual punishments

9th amendment

the government cannot claim that the only rights people have are those listed in the Bill of Rights

10th amendment

powers not given to the federal government belong to the states

Constitution

the supreme law of the United States

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing specific civil liberties and rights

13th amendment

abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States, except as punishment for a crime

14th amendment

establishes citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law

15th amendment

establishes universal male suffrage by prohibiting the government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race

17th amendment

mandates direct election of senators by citizens of the state rather than state legislatures

19th amendment

grants women suffrage

Federalist 10

Federalist paper written by James Madison establishing that a large, diverse republic is the best way to control the dangers of faction

Brutus 1

anonymously written Anti-Federalist paper arguing that a large, consolidated government will render states powerless through the Necessary and Proper and Supremacy Clauses

Declaration of Independence

document written primarily by Thomas Jefferson listing grievances against King George III and justifying the 13 colonies’ separation from Britain through ideas of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the social contract

Federalist 51

Federalist paper written by James Madison arguing that the US Constitution’s system of separation of powers and checks and balances will ensure that no branch will become too powerful

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

establishes supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws

United States v Lopez (1995)

establishes that Congress exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause when it made possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime

Apportionment

the process of distributing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states every 10 years based on population data from the Census

Bipartisanship

political situation where both major political parties collaborate to reach a common goal

Budget

financial plan outlining the government’s expected revenue and proposed expenditures; budget proposal submitted by the president, modified and passed between Congress, then the final version is signed into law by Congress

Bully pulpit

the President’s unique ability to use their platform to push their agenda to the American people and pressure Congress to act on key issues

Bureaucratic discretion

authority granted by Congress to federal agencies and their employees to make independent decisions on how to implement, interpret, and enforce laws

Civil law

the body of rules and legal procedures involving private disputes and obligations

Criminal law

the body of rules and legal procedures charging individuals with violating specific laws meant to protect the public good

Civil Service

The permanent, professional, nonpartisan branches of government administration

Cloture

Senate procedure limiting debate and forcing a vote on a topic to end a filibuster (requiring a 3/5 majority to pass)

Committee of the whole

a parliamentary device used by the U.S. House of Representatives where all Representatives serve as a committee, relaxing some rules to expedite legislation

Congressional oversight

the authority of Congress to monitor, review, and supervise federal agencies, programs, and policies (legislative branch check on the executive branch)

Delegate

an elected representative who votes according to the direct wishes and opinions of their constituents rather than their own personal judgment

Discharge petition

House of Representatives procedure allowing a majority (218 members) to force a bill out of a stalled committee and onto the floor for consideration

Discretionary spending

the portion of the federal budget authorized annually by the President and Congress

Divided government

a situation in which one party controls the White House (executive branch), while another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress (legislative branch)

Entitlement program

government-sponsored, legally mandated benefits that individuals are guaranteed to receive if they meet specific eligibility criteria (Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP)

Executive branch

branch of the US led by the President responsible for implementing and enforcing laws

Executive agreement

pact between the President and the leader of a foreign nation that acts as an informal, binding agreement for the length of the President’s term in office (not a treaty so it does not require Senate ratification)

Executive order

directives issued by the President to federal agencies that carry the force of law without Congressional approval

Federal Bureaucracy

the collection of departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations that implement and enforce federal laws

Filibuster

tool for the minority to obstruct legislation by extending debate indefinitely

Gerrymandering

deliberate manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give a given group an unfair advantage

Gridlock

a legislative standstill where the government is unable to pass laws or take action (often due to divided government and/or partisan polarization)

House of Representatives

the lower, more regulated, “closer to the people” body of the legislature with 435 members

House majority leader

second-ranking official in the House; responsible for directing party strategy, scheduling legislation, and promoting party unity

House majority/minority whip

ensures discipline in their respective party, tracks member votes, and mobilizes support for the party’s legislative agenda

Incumbency

currently holding a political office, which is highly advantageous for reelection campaigns

Iron triangle

mutually beneficial relationship in a certain policy area between congressional committees, federal bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups with a stake in that particular policy issue

Issue network

the contentious, complex web of relationships among various stakeholders in a particular policy issue

Judicial activism

judicial philosophy emphasizing that judges go beyond interpreting law to make policy, often to protect the minority rights and check the power of the majority

Judicial restraint

judicial philosophy emphasizing that courts defer to the elected branches to make policy and limit the scope of judicial review

Judicial Review

the power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional

Jurisdiction

a court's legal authority to hear and decide a case, determined by geography, subject matter, or hierarchy

Lame duck

an elected official in the final period of their term, especially after a successor has been elected but before the successor takes office, often leading to decreased political influence