AP Government: MONSTER VOCAB LIST

Federalism

Government authority shared by national and state governments

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments. (Revenue Sharing)

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly

Block Grants

Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington

Categorical Grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

Unfunded Mandate

National law that directs state or local govts to comply with federal rules/regulations, but contain little or no federal funding to defray cost of meeting the requirements (clean air & water standards)

Devolution

The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states

Demographic

characteristics of a population, including age, sex, and race. Demographics are often used to determine changes in the make-up of a population.

Political Socialization

Process by which background traits influence one's political views

Political Culture

An overall set of values widely shared within a society

Political Efficacy

A belief that you can take part in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy).

Gender Gap

Difference in political views between men and women

Single-Member Districts

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population

Gerrymandering

Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population

Critical Elections

Elections that disrupt party coalitions and create new ones in a party realignment

Realignment

A shift of voting patterns to form new coaltions of party support

Dealignment

A process whereby voters move toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties

Divided Government

One party controls executive branch, and other party controls legislative branch

Creates gridlock (nothing gets accomplished)

Open Primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in a which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Closed Primary

A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members

Caucus

A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate

General Election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Midterm Election

The congressional election that occurs midway through the president's term of office

PAC

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Super PAC

Organization set up after (Citizens United v. FEC) to engage in independent electioneering. Can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with a candidate. Donors can remain anonymous

Independent Expenditures

Spending by PAC's, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them

Policy Agenda

Issues that people believe require governmental action

Horse Race Journalism

Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues

Issue Network

A network of people in Washington DC based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies

Political Party

A group that seeks to elect candidates to public office

Party Polarization

The tendency of the Democratic party to take more liberal positions and the Republican party to take more conservative positions on key issues

Interest Group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group

Lobbying

Direct contact made by an interest group representative in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors

Grassroots Lobbying

Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials INDIRECTLY, by arousing their constituents

Expressed Powers

Powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution

Implied Powers

Powers that Congress has that are NOT stated explicitly in the Constitution

Franking Privilege

The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage

Pork Barrel

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Filibuster

An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action to the bill

Casework

Activities of members of congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get

Oversight

The effort by congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

Motion for Cloture

The only procedure by which the senate can vote to place a time limit on the consideration of a bill or other matter and there by overcome a filibuster

Incumbency

The person already holding an elective office

Logrolling

A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers

Inherent Powers

The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government

White House Staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Pocket Veto

When a President kills a bill passed during the last 10 days Congress is in session by simply refusing to act on it

Lame Duck Period

A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection

Amicus Curiae

A brief submitted by a "friend of the court"

Stare Decisis

"Let the decision stand," or allowing prior rulings to control the current case

Original Intent

A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers. Many conservatives support this view

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

Judicial Activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values

Writ of Certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review

Litigation

A legal proceeding in a court

Uncontrollable Spending

The portion of the federal budget that is spent on programs, such as Social Security, that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut

Entitlements

A claim for government funds that cannot be changed without violating the rights of claimant

Mandatory Spending

Spending authorized by law that continues without the need for annual approvals of Congress

Monetary Policy

Managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates

Fiscal Policy

Managing the economy by the use of tax and spending laws

Selective Incorporation

Court cases that apply Bill of Rights to the states

Suffrage

The right to vote

Iron Triangles

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group