People, Politics, and Participation Test

AP Government Test Flashcards

Donald Trump

President of the United States in the Republican Party.

JD Vance

VP of the US and President of the Senate from the Republican Party.

Charles E Grassley

President Pro-Tempore of the Senate from the Republican Party.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader from the Republican Party.

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader from the Democratic Party.

John Barrasso

Senate Majority whip from Republican Party.

Dick Durbin

Senate Minority Whip from the Democratic Party.

Gary Peters

Michigan Senator Male from Democratic Party

Elissa Slotkin

Michigan Senator Female from the Democratic Party.

Mike Johnson

The United States Speaker of the house from the Republican Party.

Steve Scalise

House Majority Leader form the Republican Party.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Minority Leader from the Democratic Party.

Tom Emmer

House Majority Whip from the Republican Party.

Katherine Clark

House Minority Whip from the Democratic Party

Rashida Tlaib

Michigan 12th Congressional District Representative from the Democratic Party.

John G Robert’s

Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, who is non-partisan.

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Michigan form the Democratic Party.

Garlin Gilchrist

The Lt. Governor of Michigan from the Democratic Party.

Matt Hall

Michigan Speaker of the house from the Republican Party.

David Coulter

Oakland County Executive from the Deomcratic Party.

Ken Siver

Mayor of Southfield, non partisan.

Bruce Kantor

Mayor of Lathrup Village, non-partisan.

Monarchy

A type government with hereditary succession of leadership with life long rule, and one person total power. Ex: Brunei

Constitutional Monarchy

A type of government with familial rights to succession, but the ruler is more of a figurehead, rather than having actual power. Elected officials in parliament handle governmental functions, therefore the power is in the hands of all citizens, while the monarch represents the country. Ex: UK

Dictatorship

A type of government where one person has absolute power without a constitutional limits. There are no elections, political parties, and everything is entirely dependent on the dictator. Ex: North Korea

Oligarchy

A type of government where the power rests in the hands of a few powerful, influential people, but not the public. Ex: Russia, China, Ukraine

Theocracy

A type of government where a deity is recognized as the supreme ruler, and laws are made by religious leaders acting as divine intermediaries. Ex: Iran

Direct Democracy

A type of government where citizens vote on every decision made by their government directly, therefore all citizens hold the power. Ex: Switzerland

Indirect Democracy (Republic)

A type of government where citizens vote on officials to make governmental decisions for them instead of directly voting themselves. They elect officials who represent their values, making decisions on their behalf, therefore all citizens hold the power. Ex: The United States

Totalitarianism

A system where the state holds absolute power and controls every aspect of public and private life. Ex: North Korea

Constitutionalism

A principle where the governments power is limited by a constitutional set of laws. Ex: The United States

Communism

Communism is a political and economic system that aims to build a classless society where the public owns all major means of production, such as factories and farms. Ex: China

Socialism

Socialism is a political and economic system where the community or the government owns and controls the major means of production, such as factories, land, and resources. Aims to build a classless society. Ex: Cuba

Congress (it’s bicameral)

The legislative branch at the national level consisting of the House of Representatives (435 ppl) and the Senate (100 ppl) who make the laws.

Michigan Congress (its bicameral)

The Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan senate make the laws. Also known as the legislative branch at the state level.

City Council

The legislative branch at the local level that’s makes laws/ordinances.

President of the United States (POTUS)

The executive branch at the national level consisting of the President with 2 4-year terms that ENFORCES the laws.

Governor

The executive branch at the state level, ENFORCES the laws. Two 4-year terms.

Mayor and/or City Manager

Enforces the laws at the local level.

Supreme Court

The national level of the judicial system where there is 9 justices all appointed by a President and confirmed by the Senate. There are no terms and justices are there for life. The judicial system interprets and applies laws.

State Court

The state level of the judicial system where laws are interpreted and applied.

District Courts

The local level of the judicial system where laws are applied/interpreted.

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 them.

Civic Engagement

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

Political Engagement

Citizens actions that are intended Tod 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 polity who, through naturalization or birth, enjoy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to membership of a given nation.

Naturalization

The process of becoming a citizens 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 popular.

Public Goods

Goods whose benefits cannot be limited and are available to all.

Democracy

Government in which supreme power of governance lies in the hands of its citizens.

Authoritarianism

System of government in which the government holds strong power but is checked by some forces.  People living under an authoritarian regime may have some rights, although those rights are often not protected by the government.

Limited Government

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

Divine Right of Kings

The assertion that monarchies, as a manifestation of Gods 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 of their liberties so that their other liberties can be protected.

Natural Law

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

Popular Sovereignty

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

Social Contract Theory

The theory that individuals possess free will, and every individual is equally endowed with the God-given right of self-determination and the ability to consent to be governed.

Political Culture

The peoples collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political progress.

Liberty

The most essential quality of American democracy; it is both the freedom from the 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 for a new nation, the United States of America.

Majority Rule

The idea that, in democracy, only policies with 50% plus 1are enacted and only candidates who win 50% plus 1 will be elected.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that, in democracy, the governments power derives from the consent of the people.

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 advocates change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well-being of individuals and to produce equality within society.

Conservatism

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

Libertarianism

An ideology whose advocates believe that the government should take a “hands-off” approach in most matters.

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment philosopher that wrote the Leviathan and believed that the best form of government is an absolute monarchy be we can’t trust people to rule themselves.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher that wrote “Second Treatise on civil government” And emphasized the natural rights of life, liberty, and property are rights that a good government honors, protects, and respects.

Charles De Montesquieu

Enlightenment philosopher that wrote about the separation of powers into 3 branches of governments. Framers of the constitution were well versed in Montewquieu’s writing.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Enlightenment philosopher that wrote about the social contract, agreement among people to make and follow laws, that a good and lasting government will uphold which is freely formed around the consent of the people.

Alexander De Detoequeville

Enlightenment philosopher sent from France to America, wrote about American Democracy, and brought back what he had learned.

The Enlightenment

18th century philosophical movement in Western Europe that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and absolute authority.

Why do government officials face tension between people who want government to take action and people who fear government having too much power?

Americans disagree about the proper role and size of government. Some want government to address issues such as healthcare, economic inequality, privacy, and fair treatment, while others worry that increased government action could give government too much power.

How can civic engagement benefit both individuals and the government?

Civic engagement helps individuals become knowledgeable about public issues, communicate with policymakers, advocate for themselves and others, and hold officials accountable. Governments also become more effective when citizens participate and express their views.

How does political ideology help people understand political issues?

Political ideology is an organized set of beliefs about political values and the role of government. It provides people with a framework for understanding political issues and deciding how much government should be involved in society.

Why can a one-dimensional political spectrum fail to describe someone's political beliefs?

People can hold combinations of economic and social views that do not fit neatly on one left-to-right line. A three-dimensional model can account for different views about economic issues and personal/social freedoms.

How has the changing U.S. population affected American democracy?

The U.S. population has changed significantly through population growth, immigration, movement between regions, and changes in age and racial and ethnic composition. These changes affect political attitudes, government priorities, representation, and the types of services governments need to provide.

Explain why studying American democracy now is important.

Studying American democracy is important because politics and government are changing as a result of technology, global events, and changes in how Americans communicate and participate. Younger Americans are also becoming an important political force, and studying democracy helps people understand these changes and participate effectively.

Explain how technology has changed politics. 

Technology has changed how voters and candidates communicate, how people get political information, and how campaigns organize supporters. The Internet, social media, e-mail, text messaging, and websites have made political communication faster and more accessible. Technology has also changed how governments provide services and conduct elections.

Explain why governments provide public goods and services.

Governments provide services that benefit society, including national defense, emergency services, education, transportation, and public health. Some goods, called public goods, provide benefits that cannot easily be limited to particular individuals or groups.

Explain how governments protect their territory and citizens.

Governments protect their sovereign territory and citizens at home and abroad by maintaining armed services and carrying out national-defense efforts such as counterterrorism. In the United States, the armed services include the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Domestic order is also protected through the National Guard and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

How do governments preserve order and stability?

Governments preserve order by providing emergency services and security following disasters. They also maintain stability by providing a political structure that has legitimacy, meaning citizens believe that the government's exercise of power is right and proper.

Explain how governments establish and maintain a legal system.

Governments create legal structures by enacting and enforcing laws that restrict or ban certain behaviors. In the United States, the federal Constitution provides the foundation for this legal structure. Police and other law-enforcement agencies implement laws, while courts administer justice and impose penalties

How do governments provide services to their citizens?

Governments distribute many different services to citizens. In the United States, government agencies provide services such as inspecting meat, ensuring workplace safety, and providing other services that benefit the public.

Why do governments need to raise and spend money?

Government services, from national defense to health care, cost money. Governments collect revenue through taxes, including income, sales, property, “sin,” and luxury taxes, and then use that money to provide services.

How do governments help socialize new generations?

Governments participate in political socialization, the process through which individuals develop political values and opinions. They do this through schools, curriculum standards, interactions with government officials, libraries, museums, public parks, and opportunities for civic participation. These activities help transmit cultural norms and values such as patriotism.

Explain how the Protestant Reformation influenced ideas about self-government.

The Reformation challenged traditional religious authority and encouraged people to question established institutions. Groups such as the Puritans developed ideas about governing themselves, and the Pilgrims later used the Mayflower Compact to establish an agreement for self-government.

Analyze how Hobbes's and Locke's ideas about the social contract differed.

Hobbes believed people created government to maintain order and protect themselves from disorder. Locke also believed government resulted from a social contract, but he emphasized natural rights and argued that people could challenge or replace a government that violated those rights.

How did colonial experiences contribute to representative democracy in the United States?

Colonists gained experience participating in government through institutions such as town meetings and elected assemblies. Some communities practiced direct democracy, while other colonies developed systems in which citizens elected representatives to make decisions for them.

Explain how political culture influences American democracy.

Political culture consists of the shared values and beliefs that shape how Americans think about government and politics. Important American values discussed in the chapter include liberty, equality, capitalism, consent of the governed, and the importance of individuals, families, and communities.

How can protecting society create a conflict with individual liberty?

Government may restrict certain individual freedoms in an effort to protect citizens and maintain security. This creates debates over how to balance individual freedom and privacy with public safety.

Analyze how the American concept of equality has changed over time.

Early American ideas emphasized equality of opportunity, but many groups were excluded from political rights. Over time, movements involving abolition, women's suffrage, civil rights, and other rights expanded political and legal equality. Economic equality has also become part of the debate.

How does capitalism operate within the American political and economic system?

Capitalism is based on private ownership of property and businesses, with individuals and businesses seeking profit. Market forces influence production, wages, and prices, although the U.S. government also regulates parts of the economy

Why is consent of the governed important to American democracy?

Consent of the governed means that government authority comes from the people. The idea is connected to popular sovereignty and the belief that legitimate government depends on the consent of those being governed.

How do individuals, families, and communities contribute to political life?

Families are often the first place where people learn political values and behavior. Communities provide opportunities for people to participate in political and civic organizations and to develop relationships that influence political life.

Describe the general beliefs associated with modern liberalism.

Modern liberals generally support political equality, civil liberties, social change, and a more active role for government in promoting economic opportunity and addressing social and economic problems.

How do conservatives generally view the role of government?

Conservatives generally favor a more limited government role, emphasize individual initiative and traditional institutions, and tend to prefer market forces and private organizations over extensive government involvement.

Explain how socialism and libertarianism differ in their views of government.

Socialism emphasizes economic equality and supports government or worker ownership of businesses and industry. Libertarianism favors a "hands-off" approach to government, strongly supports individual freedom and property rights, and favors a laissez-faire economy.