AP U.S. Government and Politics Comprehensive Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, foundational documents, and required Supreme Court cases for the AP U.S. Government and Politics curriculum.

Limited government

Restrictions on gov’t power, usually found in a constitution.

Natural rights

Rights that we are born with that cannot be infringed upon: life, liberty, property (or pursuit of happiness).

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the government operates by the consent of the governed.

Republicanism

A form of representative democracy.

Social contract

Consent to be governed in return for protection of natural rights.

Participatory democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society.

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy that recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making.

Elite democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society.

Federalist No. $10$

An essay arguing that a large republic would best control the "mischiefs of faction" by delegating authority to elected representatives.

Brutus No. $1$

An Anti-Federalist writing that adhered to popular democratic theory, emphasizing the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the independent U.S. government, characterized by a weak central government, no independent executive or judicial branch, and a unicameral legislature.

Shays’ Rebellion

An event that heightened concerns about the Articles of Confederation's lack of national military powers.

Connecticut Compromise

A combination of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans creating a bicameral legislature with one chamber based on population and another on equal representation.

Electoral College

The group of electors chosen by each state to formally vote for the next U.S. president; requires $270$ votes to win.

$\frac{3}{5}$ Compromise

An agreement to count enslaved people as $\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for the purposes of representation in the population.

Compromise on the importation of slaves

An agreement that the foreign slave trade could not be banned until the year $1808$.

Article V

The section of the Constitution detailing the amendment process, requiring a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in both houses or state legislatures for proposal, and ratification by $\frac{3}{4}$ of the states.

Federalist No. $51$

Explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities.

Federalism

The sharing of power between the national and state governments.

Exclusive powers

Powers reserved only for the federal government, such as declaring war.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically found in the Constitution for the federal government.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared or allowed for both the federal and state governments.

Reserved powers

Powers granted to the states or people via the Tenth Amendment.

Implied powers

Congressional powers beyond those enumerated, exercised through the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Categorical grants

Federal monies provided to state governments for specific purposes, often with "strings attached."

Block grants

Federal monies provided to state governments for broad purposes, allowing states more freedom in spending.

Unfunded mandates

Requirements by the federal government that states must follow but are not provided funding to implement, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Tenth Amendment

States that powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Fourteenth Amendment

Contains the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses; used to protect civil liberties and rights from state infringement.

Commerce clause

Grants the federal government the power to regulate interstate commerce; often used to expand federal power.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established that Congress has implied powers to implement enumerated powers and confirmed the supremacy of federal law over state law.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime, recognizing state sovereignty.

Standing committees

Permanent committees in Congress that consider legislation and have oversight power.

Conference committees

Temporary joint committees formed to reconcile differences in a bill passed by the House and Senate.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate involving unlimited debate to delay a bill; requires a cloture vote of $60$ to end.

Discharge petition

A petition signed by a majority of House members to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Pork-barrel legislation

The use of federal funding to finance localized projects to please constituents and boost reelection chances.

Logrolling

A practice where two legislators agree to trade votes for each other's benefit.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and established the "one person, one vote" doctrine.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court decision prohibiting racial gerrymandering.

Trustee

A member of Congress who uses their own judgment to decide how to vote rather than strictly following constituent views.

Delegate

A member of Congress who always follows their constituents' voting preferences.

Politico

A member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues constituents care about and as a trustee on issues they do not.

Executive agreements

Agreements with heads of foreign governments that do not require Senate ratification.

Executive orders

Presidential orders to the executive branch that carry the force of law.

Signing statements

A president's written interpretation of a law passed by Congress, issued at the time of signing.

Federalist No. $70$

Hamilton's argument for a single, "energetic" executive to ensure accountability and quick action.

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits the president to serving only $2$ terms.

War Powers Act

A resolution designed to limit the president's power to deploy U.S. armed forces.

Bully pulpit

The president's use of media coverage to promote an agenda directly to the American public.

Federalist No. $78$

Hamilton's argument for judicial independence through life tenure and the necessity of judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Court to strike down laws as unconstitutional.

Stare decisis

The principle of making legal decisions based on past precedents; "let the decision stand."

Judicial activism

The philosophy that the Court should be bold in upholding rights and striking down legislation, even if rights are not explicitly stated.

Judicial restraint

The philosophy that judges should be strict interpreters of the Constitution and defer policy decisions to elective branches.

Iron triangles

Longstanding, mutually beneficial relationships between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies.

Establishment Clause

A First Amendment provision stating "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."

Free Exercise Clause

Prevents the federal government from interfering with citizens' religious beliefs and practices.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Declared school-sponsored religious activities or prayer a violation of the Establishment Clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Held that compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the Free Exercise Clause.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Ruled that public school students could wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War as protected symbolic speech.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established that speech creating a "clear and present danger" can be limited by the government.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Bolstered freedom of the press by establishing a "heavy presumption against prior restraint."

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court applies Bill of Rights protections to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent, incorporated to the states.

Exclusionary Rule

A requirement that evidence found during an illegal search or seizure cannot be used in a trial.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Declared that race-based school segregation violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Individualism

The belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and their own decisions.

Keynesian economics

An economic philosophy encouraging government spending to promote growth, often resulting in deficit spending.

Supply-side economics

An philosophy encouraging tax cuts and deregulation to promote economic growth.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.

Political efficacy

A citizen’s belief that their vote matters and can influence government policies.

Linkage institutions

Channels like political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media that allow individuals to communicate preferences to policymakers.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

An effort to ban soft money and reduce attack ads with the "Stand by Your Ad" provision.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Ruled that political spending by corporations and unions is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Horse race journalism

Journalism that focuses on who is winning in the polls rather than on policy agendas or debates.