2025-26 AP Vocabulary

Natural Rights

Natural rights refer to the rights given to all humans, simply for the sake of being human. They are universal moral principles among all cultures and societies and can't be reversed by government laws. For this reason, natural rights are often called inalienable rights — rights that cannot be taken away

Natural Law

A doctrine that states society should be governed by certain ethical principles such are a part of nature. Therefore man can understand and resolve issues through reason.

Social Contract

an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits, for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection. Theories of a social contract became popular in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries among theorists such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as a means of explaining the origin of government and the obligations of subjects.

Direct Democracy

system where voters participate and decision are based on majority rule

Indirect Democracy

also known as a Republic, it is a system where citizens vote for representatives who make policy in their name

checks and balances

The constitutional principle which allows for the branches of government to monitor and oversee the activities of each other

separation of powers

Principle in which federal power is divided among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches

oversight

in addition to the representative and legislative functions, this third duty of Congress directly relates to checks and balances and the "watching over" of the other two branches of government

Federalism

The sharing of power between local, state and federal governments

unitary system

A government system where most or all powers lie with the national or central government

confederate system (Confederation)

a government system that gives most powers to the states

Liberal

An ideological view that is acceptant or desirous of change and a "Hands On" economy

Libertarian

one who favors a free market economy and no government intervention in individual liberties

Conservative

An ideological view that values limited government, less regulation and adherence to traditional social values

Moderate

One who takes a centrist (status quo) view on most political issues

Federalists

propaganda group which supported ratification of the new Constitution

Anti-Federalists

propaganda group that opposed ratification of the new constitution

Unicameral

A legislative body consisting of ONE (1) chamber

Bicameral

A legislative body consisting of TWO (2) chambers

Judicial review

Power of the supreme court to declare a law of congress or executive action unconstitutional

Enumerated Power

The expressed powers of Congress found in Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution

Implied Powers

The Powers of Congress derived from Article 1 Section 8 Clause 18 of the Constitution, known and the Necessary & Proper or "Elastic" clause

Reserved Powers

The powers found in Amendment 10 of the Bill of Rights that are Reserved for the states or the people

Concurrent Powers

Powers or authority possessed by BOTH the state and federal governments

Devolution

The passing down of power from federal to state to local governments. Signifies a more state's rights, layer cake type of federalism

categorical grant

congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law. Less state and local decision-making are allowed.

block grant

Money is given to states for general programs within a broad category. More state decision-making is allowed.

Majority

winning more than half of the votes in any given election or court case

Plurality

winning the most votes in any given election or court case

electorate

all of the people eligible to vote in a given election

constituents

the people who are represented by a particular elected official

united government

condition in which one party controls both the Congress and the Executive

divided government

condition where one party controls the Executive and the other party controls at least one house of Congress

legitimate

based on the will of the people

mandate

the authority to act based on the level of public support

pluralism

A theory of government that holds that multiple, competing interest groups drive policy and can check the power of any one group.

elitism

A theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class of the wealthy hold most of the power and thus, in effect, drive policies and elections

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of one particular political party

bi-partisan

the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.

general election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

nominating election

elections designed to determine the party candidates who will run in the general election

prospective voting

voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate

retrospective voting

voting based on the past performance of a candidate

rational choice voting

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

incumbent

The current officeholder seeking reelection.

straight ticket

a ballot on which a voter selects candidates from only one political party

ticket splitting

Voting for at least one candidate from each party in a given election

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

soft money

Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

coattail effect

benefitting from the success or popularity of another person or situation

political efficacy

The belief that one's political participation really matters ; to have trust in the system

lame duck

One who is still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection; an office holder with minimal power or legitimacy

Trustee

a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

Delegate

a representative who acts in accordance with the will of the people

Reapportionment

The process of reassigning seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census.

Redistricting

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

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing Congressional District lines for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

bill

a proposed law

veto

presidential power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

front-loading

The recent tendency of states to hold primaries earlier in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention and become more relevant in the nominating process

faction

a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.

quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

discharge petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

pork barreling

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

cloture

A 60 vote procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill and end a filibuster

logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

filibuster

A minority stall tactic to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

executive order

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

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

executive privilege

An inherent presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to Congress or the judiciary.

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

Bully Pulpit

an inherent power allowing the president to use his office and visibility to reach the American public

signing statement

A written declaration that a president may add when signing a bill into law. Such statements may point out sections deemed unconstitutional, unclear, or particularly important

original jurisdiction

the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

writ of certiorari

Order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review

judicial activism

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

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

Habeas Corpus

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge, before unlawful imprisonment.

bill of attainder

a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime

ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed

Due Process Clause

14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process (equal treatment) of law

Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection (rule of law) under the law

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

amicus curiae brief

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or interest group to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

Libel

Written defamation of a person's character, reputation, or business

Slander

spoken defamation of a person's character, reputation, or business

civil rights

Policies granted to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens which cannot be taken by government

de facto

in fact, reality

de jure

by law

Realignment

A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape.

Dealignment

a general decline in party identification and loyalty in the electorate

Interest groups

organizations that seek to influence government in order to achieve some or all of their policy goals.

coalition

a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends

Lobbying

strategies and tools by which organized interest groups seek to influence public policy

disturbance theory

The theory that interest groups form in part to counteract the efforts of other groups.