AP Government Full Course Flashcards (course knowledge only)

These flashcards are based off the AP Government CED, so mostly everything in these flashcards WILL be tested on in the real exam. I chose not to add SCOTUS, Amendments, and Foundational documents to this set because I feel like those should be practiced more in depth for the FRQ portion of the exam, and not broadly like the course knowledge. Also, anything that is missing from this set will not be tested on in the real exam(other than than the cases and stuff), but contact me if you think something vital is missing and I'll see if its worth adding.

Natural rights

The democratic ideal that all people have certain rights that cannot be taken away.

Social contract

An implicit agreement among people in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain social order.

Popular sovereignty

The democratic ideal that all government power comes from the consent of the people.

Limited government

The principle that a government's power cannot be absolute; ensured by separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism.

Participatory democracy

Model of representative democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society.

Pluralist democracy

Model that emphasizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making.

Elite democracy

Model that emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society.

Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government; argued for a large republic to control the "mischiefs of faction."

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification; wanted more power reserved to states; warned of dangers to personal liberty from a large central government.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

No centralized military (Shays' Rebellion), no executive to enforce laws, no national courts, no power to regulate interstate commerce, no exclusive power to coin money.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Created the bicameral Congress: House based on state population, Senate with equal state representation.

Electoral College (origin)

Compromise creating a system to elect the president by electors from each state rather than by popular or congressional vote.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Provided a formula for counting a state's enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that enumerate the liberties and rights of individuals; agreed to address Anti-Federalist concerns.

Article V amendment process

Amendments require a 2/3 vote in both houses (or proposal from 2/3 of state legislatures), with ratification by 3/4 of the states.

Separation of powers

The specific and separate powers delegated to Congress, the president, and the courts so each branch can check the others.

Checks and balances

System ensuring no one branch becomes too powerful; explained in Federalist No. 51 as a check on potential abuses by majorities.

Impeachment

Process by which the House formally charges an official with abuse of power or misconduct.

Removal

Conviction in a Senate impeachment trial that removes an official from office.

Federalism

System of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments.

Exclusive powers

Powers held by only one level of government; includes enumerated powers (written) and implied powers (from Necessary and Proper Clause).

Reserved powers

Powers not delegated to the national government; reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared between national and state governments such as collecting taxes, making and enforcing laws, and building roads.

Revenue sharing

National funding with almost no restrictions on its use; the least used form of funding.

Block grants

National funding with minimal restrictions on its use; preferred by the states.

Categorical grants

National funding restricted to specific categories of expenditures; preferred by the national government and most commonly used.

Mandates

Requirements imposed by the national government on the states.

Commerce Clause

Gives the national government the power to regulate interstate commerce; subject to Supreme Court interpretation.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Gives Congress the power to make laws related to carrying out its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Gives the national government and its laws general precedence over state laws.

Federalism's effect on policymaking

Allocation of power creates multiple access points for stakeholders; national policymaking is constrained by sharing concurrent powers with states.

Republicanism

Democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government by their representatives; shown in Congress's bicameral structure.

House of Representatives

435 members; designed to represent the people; more formal debate; all members elected every two years.

Senate

100 members; designed to represent states equally; less formal debate; one-third elected every two years (continuous body).

Enumerated powers of Congress

Pass federal budget, raise revenue, borrow and coin money, declare war, fund armed forces, regulate interstate commerce, set naturalization process, create federal courts, enact laws under Necessary and Proper Clause, oversee the executive.

Speaker of the House

Elected by a majority of House members; presides over legislative work.

Origination of revenue bills

All revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives.

Rules Committee

Establishes rules for debate on a bill in the House.

Committee of the Whole

Procedure used in the House to expedite debate on bills.

Discharge petition

A House process by which an individual representative can force a bill to the floor for debate; rarely successful.

Unanimous consent

Senate procedure for typically bringing bills to the floor.

Hold

A request by a Senator to prevent a bill from getting to the floor for a vote.

Filibuster

Senate tactic to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill.

Cloture

Senate procedure to end a debate (and a filibuster).

Conference committee

Committee that meets to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Mandatory spending

Spending required by law for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Discretionary spending

Spending approved annually for items like defense, education, and infrastructure.

Pork-barrel legislation

Funding for a local project included in a larger appropriation bill.

Logrolling

Exchange of political favors among legislators (such as trading votes) to gain support for legislation.

Partisan voting

When members of Congress vote based on their political party affiliation.

Polarization

When political attitudes move toward ideological extremes.

Gridlock

A situation in which no congressional action can be taken on legislation due to a lack of consensus.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries to favor one party; partially addressed by Supreme Court cases under the Equal Protection Clause.

Divided government

When one party controls the presidency and the other controls at least one chamber of Congress; can intensify partisanship.

Lame duck president

A president whose successor has been elected but has not yet taken office; faces less leverage with Congress.

Trustee model

Representative who votes based on their own knowledge and judgment.

Delegate model

Representative who acts as an agent of constituents and votes based on their interests.

Politico model

Representative who uses a combination of trustee and delegate role conceptions.

Veto

Formal presidential power to reject a bill; can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of Congress.

Pocket veto

Presidential rejection of a bill by not signing it within 10 days of Congress adjourning; cannot be overridden.

Commander-in-chief

Formal foreign policy power giving the president command of the armed forces.

Treaties

Formal foreign policy agreements that require Senate approval.

Executive agreements

Informal foreign policy power; international agreements made by the president without Senate approval.

Bargaining and persuasion

Informal presidential power used to secure congressional action.

Executive order

Directive that allows the president to manage the federal government; implied by vested executive power or delegated by Congress.

Signing statement

Informal power that informs Congress and public of the president's interpretation of a law upon signing.

Senate confirmation

Important check on appointment powers including Cabinet members, ambassadors, EOP positions, and federal judges.

Life-tenured judicial appointments

The president's longest lasting influence; allows judicial influence beyond the president's term.

Bully pulpit

The president's ability to use the media (e.g., State of the Union) to set the agenda and influence public views.

Article III

Sets the foundation for the powers of the judicial branch.

Stare decisis

Legal doctrine under which courts follow legal precedents when deciding cases with similar facts.

Life tenure of justices

Allows the Court to function independent of the political climate; can lead to controversial decisions and debate about court power.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare an act of the legislative or executive branch unconstitutional.

Judicial activism

View that judicial review allows courts to overturn current precedent or invalidate legislative or executive acts.

Judicial restraint

View that judicial review should be constrained to decisions that adhere to current Constitutional and case precedent.

Congressional checks on the Court

Legislation modifying impact of decisions, constitutional amendments, judicial appointments, delaying implementation, and removing court jurisdiction.

Federal bureaucracy

Departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations that implement policy by writing/enforcing regulations, issuing fines, testifying before Congress, and forming iron triangles or issue networks.

Iron triangle

Alliance of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups in a specific policy area.

Issue network

Temporary coalitions that form to promote a common issue or agenda.

Merit system

Civil service hiring/promotion based on professionalism, specialization, and neutrality (vs. political patronage).

Political patronage

System where bureaucratic jobs are politically appointed.

Discretionary authority

Bureaucratic power delegated by Congress to interpret and implement policies.

Rulemaking authority

Bureaucratic agencies' power to use discretion to create and enforce regulations.

Major bureaucratic agencies

Department of Homeland Security, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Education, EPA, FEC, SEC.

Congressional oversight

Review, monitoring, and supervision of bureaucratic agencies; uses investigation, hearings, and the power of the purse.

Power of the purse

Congressional ability to check the bureaucracy by appropriating or withholding funds.

Compliance monitoring

Process ensuring funds are used properly and regulations are followed; can pose challenges to policy implementation.

Civil liberties

Constitutionally established guarantees and freedoms that protect citizens, opinions, and property against arbitrary government interference.

Establishment Clause

First Amendment clause prohibiting government establishment of religion.

Free Exercise Clause

First Amendment clause protecting individual religious freedom.

Symbolic speech

Nonverbal action that communicates an idea or belief; protected by the First Amendment.

Time, place, and manner regulations

First Amendment limits on speech such as time, location, and noise level restrictions.

Defamation

Language that harms the reputation of another; includes libel (written) and slander (oral).

Clear and present danger

Standard limiting speech that creates a danger; established and refined through Supreme Court interpretations.

Prior restraint

Government censorship before publication; the Court holds a heavy presumption against it (even in national security cases).

Selective incorporation

Doctrine that extends select Bill of Rights protections to the states through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Due process clause

Government may not infringe on a person's right to life, liberty, or property without due process of law (Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments).

Procedural due process

Requires government officials to use methods that are not arbitrary when making and carrying out decisions affecting protected rights.

Miranda rule

Requires accused persons to be informed of procedural protections (Fifth and Sixth Amendments) prior to interrogation.

Public safety exception

Allows unwarned interrogation to stand as direct evidence in court.