AP Gov Monster Vocab Quiz

Pluralism

a theory of government in which many groups compete for policy

Divided Government

When the president is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing political party

Open Primary

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests

PAC

An organization that is registered with the Federal Election Committee and donates money to a candidate or campaign

Categorical Grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending

Unfunded Mandate

a federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action as unconstitutional

Bipartisan

Involving two political parties

Implied Powers

Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the constitution

Realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period

Grassroots Lobbying

Ordinary citizens raising awareness for a cause and pushing the government to adopt a particular policy

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals in a society acquire political attitudes, views, and knowledge, based on inputs from family, schools, the media, and others

Interest Group

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

Oversight

Congressional committee hearings held to determine how well an agency is doing its job

General Election

An election held to choose which candidate will hold office

Caucus

Face-to-face meetings of party members at the local or state level to determine their party's candidate for offic

Pork Barrel Spending

A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Block Grants

Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent

Suffrage

The legal right to vote

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws

Mandatory Spending

expenditures that the federal government is obligated to make, like entitlements and interest on the national debt

Inherent Powers

powers that are naturally derived from the duties of a specific government position

Dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification

Franking Privilege

the free mail and electronic signature system used by members of congress

Fiscal Policy

impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget

Closed Primary

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty

Lobbying

efforts by an interest group or individual to contact a member of Congress and advocate for a particular policy

Super PAC

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates

Motion for cloture

a vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster

Federalism

A way of organizing a nation so that two levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government

Casework

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem

Political Party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

Executive Order

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

White House Staff

the president's personal assistants and advisors

Issue Network (iron triangle)

A relationship between interest groups, agencies, and congressional committees in a certain policy area

Gerrymandering

Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Entitlements

promises made by the government to an identifiable group of people who are guaranteed benefits

Original Intent

making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the constitution

Lame Duck Period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves

Logrolling

When members of the Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they support passed

Selective Incorporation

he process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the fourteenth amendment

Uncontrollable Spending

expenditures that the federal government cannot realistically reduce because they are required by law

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.

Writ of Certiorari

a document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case

Litigation

lawsuit

Monetary Policy

influencing the economy through federal interest rates, reserve rates, and the amount of money in circulation

Expressed Powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

Critical Elections

An electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era

Amicus Curiae

Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of influencing a court's decision by raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties

Horse Race Journalism

news coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues

Political Efficacy

An individual's belief that his or her political participation can make a difference

Party Polarization

when political parties move farther away from each other ideologically and also move away from the center

Gender Gap

the tendency of men to support candidates from the Republican party at greater rates than women

Pocket Veto

when a president does not sign a bill within 10 days when congress is not in session

Redistricting

changing congressional district boundaries based on a new census

Midterm Election

an election in which voters select members of Congress but not the president

Independent Expenditures

money spent on ads that are not sponsored by a candidate or party

Judicial Activism

An approach to decision making in which judges sometimes make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground

Policy Agenda

the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at any given point in time

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government

Stare Decisis

A Latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand." Most cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principle

Devolution

A process by which the national government gives more power and authority to the states

Demographics

The statistical characteristics of a population

Single-Member Districts

the electoral system used to select members of the house of representatives

Incumbent

an officeholder who is running for reelection

Political Culture

an overall set of values widely shared within a society