AP Gov Vocabulary

Inherent Powers

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

Grassroots lobbying

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

Caucus

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

Direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens vote directly on policy.

Block grants

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

Dealignment

When voters no longer identify with one of the two major parties and become independent voters.

Fiscal policy

Impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget.

General election

An election to select the person who will hold office.

Closed primary

A vote by party members to determine their party's candidate for office which is restricted to registered party members.

Motion for cloture

A vote by 60 senators (2/3) to end a filibuster

Super PAC

An organization that can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign and must disclose its donors semiannually.

Federalism

A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states.

Political socialization

The process by which an individual develops his or her political beliefs.

Expressed(enumerated) powers

Powers that are given to an institution of government (branch) directly in the Constitution, such as Congress' power to tax.

Midterm election

An election in which voters elect members of Congress but not the President.

Franking privilege

The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress.

Lobbying

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

Party polarization

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

Amicus curiae

An argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit.

Judicial activism

A philosophy that the Supreme Court should make bold new policy with their decisions.

Horse race journalism

The tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues.

Issue network

A relationship between interest groups, agencies, universities, think tanks, media, and congressional committees in a certain policy area.

Political party

A group of people who organize to elect candidates for office.

Gerrymandering

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

White House staff

The President's personal assistants and advisers.

Filibuster

A procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death.

Executive order

A power enacted by the U.S. president allowing that office to pass a rule or regulation as law.

Pork barrel spending

A provision added to a bill that benefits a specific congressional district.

Entitlements

Promises made by the government to an identifiable group of people who are guaranteed benefits regardless of need.

Original intent

Making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the Constitution.

Logrolling

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

Monetary policy

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

Selective incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Fiscal federalism

The use of spending by the national government through the grant process to influence state policies.

Writ of Certiorari

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

Political efficacy

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

Gender Gap

The tendency of men to support the Republican party at greater rates than women.

Single-member districts

The electoral system used to select members of the House of Representatives.

Pocket veto

When the 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.

Independent expenditures

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

Policy agenda

Problems that have the attention of the government and the public.

Cooperative federalism

A system where the federal government and the states work together in funding and administering programs.

Stare Decisis

When a court follows precedent by letting a previous decision stand.

Devolution

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

Demographics

The statistical characteristics of a population.

Political culture

The shared political values of a society.

Divided government

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

Open primary

An election to determine a party's candidate for office in which the party allows non-party members to vote.

PAC

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

Judicial review

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

Categorical grants

Money given by the federal government to the states to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.

Interest groups

An organization that advocates for policies through lobbying, electioneering, grassroots mobilization, and protesting.

Pluralism

A theory of government in which many groups compete for policy.

Unfunded mandate

A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money to pay for it.

Implied powers

Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution, like the power of Congress to establish a bank.

Incumbent

An officeholder who is running for re-election.

Realignment

The process through which voters leave one party coalition and join the other party's coalition.

Republic

A system of government in which people elect representatives to make policy in the citizen's interest.

Bipartisan

When both parties work together to sponsor a bill.

elite democracy

A system of government which emphasizes limited participation by wealthy and well educated citizens in politics and civil society.

federalist

Those who attended the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government and a system of separated powers.

concurrent powers

Powers shared by the national and state governments

mandatory spending

Expenditures that the Federal government is obligated to make, like entitlements and interest on the national debt.

discharge petition

a method where a majority of members can force a bill in the House of Representatives out of a committee to the House floor for a vote.

constituents

the people who a member of Congress represent.

trustee model

Model of representation where a member of Congress votes how they want to even if it sometimes is against the wishes of the majority of their constituents.

Delegate Model

Model of representation where a member of Congress loyally votes in their constituent's interest even if they personally object.

politico model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

signing statement

An informal power where the president issues a statement after signing a bill explaining his or her interpretation of the law.

Bully Pulpit

The president's ability to speak directly to the public in order to influence opinion and policy.

discretionary spending

Spending that can be increased or cut without changing any laws, which is everything besides contracts, entitlements, and interest on the debt.

deficit

The result when the government spends more than it makes in taxes in a single year.

iron triangle

The informal relationship between government agencies and departments, congressional committees, and interest groups, also known as the revolving door.

judicial restraint

The idea that judges should decide cases based on the language of laws and the Constitution, deferring to the legislative and executive branches.

Civil Liberties

The right of people to be protected from government abuse according to the Bill of Rights.

civil rights

Rights that guarantee individuals freedom from discrimination according to the 14th Amendment.

establishment clause

The 1st amendment's ban on laws establishing or favoring a religion.

Free Exercise Clause

1st amendment clause that states the government cannot prohibit the practice of religion.

Due Process

The right that forbids the government from denying "life, liberty, or property" without the legal process of fair trials, etc, as stated in the 5th and 14th amendments.

Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment clause that forbids states from denying equal protection of the law thus denying discrimination.

exclusionary rule

The idea established in Mapp v. Ohio that evidence that is illegally obtained cannot be used in a trial.

random sample

A subsection of a population chosen to participate in a survey in which every member of the whole population has an equal chance of being chosen.

liberal

Refers to a person who adopts the political ideology which favors more government regulation of business and support for social welfare, but less regulation of private social conduct. The definition has changed over time, but are said to fall on the "left-wing" of the spectrum of political beliefs.

conservative

Ideologically supports lower taxes, less government, and a free market.

Keynesian economics

Theory that the government should use fiscal policy to manage the economy through taxing and spending to create more economic stability.

supply side economics

Theory that lower taxes stimulate the economy by encouraging spending and investment.

rational choice voting

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

retrospective voting

Voting to decide whether a party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past

prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

party line voting

Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot.

linkeage institutions

A structure within society that connects people to the government such as political parties, the media, interest groups, and elections.

free rider

The problem faced by interest groups, including unions, when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group actions without actually joining the group.

salience

The extent to which people believe political issues are relevant to them.

Platform

The official position of a political party.

coattail effect

The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of the president.

social security

A government program that provides retirement benefits and healthcare for disabled workers.

medicare

Federal health insurance for the elderly.

medicaid

Federal health benefits for low income persons.

inflation

The increase in the price of consumer goods over time.