AP U.S. Government and Politics - Review Flashcards

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key terms from the notes.

Bicameral legislature

The two-house legislature is called a __.

Block grant

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) is a __.

Categorical grant

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) is a __.

Centralists

Those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority are __.

Checks and balances

The system in which each branch can limit the power of the other two branches is __.

Commerce clause

The power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes is granted to Congress by the __.

Concurrent powers

Powers held by both Congress and the states are __.

Confederation

A system in which sovereign states are loosely tied to a central government is a __.

Decentralists

Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority are __.

Direct democracy

A system in which the people rule themselves is __.

Elastic clause

The clause that allows Congress to exercise powers that are 'necessary and proper' is the __.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 are __ (also known as expressed powers).

Federalism

Constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments is __.

Dual federalism

Dual federalism is a system in which the national and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its sphere; Cooperative federalism is a system in which both federal and state governments cooperate in solving problems. The term for the former is __ federalism.

Cooperative federalism

Cooperative federalism is a system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems. The term for the latter is __ federalism.

New Federalism

New Federalism: system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.

Federalist Papers

Federalist Papers: group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.

Formal amendment

Formal amendment: a change in the actual wording of the Constitution.

Implied powers

Implied powers: those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.

Indirect democracy

Indirect democracy: system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.

Inherent powers

Inherent powers: foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.

Informal amendment

Informal amendment: a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decision such as Brown v. Board.

Judicial review

Judicial review: power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions.

Mandates

Mandates: requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding.

Judicial review

Marbury v. Madison, 1803: established the power of judicial review.

national supremacy and validity of implied powers

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.

Police powers

Police powers: powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.

Popular sovereignty

Popular sovereignty: principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.

Reserved powers

Reserved powers: powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states.

Separation of powers

Separation of powers: principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.

Shays’ Rebellion

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.

Supermajority

Supermajority: a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3.

Unicameral legislature

Unicameral legislature: one-house legislature.

Civil liberties

Civil liberties: personal freedoms, e.g., speech, assembly, religion.

Civil rights

Civil rights: protections against discrimination.

Clear and present danger doctrine

Clear and present danger doctrine: judicial interpretation of Amendment 1 that government may not ban speech unless such speech poses an imminent threat to society.

De facto segregation

De facto segregation: segregation “by fact,” i.e., segregation that results from such factors as housing patterns rather than law.

De jure segregation

De jure segregation: segregation by law, i.e., segregation that is required by government.

Double jeopardy

Double jeopardy: being prosecuted twice for the same offense. Banned by Amendment 5.

Due process clause

Due process clause: prohibits the national government (5th Amendment) and states (14th Amendment) from denying life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Equal protection clause

Equal protection clause: 14th Amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination.

Eminent domain

Eminent domain: the right of government to take private property for the public good. Fair compensation must be paid to the owner of such property.

Establishment clause

Establishment clause: provision of Amendment 1 that prohibits Congress from establishing an official state religion. This is the basis for separation of church and state.

Exclusionary rule

Exclusionary rule: Supreme Court guideline that excludes the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial.

Free exercise clause

Free exercise clause: provision of Amendment 1 stating that Congress may not prohibit the free exercise of religion.

Grandfather clause

Grandfather clause: Southern laws that excluded blacks from exercising suffrage by restricting the right to vote only to those whose grandfathers had voted before 1865.

Grand jury

Grand jury: determines whether or not to bring criminal charges against a suspect.

Incorporation

Incorporation: applying the Bill of Rights to the states. A “total incorporation” view is that the states must obey all provisions of the Bill of Rights because of the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. A “selective incorporation” view is that the Bill of Rights is to be applied to the states in a more gradual manner on a case by case basis, also via the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

Indictment

Indictment: grand jury order that a suspect must stand trial for a criminal offense.

Jim Crow laws

Jim Crow laws: Southern laws that required racial segregation in places of public accommodation.

Libel

Libel: written untruths that damage a reputation.

Literacy test

Literacy test: Southern method of excluding blacks from exercising suffrage by requiring that voters prove their ability to read and write.

Miranda warnings

Miranda warnings: warnings that must be read to suspects prior to questioning. Suspects must be advised that they have the rights of silence and counsel.

Plea bargain

Plea bargain: arrangement in which a suspect pleads guilty to a lesser offense in order to avoid a trial. The manner in which most cases are disposed of.

Police powers

Police powers: powers that allow states to pass laws protecting the health, welfare, safety, and morals of their residents.

Poll tax

Poll tax: Southern method of excluding blacks from exercising suffrage by requiring payment of a tax prior to voting.

Prior restraint

Prior restraint: When a court stops expression before it is made, e.g., prohibiting a demonstration by a radical group because the assembly is likely to become violent. Presumed to be unconstitutional.

Racial gerrymandering

Racial gerrymandering: drawing of legislative boundaries to give electoral advantages to a particular racial group. 'Majority-minority' districts include large numbers of racial minorities in order to ensure minority representation in legislatures.

Sedition

Seduction:** Sedition: advocacy of the overthrow of the government.

Separate but equal

Separate but equal: Supreme Court doctrine established in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson. Allowed state-required racial segregation in places of public accommodation as long as the facilities were equal.

Shield laws

Shield laws: state laws that protect journalists from having to reveal their sources.

Slander

Slander: spoken untruths that damage a reputation.

Strict scrutiny

Strict scrutiny: Supreme Court guideline for determining if government can make racial distinctions. According to this guideline, such distinctions are highly suspect and are allowed only if they are narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.

White primary

White primary: primary election in which Southern states allowed only whites to vote.

Appropriation

Appropriation: money that Congress has allocated to be spent.

Appropriations Committee

Appropriations Committee: congressional committee that deals with federal spending.

Appellate jurisdiction

Appellate jurisdiction: authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court.

Bully Pulpit

Bully Pulpit: any highly visible public office whose incumbent uses it as a platform to influence public opinion. Primarily connected with the president.

Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy: departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions in the executive branch of government.

Casework

Casework: personal work done by a member of Congress for his constituents.

Civil law

Civil law: concerns noncriminal disputes between private parties.

Class action lawsuit

Class action lawsuit: lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people against a defendant, e.g., lawsuits brought by those who have suffered from smoking against tobacco companies.

Closed rule

Closed rule: Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill.

Cloture

Cloture: Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote.

Concurring opinion

Concurring opinion: written by a Supreme Court Justice who voted with the majority, but for different reasons.

Conference committee

Conference committee: works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill.

Constituents

Constituents: the people who are represented by elected officials.

Discharge petition

Discharge petition: a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee.

Dissenting opinion

Dissenting opinion: written by a Supreme Court Justice (or Justices) who express a minority viewpoint in a case.

Executive agreement

Executive agreement: an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent.

Executive order

Executive order: presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law.

Executive privilege

Executive privilege: the privilege of a President and his staff to withhold their “privileged” conversations from Congress or the courts.

Filibuster

Filibuster: nonstop Senate debate that prevents a bill from coming to a vote.

Finance Committee

Finance Committee: Senate committee that handles tax bills.

Franking privilege

Franking privilege: allows members of Congress to send mail postage free.

Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering: redrawing district lines to favor one party at the expense of the other.

Hold

Hold: Senate maneuver that allows a Senator to stop or delay consideration of a bill or presidential appointment.

Impeachment

Impeachment: House action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote from the Senate.

Impoundment

Impoundment: refusal of a President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress.

Injunction

Injunction: court order that forbids a party from performing a certain action.

Judicial activism

Judicial activism: philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving problems.

Judicial restraint

Judicial restraint: philosophy that the courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy, and should instead focus on interpreting law rather than making law.

Judicial review

Judicial review: power of the courts to review the constitutionality of laws or government actions.

Legislative oversight

Legislative oversight: ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law.

Legislative veto

Legislative veto: process in which Congress overturned rules and regulations proposed by executive branch agencies. Struck down in 1983.

Line item veto

Line item veto: power of most governors (and President Clinton for only a few years) to delete or reduce funding in a bill on a line by line basis.

Logrolling

Logrolling: when two members of Congress agree to vote for each other’s bill.

Majority opinion

Majority opinion: written to express the majority viewpoint in a Supreme Court case.

Mark up

Mark up: committee action to amend a proposed bill.

Merit system

Merit system: system of hiring federal workers based upon competitive exams.