gt ap gov

AP Gov Unit 1: Popular sovereignty

The people are the ultimate source of government power.

AP Gov Unit 1: Republicanism

Government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions.

AP Gov Unit 1: Federalism

Power is divided between national and state governments.

AP Gov Unit 1: Separation of powers

Governmental powers are divided among branches.

AP Gov Unit 1: Checks and balances

Each branch can limit the power of the other branches.

AP Gov Unit 1: Limited government

Government power is restricted by law and the Constitution.

AP Gov Unit 1: Natural rights

Rights people possess inherently, such as life, liberty, and property.

AP Gov Unit 1: Social contract

People consent to government in exchange for protection of rights.

AP Gov Unit 1: Articles of Confederation

First U.S. governing document; created a weak national government.

AP Gov Unit 1: Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting that produced the U.S. Constitution.

AP Gov Unit 1: Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress with House representation by population and equal Senate representation.

AP Gov Unit 1: Electoral College

System used to formally elect the president.

AP Gov Unit 1: Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution and a stronger national government.

AP Gov Unit 1: Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification without stronger protections for individual rights.

AP Gov Unit 1: Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties and limiting government.

AP Gov Unit 1: Brutus 1

Anti-Federalist argument that a strong national government threatens liberty.

AP Gov Unit 1: Federalist No. 10

Madison argues a large republic can control factions.

AP Gov Unit 1: Federalist No. 51

Madison explains separation of powers and checks and balances.

AP Gov Unit 1: Federalism clause

Supremacy, Necessary and Proper, and Commerce Clauses expand federal authority.

AP Gov Unit 1: Supremacy Clause

Federal law is supreme when it conflicts with state law.

AP Gov Unit 1: Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

AP Gov Unit 2: Popular sovereignty

The people exercise political power through participation and elections.

AP Gov Unit 2: Selective incorporation

Applies Bill of Rights protections to states through the 14th Amendment.

AP Gov Unit 2: Due process

Government must follow fair procedures before depriving a person of life, liberty, or property.

AP Gov Unit 2: Equal protection

States must provide equal protection under the law.

AP Gov Unit 2: Establishment Clause

Government cannot establish or officially favor a religion.

AP Gov Unit 2: Free Exercise Clause

Protects individuals' religious practices from government interference, subject to constitutional limits.

AP Gov Unit 2: Prior restraint

Government censorship preventing speech or publication before it occurs.

AP Gov Unit 2: Symbolic speech

Nonverbal actions that communicate ideas and may receive First Amendment protection.

AP Gov Unit 2: Exclusionary rule

Improperly obtained evidence generally cannot be used in criminal trials.

AP Gov Unit 2: Miranda rights

Police must inform suspects of certain rights before custodial interrogation.

AP Gov Unit 2: Civil rights

Protections against unequal treatment based on group membership.

AP Gov Unit 2: Civil liberties

Individual freedoms protected from government interference.

AP Gov Unit 2: 14th Amendment

Guarantees due process and equal protection and supports incorporation.

AP Gov Unit 2: 15th Amendment

Prohibits denying voting rights based on race.

AP Gov Unit 2: 19th Amendment

Prohibits denying voting rights based on sex.

AP Gov Unit 2: 24th Amendment

Bans poll taxes in federal elections.

AP Gov Unit 2: 26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18.

AP Gov Unit 2: Brown v. Board

Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

AP Gov Unit 2: Gideon v. Wainwright

Established the right to an attorney for indigent defendants in serious criminal cases.

AP Gov Unit 2: Tinker v. Des Moines

Protected students' symbolic speech in schools when it does not substantially disrupt learning.

AP Gov Unit 2: McDonald v. Chicago

Applied the Second Amendment right to possess firearms to state and local governments.

AP Gov Unit 3: Public opinion

Attitudes and beliefs held by a population about political issues.

AP Gov Unit 3: Political socialization

Process by which people develop political beliefs and values.

AP Gov Unit 3: Ideology

Set of beliefs about government, politics, and public policy.

AP Gov Unit 3: Liberalism

Generally favors government action to promote social and economic equality.

AP Gov Unit 3: Conservatism

Generally favors limited government, traditional values, and free markets.

AP Gov Unit 3: Political efficacy

Belief that one's political participation can influence government.

AP Gov Unit 3: Political participation

Actions citizens take to influence government.

AP Gov Unit 3: Public opinion poll

Survey designed to measure public attitudes.

AP Gov Unit 3: Random sample

Sample in which members of the population have an equal or known chance of selection.

AP Gov Unit 3: Sampling error

Difference between a sample's results and the true population value.

AP Gov Unit 3: Interest group

Organization that seeks to influence public policy.

AP Gov Unit 3: Lobbying

Attempt to influence government officials or policy.

AP Gov Unit 3: PAC

Organization that raises and spends money to influence elections.

AP Gov Unit 3: Super PAC

Group that can spend unlimited amounts independently of candidates.

AP Gov Unit 3: Political party

Organization seeking to win elections and control government.

AP Gov Unit 3: Party platform

Statement of a political party's positions and policy goals.

AP Gov Unit 3: Incumbent

Current officeholder running for reelection.

AP Gov Unit 3: Primary election

Election used to select a party's candidate.

AP Gov Unit 3: General election

Election that determines who holds public office.

AP Gov Unit 3: Electoral College

Each state receives electors based largely on congressional representation; most states use winner-take-all.

AP Gov Unit 3: Media framing

How media presentation influences how people understand an issue.

AP Gov Unit 3: Agenda setting

Media influence over which issues receive public attention.

AP Gov Unit 4: Congress

Legislative branch consisting of the House and Senate.

AP Gov Unit 4: Enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

AP Gov Unit 4: Implied powers

Powers inferred from enumerated powers.

AP Gov Unit 4: House of Representatives

435 members; representation is based on state population.

AP Gov Unit 4: Senate

100 members; each state has two senators.

AP Gov Unit 4: Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to benefit a political party or group.

AP Gov Unit 4: Redistricting

Redrawing electoral district boundaries.

AP Gov Unit 4: Incumbency advantage

Benefits current officeholders have when seeking reelection.

AP Gov Unit 4: Filibuster

Senate tactic used to delay or block action by extending debate.

AP Gov Unit 4: Cloture

Procedure used by the Senate to end debate; generally requires 60 votes.

AP Gov Unit 4: Veto

President's rejection of a bill.

AP Gov Unit 4: Pocket veto

President effectively rejects a bill by taking no action while Congress adjourns.

AP Gov Unit 4: Executive order

Directive issued by the president to executive branch officials.

AP Gov Unit 4: Executive agreement

International agreement made by the president without Senate treaty ratification.

AP Gov Unit 4: Bureaucracy

Departments and agencies that implement government policies.

AP Gov Unit 4: Iron triangle

Relationship among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.

AP Gov Unit 4: Issue network

Loose network of government officials, experts, interest groups, and others focused on an issue.

AP Gov Unit 4: Judicial review

Courts' power to determine whether laws or government actions are constitutional.

AP Gov Unit 4: Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review.

AP Gov Unit 4: Stare decisis

Principle that courts generally follow precedent.

AP Gov Unit 4: Precedent

Prior judicial decision used as a guide for later cases.

AP Gov Unit 4: Original jurisdiction

Court's authority to hear a case first.

AP Gov Unit 4: Appellate jurisdiction

Court's authority to review a lower court's decision.

AP Gov Unit 4: Amicus curiae brief

Brief filed by a non-party offering information or arguments to a court.

AP Gov Unit 4: Judicial activism

Approach favoring a willingness to overturn precedent or interpret the Constitution broadly.

AP Gov Unit 4: Judicial restraint

Approach favoring deference to precedent and elected branches.

AP Gov Unit 5: Fiscal policy

Government decisions about taxation and spending.

AP Gov Unit 5: Monetary policy

Federal Reserve actions affecting the money supply and interest rates.

AP Gov Unit 5: Federal Reserve

Central banking system that manages monetary policy.

AP Gov Unit 5: Expansionary fiscal policy

Increases government spending or decreases taxes to stimulate the economy.

AP Gov Unit 5: Contractionary fiscal policy

Decreases government spending or increases taxes to slow the economy.

AP Gov Unit 5: Entitlement program

Government benefit program for people who meet eligibility requirements.

AP Gov Unit 5: Mandatory spending

Spending required by existing laws, such as Social Security and Medicare.

AP Gov Unit 5: Discretionary spending

Spending Congress must approve through annual appropriations.

AP Gov Unit 5: Deficit

Amount by which government spending exceeds revenue in one year.

AP Gov Unit 5: National debt

Total accumulated federal borrowing.