AP Gov Vocab

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

3/5th Compromise

Constitutional agreement counting enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

527 Groups

Tax-exempt political organizations that raise money to influence elections but aren't directly tied to a candidate.

AARP

Interest group representing the interests of Americans aged 50 and older.

Advice and Consent Power

Senate's constitutional authority to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

Affirmative action

Policies giving preference to underrepresented groups to remedy historical discrimination.

Agenda Setting

Media's power to influence which issues the public considers important.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Nonprofit organization that defends individual civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities in employment and public life.

Amicus curiae briefs

"Friend of the court" documents filed by non-parties to offer relevant information in a case.

Anti-federalists

Opponents of ratifying the Constitution who feared a strong central government.

Appeals Courts

Courts that review decisions made by lower courts for legal errors.

Appeals Process

The procedure by which a losing party requests a higher court to review a lower court's decision.

Appropriations

Congressional process of allocating funds for government programs and agencies.

Approval Power

Senate's authority to confirm or reject presidential nominees.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the U.S., replaced by the Constitution due to its weak central government.

Attorney General

Head of the Department of Justice and the nation's chief law enforcement officer.

Bicameral

A legislature divided into two chambers (e.g., the House and Senate).

Bill of attainder

A law that punishes a person without a trial; prohibited by the Constitution.

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between the two major political parties.

Block grants

Federal money given to states with few restrictions on how it's spent.

Broad Constructionist

One who interprets the Constitution loosely, allowing implied government powers.

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Law reasserting Congress's control over the federal budget process.

Bully Pulpit

The president's ability to use the office's visibility to influence public opinion.

Bureaucracy

The complex system of government agencies and employees that implement policy.

Bureaucratic Discretion

The latitude bureaucrats have in interpreting and applying laws.

Cabinet

The group of heads of executive departments who advise the president.

Cabinet Departments

The 15 major executive branch agencies (e.g., State, Defense, Treasury).

Campaign Finance

The money raised and spent to influence elections.

Candidate-Centered Campaign

A campaign focused on the individual candidate rather than the party.

Casework

Assistance members of Congress provide to constituents dealing with government agencies.

Categorical grants

Federal funds given to states for a specific purpose with strict conditions.

Caucus (general)

A meeting of members of a political party or group to make decisions.

Caucus (primary)

A state-level meeting where voters publicly choose their preferred presidential candidate.

Census

Official count of the U.S. population conducted every 10 years.

Checks and balances

The system where each branch of government can limit the powers of the others.

Chief Bureaucrat

Presidential role of overseeing the federal bureaucracy.

Chief Crisis Manager

Presidential role of responding to national emergencies.

Chief Diplomat

Presidential role of managing foreign policy and international relations.

Chief Economic Planner

Presidential role of guiding the nation's economic policy.

Chief Executive

Presidential role of enforcing laws and running the executive branch.

Chief- Head of State

Presidential role as the ceremonial symbol of the nation.

Chief Legislator

Presidential role of setting and pushing a legislative agenda.

Chief of Staff

The president's top aide who manages the White House staff and schedule.

Chief- Party Leader

Presidential role as the head of their political party.

Civil Liberties

Individual freedoms protected from government interference (e.g., free speech).

Civil Rights

Protections ensuring equal treatment and freedom from discrimination.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Law banning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Civil Service

Government employees hired based on merit rather than political connections.

Clean Air Act of 1970

Federal law setting standards to regulate air pollution.

Closed rule

House rule that prevents amendments from being added to a bill on the floor.

Cloture vote

Senate vote (requiring 60 votes) to end a filibuster and force a vote.

Collective Action (public choice)

The difficulty of getting individuals to work together toward a common goal when they can benefit without contributing.

Commander in Chief

Presidential role as head of the U.S. military.

Commerce Clause

Constitutional provision giving Congress power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.

Competitive federalism

A model where states compete to attract residents and businesses through differing policies.

Concurring opinion

A judge's agreement with the majority ruling but for different reasons.

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee that reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Congressional oversight

Congress's ability to monitor and review the actions of the executive branch.

Congressional Sub-Committee

A smaller division of a standing committee focused on a specific issue.

Conservative

A political ideology favoring tradition, limited government, and free markets.

Conservative Spin

Framing of news or events from a right-leaning perspective.

Constituent

A citizen represented by an elected official.

Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework of government.

Cooperative federalism

A model where federal and state governments work together on policy ("marble cake").

Council of Economic Advisors

A group of economists in the EOP that advises the president on economic policy.

Dark money

Political spending by nonprofit groups that don't disclose their donors.

De facto segregation

Segregation that exists in practice (not by law), often due to housing patterns.

De jure segregation

Segregation enforced by law.

Defense Department

Executive department responsible for the U.S. military (the Pentagon).

Delegate model of Congressional Representation

The view that legislators should vote according to their constituents' wishes.

Delegated Powers

Powers that Congress has granted to the executive branch.

Delegates

Representatives chosen to vote at party conventions.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

Democrat

A member of the Democratic Party, generally favoring active government and social programs.

Department of Justice

Federal agency responsible for enforcing federal law, led by the Attorney General.

Deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government regulations on industries.

Devolution

Transferring power from the federal government to state or local governments.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Discharge petition

A method to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor without committee approval.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on characteristics like race, gender, or religion.

Dissenting opinion

A written disagreement by a judge with the majority ruling.

Divided Government

When one party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress.

Domestic Policy

Government decisions and actions related to issues within the country.

Dual federalism

A model where state and federal governments operate separately in their own spheres ("layer cake").

Due process

The principle that the government must follow fair legal procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property.

Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment

Prevents states from depriving persons of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures.

Electoral College

The body of electors who formally elect the president and vice president.

Electors

Members of the Electoral College who cast official votes for president.

Elite theory

The idea that a small, wealthy elite holds most political power.

Eminent Domain

Government's power to take private property for public use with compensation.

Entitlement program

A government program guaranteeing benefits to eligible citizens (e.g., Medicare).

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly listed in the Constitution for Congress.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental regulations.

Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Requires states to provide equal legal protection to all persons.

Equal Rights Amendment

A proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights regardless of sex (never fully ratified).

Establishment clause

First Amendment provision prohibiting the government from establishing an official religion.

Ex post facto laws

Laws that criminalize actions that were legal when committed; prohibited by the Constitution.

Exclusionary rule

Legal principle barring illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.

Executive agreements

Agreements with foreign countries made by the president without Senate approval.