AP Gov Master Set

Democracy

Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.

Direct democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

Representative democracy

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Constitutional democracy

A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections.

Constitutionalism

The set of arrangements, including checks and balances, that requires leaders to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act.

Statism

The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals.

Popular consent

The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.

Majority rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Majority

The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.

Plurality

Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Theocracy

Government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781.

Annapolis Convention

A convention held in 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states.

Constitutional Convention

The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.

Shays’s Rebellion

Rebellion led by farmers in western Massachusetts protesting mortgage foreclosures, highlighting the need for a strong national government.

Bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature.

Virginia Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a central government with a single-house legislature where each state is represented equally.

Connecticut Compromise

Compromise agreement at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the lower house.

Three-fifths compromise

Compromise that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation.

Federalists

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government.

The Federalist

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.

Natural law

Law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.

Separation of powers

Division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and balances

Grant of powers that enables each branch of government to check actions of the others.

Divided government

Governance divided between parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls Congress.

Direct primary

Election in which voters choose party nominees.

Initiative

Procedure whereby voters propose a law or constitutional amendment by petition.

Referendum

Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature.

Recall

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark case establishing the principle of judicial review.

Judicial review

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law that conflicts with the Constitution.

Writ of mandamus

Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.

Impeachment

Formal accusation by the legislature against a public official.

Executive order

Directive issued by a president that has the force of law.

Executive privilege

Power to keep executive communications confidential.

Impoundment

Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds authorized by Congress.

Devolution revolution

The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.

Federalism

Arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivision governments.

Dual federalism

Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers to the national government, leaving the rest to states.

Cooperative federalism

Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations to deliver government services.

Marble cake federalism

Concept of federalism with mixed levels of government involvement in various issues.

Competitive federalism

Views governments as competing in a marketplace for services.

Permissive federalism

Implies that states operate with the permission of the national government.

Our federalism

Presumed limited power of the federal government in favor of states.

Unitary system

Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.

Confederation

Arrangement in which sovereign states create a central government with limited power.

Express powers

Powers specifically granted by the Constitution to branches of government.

Implied powers

Powers inferred from express powers to carry out functions.

Necessary and proper clause

Clause that sets forth implied powers of Congress.

Inherent powers

Powers in foreign affairs that do not depend on constitutional grants.

Commerce clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate business activities across state lines.

Federal mandate

Requirement imposed by the federal government as a condition for funds.

Concurrent powers

Powers given to both national and state governments.

Full faith and credit clause

Requires each state to recognize the civil judgments of other states.

Extradition

Process of surrendering an alleged criminal to the state where the crime occurred.

Interstate compact

An agreement among two or more states requiring Congressional approval.

National supremacy

Doctrine that federal government actions prevail over state actions in case of conflict.

Preemption

Right of a federal law to preclude enforcement of a state law.

Centralists

People who favor national action over state and local actions.

Decentralists

People who favor state or local actions over national actions.

Categorical-formula grants

Congress appropriates funds for specific purposes with detailed requirements.

Project grants

Funds appropriated based on applications for specific projects.

State’s rights

Powers reserved to the states.

Block grants

Broad state grants for prescribed activities with few conditions.

Direct orders

Federal regulations that must be complied under threat of sanctions.

Cross-cutting requirements

Conditions extending to all activities supported by federal funds.

Crossover sanctions

Federal funding used to influence state and local policy.

Total and Partial Preemption

Federal law preempts state law entirely or partially in certain areas.

Creative federalism

Marble cake approach of federalism during the Great Society period.

Fiscal federalism

Distribution of funds through various grant programs.

Necessary and proper clause

Grants Congress power to make all laws necessary to carry out its duties.

Linkage institutions

Means by which individuals express preferences regarding public policy.

Photo ops

Media opportunities set up by candidates to promote themselves.

Sound bites

Short statements used in media to simplify complex issues.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs and values about how citizens relate to government.

Social capital

Democratic habits of discussion and cooperation that arise from community involvement.

Natural rights

Rights that belong to all humans, emphasizing dignity and worth.

Democratic consensus

Agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance.

American dream

Belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and initiative.

Capitalism

Economic system characterized by private ownership and limited government involvement.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Monopoly

Dominance of an industry by a single company that restricts competition.

Antitrust legislation

Laws aimed at preventing monopolies and promoting competition.

Political ideology

Consistent beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Liberalism

Belief in government achieving justice and equality of opportunity.

Conservatism

Belief that limited government promotes order and opportunity.

Socialism

Economic system based on public ownership of production and exchange.

Libertarianism

Ideology emphasizing individual liberty and minimal government.

Ethnocentrism

Belief in the superiority of one's own nation or ethnic group.

Political socialization

Process of developing political attitudes and beliefs.

Political predisposition

Characteristic predictive of political behavior.

Reinforcing cleavages

Divisions in society that strengthen social homogeneity.

Cross-cutting cleavages

Divisions in society that produce heterogeneous groups.

Manifest destiny

Belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across the continent.

Gender gap

Difference in political opinion or behavior between men and women.

Fundamentalists

Conservative Christians active in politics.

Gross domestic product (GDP)

Total output of all economic activity in the nation.

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Division based on occupation, income, and education.