AP GOV MONSTER VOCAB!!

Amicus curiae

Legal term meaning 'friend of the court', referring to someone who is not a party to a case and offers information or expertise.

Block Grants

Federal funds provided to states or local governments for broad purposes with few restrictions.

Bully Pulpit

The president's use of his prestige and visibility to promote his agenda.

Casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents in solving problems with government services.

Categorical grants

Federal funding intended for a specific purpose with detailed guidelines.

Caucus

A meeting of party leaders to select candidates or determine policy.

Closed primary

A primary election in which only registered party members can vote.

Cooperative federalism

A system where federal and state governments work together on policy initiatives.

Critical Elections

Elections that signify a significant and lasting shift in party alignment.

Dealignment

A decline in party identification among voters.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Devolution

The transfer of powers from the federal government to state or local governments.

Divided government

A situation in which one political party controls the presidency while another controls Congress.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide financial benefits to qualified individuals, such as Social Security.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.

Expressed powers

Powers explicitly granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay a vote on legislation by extending debate.

Fiscal federalism

The study of how federal funds are allocated to various levels of government.

Fiscal policy

Government decisions about taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Franking privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents free of charge.

Gender gap

The difference in political views and voting behavior between men and women.

General election

An election held to choose among candidates for office.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

Grassroots lobbying

A form of lobbying that seeks to influence lawmakers by mobilizing public opinion.

Horse race journalism

News coverage that focuses primarily on the competition between candidates rather than on their policies.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred from expressed powers.

Incumbent

An officeholder currently in position.

Independent expenditures

Spending for political purposes by individuals or organizations that is not coordinated with any candidate.

Inherent powers

Powers that are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but are essential for the functioning of the government.

Interest Groups

Organizations of people who share common objectives and actively seek to influence public policy.

Issue network (iron triangle)

A stable relationship between interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees that work together.

Judicial activism

A judicial philosophy where judges interpret the Constitution and laws broadly, often to promote social change and protect individual rights, rather than strictly adhering to established precedents.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws and actions of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional.

Lame duck period

The time between the election of a new officeholder and the inauguration of that person.

Litigation

The process of taking legal action.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence government officials in their decision-making.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Mandatory spending

Expenditures that are required by law, such as entitlement programs.

Mid-term Elections

Elections held midway between presidential elections, often impacting the composition of Congress.

Monetary policy

The management of money supply and interest rates by central banks.

Motion for cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Open primary

A primary election in which voters can choose on the election day which party to vote for.

Original intent

A method of constitutional interpretation that seeks to understand the intentions of the framers.

21st Amendment

Repealed the 18th Amendment, ending prohibition of alcohol.

Oversight

Congress's monitoring of the executive branch to ensure laws are being implemented correctly.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation.

Party polarization

The growing ideological divide between the two major political parties.

Pluralism

A theory that suggests multiple groups coexist and competitively influence political outcomes.

Pocket veto

A president's indirect veto of a bill by taking no action on it.

Policy Agenda

The set of issues that policymakers prioritize in their decision-making.

Political culture

The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape how politics operates in a society.

Political efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation can make a difference.

Political party

An organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and seek to influence government.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals learn and develop their political attitudes.

Pork Barrel Spending

Funding for local projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in party loyalty among voters.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries.

Selective incorporation

The doctrine that ensures states cannot enact laws that infringe on the constitutional rights of citizens.

Single-member districts

Electoral districts that return one officeholder to a body with multiple members.

Stare decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections.

Super PAC

Independently funded political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited funds.

Uncontrollable spending

Expenditures that are mandated by law and cannot be easily altered.

Unfunded mandate

A requirement that a state or local government must perform certain actions without being provided funding.

White House staff

A group of advisers and assistants that support the president in their duties.

Writ of certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review.

Article 1 of Constitution

Establishes the legislative branch of the government.

Amendment Process

The procedure for making changes to the Constitution.

1st Amendment

Protects freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to keep and bear arms.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

11th Amendment

Limits lawsuits against states.

12th Amendment

Revised procedures for electing the president and vice president.

Article 2 of Constitution

Establishes the executive branch of the government.

20th Amendment

Changes the date on which the terms of the President and Vice President end and the terms of their successors begin.

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms in office.

3rd Amendment

Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent.

13th Amendment

Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude.

23rd Amendment

Gives residents of Washington D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections.

Article 3 of Constitution

Establishes the judicial branch of the government.

Article 4 of Constitution

Deals with states' powers and limits.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal protection and due process under the law.

24th Amendment

Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.

5th Amendment

Provides for the right to due process and protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial.

7th Amendment

Guarantees the right to jury in civil cases.

15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of voting rights based on race.

25th Amendment

Establishes procedures for presidential succession and disability.

Article 5 of Constitution

Describes the process for amending the Constitution.

Article 6 of Constitution

Establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

16th Amendment

Allows Congress to levy an income tax.

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18 years.

17th Amendment

Establishes the direct election of U.S. senators.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

18th Amendment

Instituted prohibition of alcohol.

9th Amendment

States that rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution are also protected.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

27th Amendment

Prevents laws affecting congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election.