ap gov grandmaster vocab sheet

consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority from the people

constitution

A nation’s basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides political powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten.

declaration of independence

The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.

natural rights

Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among America’s founders.

limited government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

article of confederation

The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781. The articles established the contentintal congress and the national legislature, but left most authority with the State legistlatures.

shay’s rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War captain Daniel sShays to block foreclosure proceedings.

US constitution

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the US government, the tasks these institutions preform, and the relationships among them. It replaced the articles of confederation.

factions

Groups such as interest groups that according to James Madison, arise from the unequal distribution of property and wealth and have the potential to cause instability in government.

NJ plan

The proposal at the constutional convention that called fro equal representation of each state in congress regardless of the size of each state’s population.

VA plan

The proposal at the constitutional convention that called for representation of each state in congress to be proportional to its population.

CT compromise

The compromise reached at the constitutional convention that established the 2 houses of congress: the house of representatives, in which representation is based on a state’s population; and the senate, in which each state has 2 representatives.

writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring authorities to explain to a judge what lawful reason they have for holding a prisoner in custody.

separation of powers

A feature of the constitution that requires the 3 branches of government- legislative, executive, and judicial- to be relatively independent of each other so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these 3 institutions.

checks and balances

Features of the constitution that require each branch of the federal government to obtain the consent of the others for its actions; they limit the power of each branch

repulic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

federalist

Supporters of the US constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

anti-federalists

Opponents of the US constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

bill of rights

The first 10 amendments to the US constitution, drafted in response to some of the anti-federalists’ concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press, and guarantee defendants’ rights.

equal rights amendment (ERA)

A constitutional amendment passed by congress on 1972 stating that '“equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of gender.” The amendment failed to acquire support from the necessary ¾ of the state legislatures in the period designated for ratification.

judicial review

The power of the courts to determine wether acts of congress and those of the executive branch are in accord with the US constitution. The supreme court established judicial review in Marbury v Madison.

federalism

A way of organizing a nation so that 2 or more levels of government share formal authority over the same area and people.

unitary government

A central government that holds supreme power in a nation. Most national governments today are unitary governments.

Intergovernmental relations

The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments- including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information- that constitutes the workings of federal system.

supremacy clause

The clause in article VI of the constitution that makes the constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over the state laws as long as the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

10th amendment

The constitutional amendment stating, “the powers not delegated to the Us by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved.”

enumerated powers

Powers of the federal government that are listed explicitly in the constitution. For example, article 1, section 8, specifically gives congress the power to coin money and regulate its value and to impose taxes.

implied powers

The powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the constitution, in accordance with the statement in the constitution that congress has the power to “make all laws necessary and proper fro carrying into execution” the powers enumerated in article 1.

elastic clause

The final paragraph of article 1, section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers.

full faith and credit

A clause in article IV of the constitution requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

extradition

A legal process whereby a state surrenders a person with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

privileges and immunities

The provision of the constitution according citizens of each state the privileges of citizens of any state in which they happen to be.

cooperative federalism

A system of government in which states and the national government share powers and policy assignments.

devolution

Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.

fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government’s relations with state and local governments.

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or categories, of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

project grants

Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of merits of applications.

formula grants

Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.

civil liberties

The constitutional and other legal protections against government actions. Our civil liberties are formally set down in the Bill of Rights.

first amendment

the constitutional amendment that protects the four great liberties: freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, and of assembly.

14th amendment

The constitutional amendment adopted after the civil war that declares “no state shall make or enforce any new law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the US; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without any due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

due process clause

Part of the 14th amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the US or state governments without due process of the law.

incorporation doctrine

The legal concept under which the supreme court has nationalized the bill of rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the 14th amendment.

establishment clause

Part of the first amendment stating that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

free exercise clause

Part of the first amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

prior restraint

Government actions that prevent material from being published. As confirmed in Near vs Minnesota, prior restraint is usually prohibited by the 1st amendment.

libel

The publication of false and malicious statements that may damage someone’s reputation.

symbolic speech

nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband. The supreme court has accorded some symbolic speech protection under the 1st amendment.

commercial speech

Communication in the from of advertising, which can be restricted more than many other types of speech.

probable clause

Reasonable grounds for believing that a person is guilty of a crime. In order to make a lawful arrest, the police must have probable cause.

unreasonable search and seizure

Obtaining evidence in an unlawful manner, a practice prohibited by the 4th amendment. The police must have probable cause and/or a search warrant in order to make a legal and proper search for and seizure of incriminating evidence and to seize such evidence.

search warrant

A written authorization from a court specifying the area to be searched an what police may search for.

exclusionary rule

The rule that evidence cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not obtained in a constitutional manner. The rule prohibits use of evidence obtained through unreasonable search and seizure.

5th amendment

A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of the person accused of crimes. It provides protection against 2x jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment w/o due process of the law.

self-incrimination

Being a witness against oneself. The 5th amendment forbids involuntary self-incrimination.

6th amendment

A constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy and public trial.

plead bargianing

A bargain struck between a defendant’s lawyer and a prosecutor to the effect that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser crime (or to fewer crimes) in exchange for the state’s promise to not prosecute the defendant for more serious crime or for additional crimes.

8th amendment

The constitutional amendment that forbids crule and unsual punishment.

right to privacy

The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of the government.

civil rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

equal protection of the laws

Part of the 14th amendment that emphasizes that the laws must provide equivalent “protection” to all people.

13th amendment

The constitutional amendment ratified after the civil war that forbade slavery and involuntary servitude.

civil rights act of 1964

The law making racial discrimination in public accommodations illegal. It forbade many forms of job discrimination. It also strengthened voting rights.

suffrage

The legal right to vote, extended to African Americans by the 15th amendment, to women by the 19th amendment, and to 18-20 year olds by the 26th amendment.

15th amendment

The constitutional amendment adopted in 1870 to extend suffrage to African Americans.

Poll taxes

Small taxes levied on the right to vote. Poll taxes were used by most southern states to exclude African Americans from voting.

white primary

Primary elections from which African Americans were excluded, an exclusion that, in heavily democratic south, deprived African Americans of a voice in the real contests. The supreme court declared white primaries unconstitutional in 1944.

voting rights act of 1965

A law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. Under the law, hundreds of thousands of African Americans registered to vote, and the number of African American elected officials increased dramatically.

19th amendment

The constitutional amendment adopted in 1920 that guarantees women the right to vote.

Americans with disabilities act of 1990

A law passed in 1990 that requires employers and public facilities to make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment.

affirmative action

A policy designated to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantaged groups.

party polarization

The growing gap between the stands of the parties on policy issues. On the negative side, polarization makes compromise more difficult, whereas on the positive side, clear differences between the parties make politics easier to understand for voters.

political party

In the words of economists Anthony Downs, a “team of [people] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

linkage institution

The channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the government’s policy agenda. In the US, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, the media.

rational-choice theory

A popular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians. It assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of possible alternatives.

party image

The voters’ perception of what the republicans or democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism.

party identification

A citizen’s self-proclaimed preference for one party or another.

ticket splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices.

party machines

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage to win votes and to govern.

patronage

One of the key inducements used by party machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

closed primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

open primaries

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in the democratic or republican contests.

national convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party’s platform.

national committee

One of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions. The national cmmittee is composed of representatives from the states and territories.

national chairperson

The person responsible for running the ongoing activities of the national party organization.

coalition

A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends.

party eras

Historical periods in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections.

critical elections

An electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace ole ones, and the majority party is ofter displaced by the minority party.

party realignment

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election peorid.

New deal coalition

A coalition forged by the democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s-1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, catholics and jews, the poor, southerns, African Americans, and intellectuals.

party dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification.

winner-take-all system

An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies.

proportional representation

An electoral system used throughout most of Europe that awarded legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election

coalition government

When 2 or more parties join to form a majority in a national legislature. This form of government is quiet common in the multiparty systems of Europe.

responsible party model

A view about how parties should work, help by some political scientists. According to the model, parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in office, should carry out their campaign promises.

nomination

The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.

campaign strategy

The master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaigns.