AP Government Vocabulary Review

100 vocabulary flashcards covering American core values, foundational documents, branches of government, constitutional amendments, and political processes.

Article 1

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Legislative Branch.

Article 2

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Executive Branch.

Article 3

The section of the Constitution that establishes the Judicial Branch.

Article 4

The section of the Constitution that deals with Federalism.

Article 5

The section of the Constitution describing the Amendment Process.

Article 6

The section of the Constitution containing the Supremacy Clause.

Article 7

The section of the Constitution outlining Ratification Requirements.

DCS

An acronym for the levels of the Federal Judiciary in order from weakest to strongest: District Court, Circuit Court, Supreme Court.

Federalism

The separation and sharing of political power between different levels of government, specifically Local, State, and Federal.

Limited Government

An American core value and principle indicating that the government does NOT have unlimited powers.

Individual Rights

A principle of US Government referring to rights guaranteed to citizens, whether natural or constitutionally protected.

Natural Rights

The rights that all people are theoretically born with, identified in the notes as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the government gets its power from the people.

Sovereignty

The inherent power that a government has inside its own borders.

Republicanism

The theory that the people should rule through representatives.

Checks and balances

A system where each branch of government checks other branches to ensure no one branch becomes more powerful than the others.

Separation of powers

The idea that each branch of government has its own set of distinct powers and responsibilities.

Free Enterprise

An American Core Value and the idea that the government should not regulate private businesses.

Individualism

An American Core Value suggesting that you alone are responsible for your own success.

Equality of Opportunity

An American Core Value referring to the idea that everyone should have the same chance or opportunity to succeed.

Rule of Law

An American Core Value stating that nobody, especially not government officials, is above the law.

Pursuit of Happiness

An idea from the Declaration of Independence that someone should be able to do whatever they want as long as they don’t hurt anyone else.

Federal System

A system of government with multiple levels where power is divided and shared.

Social Contract Theory

The basis of all laws where people give up some freedom in exchange for government protection.

Second Continental Congress

The meeting at the start of the Revolutionary War where the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were created.

Declaration of Independence

A foundational document that announced separation from Britain and argued for inalienable rights and popular sovereignty.

Articles of Confederation

The first law of the land which had only a legislative branch and a central government that lacked the power to enforce laws or maintain an army.

Shays’ Rebellion

A rebellion of farmers that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to the creation of the Constitution.

Critical Period

The period of time during which the Articles of Confederation were the governing law of the land.

Federalist Papers

Newsletters written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay under the pen name Publius to advocate for the Constitution.

Federalist Party

A group in support of the Constitution and a Federal Government more powerful than State Governments.

Anti-Federalist Party

A group that favored powerful State Governments and wrote papers under the pen name Brutus.

Federalist # 10

A foundational document arguing that competing factions result in gridlock, which keeps bad ideas from becoming law.

Federalist # 51

A foundational document focused on the legislative branch and the use of checks and balances and a bicameral legislature to prevent tyranny.

Federalist # 70

A foundational document arguing for an energetic singular executive who can make quick decisions in times of crisis.

Federalist # 78

A foundational document advocating for Judicial Review and lifetime appointments for Justices to ensure impartial interpretation.

Brutus # 1

A foundational document arguing that a strong Federal Government will restrict liberty and that people prefer laws from State Governments.

Letter From Birmingham Jail

A foundational document by Martin Luther King Jr. stating we have a moral obligation to break unjust laws through peaceful protest.

Faction

A group of people who feel similarly and are passionate about a specific topic.

Electoral College

Electors selected by state Party Conventions who vote on the people's behalf based on the popular vote.

Electoral College Compromise

An agreement that balances participatory democracy and elite theory democracy by having the electoral college elect the President.

Scorekeeper

A media function where news outlets determine who wins an event and shape how the public thinks about the outcome.

Gatekeeper

A media function where outlets choose which news stories get reported on, often confirming the biases of their audience.

Watchdog

A media function obligated to report on corruption or malpractice within the government.

Consumer Driven Media

The concept that media outlets maximize profit by confirming the existing biases of their viewership.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A clause where slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for southern state population counts regarding Congressional seats.

Importation Compromise

An agreement that banned the international importation of slaves starting in the year 1800, later extended to 1808.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

The agreement that created a Bicameral Legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention for equal representation per state, which manifests today as the US Senate.

Virginia Plan

The proposal for representation based on population, which manifests today as the US House of Representatives.

Participatory Theory Democracy

A model of democracy where everyone gets a direct vote.

Pluralist Theory Democracy

A model of democracy where groups or factions come together to influence policy.

Elite Theory Democracy

A model of democracy where the rich and powerful control the political process.

Enumerated powers

Powers granted to the Federal Government that are explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but understood via the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Concurrent powers

Political power that is shared between the Federal and State Governments.

Reserved powers

Powers given specifically to the states by the 10th Amendment.

Unified Government

A situation where the same party controls the Presidency and both chambers of Congress.

Divided Government

A situation where the President's party does not control both chambers of Congress.

Veto

When the President refuses to sign a bill, sending it back to Congress where a 2/3 vote is needed to override.

Pocket Veto

Occurs when the President does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns within 10 days, effectively killing the bill.

Line-Item Veto

The power used only by governors to veto specific parts of a law.

Executive Order

A direct, legally binding order from the President that does not need Congressional approval but must undergo judicial review.

Executive Action

A non-legally binding command by the President intended to get media attention and influence Congress.

War Powers Act

A resolution requiring military endeavors to be approved by Congress or the President must withdraw troops within 60 days.

Bully pulpit

A term for taking advantage of the platform of the Presidency to force the nation or Congress to discuss and address specific concerns.

Power of the Purse

A legislative branch power that is exercised through the passage of a budget.

Power of the Sword

The President's authority over the military as Commander in Chief.

Impeachment Process

The process of accusing a government official of misconduct, requiring a majority vote in the House.

Removal Process

The Senate trial following impeachment that requires a 2/3 supermajority to oust an official from office.

1st Amendment

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

2nd Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms, selectively incorporated by McDonald vs. Chicago.

4th Amendment

Protects citizens from warrantless search and seizure.

Exclusionary rule

Rule stating that evidence found during a search that was not listed on the warrant is inadmissible in court.

5th Amendment

Guarantees freedom from self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and establishes eminent domain and due process.

Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private land for public use provided they pay for it.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair and speedy jury trial and the right to a public defender.

8th Amendment

Protects against cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail.

9th Amendment

The Failsafe Amendment stating there are other fundamental rights, including privacy, not explicitly written in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

States that anything not enumerated in the Constitution is a reserved power for the states.

14th Amendment

Contains the Due Process Clause for selective incorporation and the Equal Protection Clause.

Selective Incorporation

The process of forcing states to abide by the Bill of Rights using the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

15th Amendment

A Reconstruction Amendment that gives voting rights to all males 18 and older regardless of race.

19th Amendment

The amendment that gave women the right to vote.

Lame Duck Session

The period after a President is defeated in an election but before they leave office.

Veto Override

A check by the Legislative Branch requiring a 2/3 vote to pass a bill over the President's objection.

Filibuster

A Senate power where a senator holds the floor as long as they speak to delay a vote.

Cloture

A method to end a filibuster requiring the agreement of 60 or more Senators.

Logrolling

When Congresspeople trade votes, often to support each other's pork barrel legislation.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of using a precedent case to inform the ruling on a current case.

Judicial Review

The ability of the Supreme Court to determine if laws passed by Congress are Constitutional.

Iron Triangle

A mutually beneficial relationship between Congress, the Bureaucracy, and Interest Groups.

Revolving Doors

The idea that people frequently change jobs between different corners of the iron triangle.

Establishment clause

A First Amendment provision stating that the government cannot sponsor or establish a religion.

Free exercise clause

A First Amendment provision giving Americans the right to practice religion without restriction.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds given to states for specific, designated purposes.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states that are not tied to a specific purpose.

[Unfunded] Mandates

Orders from the Federal government that states must follow and pay for themselves without federal money.

Devolution

The transfer of power from the Federal government down to State or local governments.

Gerrymandering

The redrawing of district lines by the majority party to maximize their political benefit following a census.