AP U.S. Government and Politics: Key Concepts and Theories

Democratic Centralism

Small leadership group makes decisions for everyone.

Direct Democracy

Citizens directly vote on laws and policies.

Representative Democracy

People elect officials to represent them.

Pluralist Theory

Many groups compete for political influence.

Types of Representative Democracies

Presidential and parliamentary systems.

Articles of Confederation

Weak national government with strong states.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting that created the Constitution.

The Great Compromise

Created House by population and Senate equal representation.

The Federalist Papers

Essays supporting ratification of the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

Branches limit each other's power.

The Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting liberties.

Theories of Charles Beard

Constitution protected economic interests of elites.

Amending the Constitution

Process for changing the Constitution.

Federalist #10

Large republic controls factions.

Federalist #39

Explains federalism and republican government.

Federal/Confederal/Unitary

Different ways power is divided in government.

Pros and Cons of Federalism

Local control vs inconsistent policies.

Federalism and Civil Rights

Federal government protected rights against states.

Financial Federalism

Federal funding influences state governments.

Funded vs. Unfunded Mandates

Federal requirements with or without money provided.

Devolution

Power shifted from federal to state governments.

Elitism and Why We Hate Congress

Powerful elites influence unpopular Congress.

Advantages of Incumbency

Name recognition and easier fundraising.

Informal Norms of Congress

Unwritten traditions guiding behavior.

Structure of Congress

Bicameral legislature with House and Senate.

Congressional Leadership Offices

Speaker, majority leader, minority leader, whip.

Role of Committees

Committees review and shape bills.

Iron Triangles

Alliance between Congress, bureaucracy, and interest groups.

The Lawmaking Process

How bills become laws.

Term Limits

Restrictions on years in office.

Presidential vs Parliamentary Executives

Separate executive vs executive tied to legislature.

Divided vs Unified Government

Different parties vs same party controlling branches.

Powers of President

Commander in chief, veto, appointments, treaties.

The Personal Presidency

Media-centered and personality-focused presidency.

Presidential Weapons

Vetoes, executive orders, persuasion, appointments.

Presidential Transition

Transfer of power between presidents.

The Impeachment Process

House impeaches; Senate removes from office.

Basis for Fed Bureaucracy

Created to implement laws and policies.

Bureaucratic Pathologies

Inefficiency, red tape, duplication, waste.

Bureaucratic Functions

Implement and regulate government policies.

4 Types of Fed Bureaucracy

Cabinet departments, agencies, corporations, commissions.

Captured Bureaucracies

Agencies influenced by industries they regulate.

Structure of Fed Court System

District courts, appeals courts, Supreme Court.

Language of SC Decisions

Majority, dissenting, concurring opinions.

Judicial Restraint/Activism

Limited interpretation vs active interpretation.

Judicial Selection Process

President nominates, Senate confirms judges.

Jurisdiction

Court's authority to hear cases.

Free Speech and Security

Speech can be limited for safety reasons.

Limits on Free Speech

Threats, obscenity, libel not protected.

Libel/Slander/Obscenity

False or offensive speech restrictions.

Freedom of Religion

Protects religious practice and prevents establishment.

Exclusionary Rule

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used.

Rights of the Accused

Protections for people charged with crimes.

Civil Rights in the Courts

Courts protect equality under law.

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed amendment for gender equality.

Affirmative Action

Policies helping historically discriminated groups.

Four Types of Public Policy

Regulatory, distributive, redistributive, constituent.

Budget Policies

Government decisions on spending and taxes.

Monetary and Fiscal Policy

Fed controls money; government controls spending/taxes.

Types of Tax Policy

Progressive, regressive, proportional taxes.

Mistrust of Government

Public skepticism toward government institutions.

Agents of Socialization

Family, school, media shape political beliefs.

Political Ideologies

Liberal, conservative, moderate beliefs.

Levels of Political Participation

Ways citizens engage in politics.

Public Opinion Polling

Measuring public political views.

Issues of Voter Turnout

Factors affecting who votes.

The Electoral College

System used to elect the president.

Congressional Redistricting

Redrawing voting district boundaries.

Campaign Finance Reform

Laws regulating political donations/spending.

Functions of Political Parties

Nominate candidates and organize government.

Our Unique 2-Party System

Democrats and Republicans dominate politics.

When Third Parties Matter

Influence elections and major party issues.

Types of Third Parties

Ideological, single-issue, splinter, economic protest.

History of US Political Parties

Development of party systems over time.

Realignment/Dealignment

Major shifts or weakening of party loyalty.

3 Roles of the News Media

Inform, investigate, and influence opinion.

Media Bias

News favoring certain viewpoints.

Logic of Collective Action

People avoid contributing to group efforts.

Five Types of Interest Groups

Economic, public interest, ideological, governmental, religious.

Interest Group Tactics

Lobbying, litigation, protests, donations, media campaigns.