AP GOV Review

Republicanism

A representative form of government.

Amendment process

The process requiring a $2/3$ vote of congress to propose and a $3/4$ vote of states to ratify.

Federal mandates

Rules that states must follow regardless of whether the federal government provides funding.

Block grants

Federal money provided to states for use within a broad purpose, giving states more freedom.

Categorical grants

Federal money provided to states to use for a specific purpose.

Natural rights

Fundamental rights inherent to all humans.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the people are the source of government power.

Articles of Confederation

A governing document that gave more power to states; Congress could declare war and coin money but could not tax or regulate interstate commerce.

Discharge petition

A procedure to force a bill out of committee by a majority vote of the full House of Representatives.

Committee of the whole

When the entire House considers a bill and acts as a single committee to speed up the passage of legislation.

Filibuster

A long speech used in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote.

Cloture

A procedure where a $3/5$ majority can vote to end a debate on a bill and force a vote.

Hold

An action by a senator to prevent a bill from being discussed on the floor.

Entitlement spending

Spending on programs that people are entitled by law to receive, such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Pork barrel legislation

Legislation that provides tangible benefits, jobs, and money to a specific district.

Logrolling

An agreement where legislators trade votes for each other's bills.

Unanimous consent agreement

A procedure used by the Senate to speed along the passage of legislation.

Standing committees

Permanent committees where bills are first sent to be edited, revised, and marked up.

Congressional oversight

Committee hearings held to ensure an agency or department is acting in a way that satisfies Congress.

Power of the purse

The power of Congress to create a federal budget and spend money.

Discretionary spending

Spending that must be approved annually as part of budget bills.

Reapportionment

Changing the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives based on the census.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional districts by state legislatures.

Baker v. Carr

Established the precedent of "one person, one vote" and ruled that apportionment claims are justiciable.

Shaw v. Reno

Ruled that racial gerrymandering is prohibited under the $14^{th}$ Amendment equal protection clause.

Policy gridlock

A situation where it is slow to pass legislation or confirm nominations due to a divided government.

Pocket veto

Occurs when the president takes no action and the session of Congress ends within $10$ days of receiving a bill.

Executive agreements

Agreements with foreign heads of state that function like a treaty but do not require Senate ratification.

Executive order

A presidential directive that has the power of law and does not require congressional approval.

Fed 78

An essay arguing for life terms for federal judges and an independent judiciary with the power of judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review.

Stare decisis

A legal principle of following precedent.

Judicial restraint

The philosophy that courts should defer to democratically elected branches whenever possible.

Judicial activism

The philosophy that courts can and should overrule other branches when they are perceived to be wrong.

Merit system

A system where bureaucrats earn jobs based on merit or civil service exams rather than political appointments.

Selective incorporation

The case-by-case process by which the Supreme Court has applied the Bill of Rights to the states using the $14^{th}$ Amendment due process clause.

Engel v. Vitale

Ruled that states cannot promote prayer in public schools due to the establishment clause.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Ruled that compelling students to attend school beyond $8^{th}$ grade violates the free exercise clause for Amish families.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Established that students have free speech and that symbolic speech is protected as pure speech.

Schenck v. US

Established that speech can be limited if it creates a "clear and present danger."

Miranda rule

The requirement that people in custody must be informed of their $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ Amendment rights.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A document demanding fulfillment of the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and the equal protection clause for African-Americans.

Brown v. Board of Education

Ruled that racial segregation in public schools violates the $14^{th}$ Amendment equal protection clause.

Political socialization

The process through which an individual obtains their political ideology, influenced by family, peers, and media.

Benchmark poll

A poll used to determine a candidate's standing and interests before a campaign begins.

Tracking polls

Continuous polls used to chart changes in public opinion over time.

Margin of error

The range of accuracy for a poll, where $\pm 3\%$ is typically considered acceptable.

Keynesian economics

The theory that the government should stimulate the economy during recessions by increasing government spending.

Supply-side economics

The theory that the government should cut taxes to encourage business growth and consumer spending.

Monetary policy

Conducted by the Federal Reserve to stabilize the economy by controlling interest rates and the money supply.

Political efficacy

The belief that an individual's vote matters and can influence politics.

Linkage institutions

Channels like political parties, interest groups, elections, and media that connect individuals to policymakers.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest.

Retrospective voting

Voting based on whether a candidate should be re-elected based on their recent past performance.

Party realignment

A long-lasting shift of party loyalty, often triggered by a critical election.

Lobbying

Efforts to persuade policymakers to support a specific group's positions.

Iron triangles

The relationship between interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies.

Free rider problem

When individuals benefit from an interest group's activities without joining the group.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)

Legislation that banned soft money and attempted to reduce attack ads.

Citizens United v. FEC

Ruled that corporations and unions are people with free speech and can engage in unlimited independent political expenditures.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that raises money to support a cause or candidate, with limits on contributions to candidates.

Super PACs

Independent-expenditure-only committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money independent of a candidate.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Established federal supremacy and allowed the government to create a national bank under the necessary and proper clause.

US v. Lopez

Ruled that the commerce clause does not give Congress the power to prohibit guns in school zones, protecting reserved state powers.

Pocket veto

pres doesnt sign bill and congress adjourns in under 10 days and so bill dies, congress can’t veto override

what can pres do to bill -Take no action

same as pocket veto but over 10 days (when they know theres support and itll pass but they dont wanna attach their name to it)

line item veto

not anymore, can veto specific parts

sign bill into law

2/3 in both chambers can veto override

fed 70

strong single executive pres is essential for good gov (ensure energy, accountability, and exec leadership) (unitary executive)

state of union address

annual address to joint session of congress (highlights conditions and agenda); pres’s most powerful tool (persuasion)

treaties 

President negotiates treaties; Senate approves with 2/3.

Appointment Power

President appoints judges, ambassadors, agency heads (Senate confirms).

Commander-in-Chief

President leads the military; major influence over war and foreign policy.

faithfully execute clause

duty of enforcing, supervising executive branch and makes sure laws are enforced

25th amendment

vp becomes pres if they cant work or die

22nd amendment

limit to pres terms

20th amendment

shortens time for pres elections and innauguration bc of lame duck period

12th amendment

made seperate ballots bc pres and vp would b different parties which was problem

clemency

pardoning/reprieving power used to help unfairly treated individuals

midnight pardon

pardoning ppl at end of term that u wouldnt pardon while in office bc of media backlash 

reprieve

halt/pauses

bully pulpit

good speaking opportunity where they can speak directly to public

Impeachment

House impeaches, Senate removes; ultimate check on abuse.

War Powers Resolution

Notify Congress in 48 hours, withdraw troops in 60 days w/o approval.

Departments

Largest units (e.g., State, Defense), led by Cabinet secretaries.

Agencies

Smaller units within departments or independent (e.g., FBI, NASA).

Commissions

Independent bodies that regulate specific areas, often bipartisan (e.g., FCC, SEC).

Iron Triangle

A stable relationship between a congressional committee, an interest group, and a bureaucracy.

Issue Network

A more fluid, temporary alliance of experts, media, interest groups, and government officials around a policy issue.

Patronage

Jobs given based on loyalty or political connections.

Merit System

Jobs awarded based on qualifications and exams

Pendleton Act

created the civil service system and required government jobs to be filled based on merit, not political patronage — ending the spoils system.

Discretionary Rule-Making

Bureaucrats decide how to write regulations to enforce laws.

Implementation

Carrying out and enforcing the laws and rules that already exist.

Congress

Oversight, budget control, hearings, laws.

President

Appointments, executive orders, reorganization.

Courts

Judicial review — can rule actions unconstitutional.

Partisanship

Members vote with party over president → more gridlock.

Formal powers (pres-constitution)

Veto, military,treaty,appointment,pardon

Informal powers (pres)

exec orders, bully pulpit, sign laws