AP Government Key Terms

Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

• Natural Rights: Life, liberty, property.

• Social Contract: Give up freedom for protection.

• Popular Sovereignty: Power from the people.

• Republicanism: Elect representatives.

• Limited Government: Power restricted by law.

• Participatory Democracy: Broad citizen involvement.

• Pluralist Democracy: Power among groups.

• Elite Democracy: Small group dominates.

• Federalist: Strong central government.

• Anti-Federalist: Strong state governments.

• Federalist No. 10: Warns about factions, supports a large republic.

• Brutus No. 1: Against large republic, prefers local control.

• Articles of Confederation Weaknesses: No taxing power, no executive, difficult amendments and passing of laws.

• Shays’ Rebellion: Need for stronger government.

• Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature (House = population, Senate = equal).

• ⅗ Compromise: 3/5 of slaves counted for representation.

• Compromise on Importation of Slaves: Banned after 1808.

• Separation of Powers: Legislative, executive, judicial branches.

• Checks and Balances: Each branch limits others.

• Federalism: Shared power between national and state governments.

• Delegated Powers: Federal government powers.

• Reserved Powers: State powers.

• Concurrent Powers: Shared powers.

• Dual Federalism: Separate powers (layer cake).

• Cooperative Federalism: Shared Powers (marble cake).

• Revenue Sharing: Federal money to states with few rules.

• Grants-in-Aid: Federal money for specific purposes.

• Categorical Grants: Specific purpose, conditions.

• Block Grants: Broad purpose, fewer rules.

• Mandates: Federal requirements on states.

• Commerce Clause: Congress regulates trade.

• Necessary and Proper Clause: Laws to carry out powers.

• Supremacy Clause: Federal law above state law.

• McCulloch v. Maryland: Expanded federal power.

• U.S. v. Lopez: Limited federal power.

• Multiple Access Points: Influence at different levels.

• Stakeholders: Those with interest in policy.

• Enumerated Powers: Powers in Constitution.

• Implied Powers: Powers from Necessary and Proper Clause.

Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

• House of Representatives: 435 members, 2-year terms, more formal.

• Senate: 100 members, 6-year terms, less formal.

• House Powers: Tax bills, impeach, discharge petition.

• Senate Powers: Treaties, nominations, trials.

• Enumerated Powers: Declare war, budget, coin money, tax.

• Implied Powers: Carry out enumerated powers.

• Filibuster: Senate delay.

• Cloture: Ends filibuster (60 votes).

• Holds: Prevent Senate vote.

• Unanimous Consent: Speed up Senate.

• Conference Committee: Resolve bill differences.

• Standing Committees: Handle specific bills.

• Discretionary Spending: Optional spending.

• Mandatory Spending: Required by law.

• Entitlement Programs: Benefits to those who qualify.

• Speaker of the House: Presiding officer.

• Majority/Minority Leaders: Guide party policy.

• Partisan Voting: Voting along party lines.

• Political Polarization: Growing ideological gap.

• Gridlock: Standstill in Congress.

• Divided Government: Different party controls presidency and Congress.

• Lame Duck President: Limited influence near term end.

• Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries.

• Redistricting: Redrawing boundaries after census.

• Unequal Representation (malapportionment): Unequal voting power.

• Trustee Model: Representative uses own judgment.

• Delegate Model: Acts on constituents' wishes.

• Politico Model: Hybrid approach.

• Veto: President rejects bill.

• Pocket Veto: President doesn’t sign, Congress adjourns.

• Commander in Chief: Military authority.

• Executive Agreements: Like treaties, but no Senate approval.

• Signing Statements: President interprets law.

• Agenda Setting: Shaping policy priorities.

• Nominations: President appoints (Senate confirms).

• Judicial Appointments: Lasting influence.

• Federalist No. 70: Strong executive.

• Twenty-Second Amendment (1951): Term limits.

• Presidential Power Debate: Disagreements about power.

• Bargaining and Persuasion: President influences policy.

• State of the Union: Annual address.

• Bully Pulpit: Use of media to promote policy.

• Judicial Review: Courts declare laws unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison).

• Federalist No. 78: Independent judiciary.

• Precedent: Legal principle from past cases.

• Stare Decisis: "let the decision stand"

• Life Tenure: Protects judges.

• Ideological Changes: Shifts Court’s direction.

• Judicial Activism: Courts make bold decisions.

• Judicial Restraint: Courts defer to elected branches.

• Restrictions on the Supreme Court: Limits on power.

Bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy: Implements laws.

• Civil Service: Jobs based on qualifications.

• Merit System: Hiring based on ability.

• Political Patronage: Jobs as rewards.

• Cabinet Departments: Major agencies.

• Executive Agencies: Specific focus.

• Regulatory Commissions: Oversee industries.

• Government Corporations: Government-run businesses.

• Discretionary Authority: Decide how to implement laws.

• Rule-Making Authority: Create regulations.

• Iron Triangle: Alliance between agency, Congress, interest group.

• Issue Network: Fluid policy coalition.

• Oversight: Congress monitors agencies.

• Compliance Monitoring: Checks agency compliance

• Committee Hearings: Meetings to question agency officials.

• Power of the Purse: Congress controls funding.

• Presidential Ideology, Authority, and Influence on Bureaucracy: Beliefs and power shape agency actions.

Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

• Civil Liberties: Freedoms protected from government.

• Bill of Rights: Protects liberties.

• Establishment Clause: No established religion.

• Free Exercise Clause: Practice religion freely.

• Protected speech: Symbolic speech

• Unprotected Speech: Libel, slander, obscenity.

• Clear and Present Danger: Limits on speech.

• Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions: Limits on speech.

• Prior restraint: Gov. prevents speech.

• District of Columbia v. Heller (2008): Second Amendment protects firearm ownership.

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Second Amendment applies to states.

• Due Process Clause (14th Amendment): Protects rights from state abuse.

• Selective Incorporation: Applies Bill of Rights to states.

• Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause: protects individuals from the federal government from being deprived of "life, liberty, or property without due process of law."

• Fourteenth Amendment Due Process Clause: extends the same protection to individuals from state governments.

• Exclusionary Rule: Illegally obtained evidence can’t be used.

• Miranda Rule: Police must inform you of rights.

• Public Safety Exception: Overrides Miranda.

• Pretrial Rights: Right to attorney, no self-incrimination.

• Right to Privacy: Implied in Constitution (Griswold, Roe v. Wade).

• Roe v. Wade: Legalized abortion.

• Equal Protection Clause: Laws must treat people equally.

• Civil Rights: Protection from unequal treatment.

• Social Movements: Shape laws.

• Separate but Equal: Legal segregation doctrine (Plessy v. Ferguson).

• Race-Conscious Constitution: Allows race-based remedies.

• Brown v. Board: Segregation violates 14th Amendment.

• Civil Rights Act (1964): Banned discrimination.

• Voting Rights Act (1965): Protected voting rights.

• Title IX: Banned sex discrimination in education.

• Affirmative Action: policies intended to address workplace and educational disparities related to race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, and age.

• Colorblind Constitution: Race shouldn’t be considered.

• A race-conscious interpretation: acknowledges the role of race and systemic inequality in American history and law.

Unit 4: Political Ideologies and Beliefs

• Individualism: Personal responsibility.

• Equality of Opportunity: Equal chance to succeed.

• Free Enterprise: Limited government economy.

• Rule of Law: Everyone follows the law.

• Limited Government: Restrict power.

• Political Socialization: Forming beliefs.

• Lifecycle Effects: Age shapes beliefs.

• Major Political Events: Events influence attitudes.

• Globalization: Creates mutual influence.

• Scientific Poll: Random, representative, low margin of error.

• Conservative: Small government, traditional values.

• Liberal: Bigger government, social programs.

• Libertarian: Max freedom, limited government.

• To Lower Unemployment: Liberals use spending, conservatives use tax cuts.

• To Lower Inflation: Conservatives cut spending, liberals regulate.

Unit 5: Political Participation

• Rational Choice: Vote based on benefit.

• Retrospective: Vote based on past performance.

• Prospective: Vote based on future promises.

• Party-Line: Vote based on party.

• Structural Barriers: Voting laws.

• Voting Predictors: Education, age, income, race

• Political Efficacy: Belief that vote matters.

• Political party Functions: Mobilize voters, nominate candidates, create platform, help organize Congress and influence which laws are proposed, debated, and passed.

• Realignment: Shift in party coalitions.

• Candidate-Centered Campaigns: Focus on individual over party.

• Interest Groups: Influence policy in a specific or broad area by edukcating the public and officials, lobbying, writing laws, mobilizing memebers and filing court briefs.

• Electoral College: Elects president.

• modern campaigns are represented by i. Dependence on professional consultants ii. Rising campaign costs and intensive fundraising efforts iii. Duration of election cycles iv. Impact of and reliance on social media for campaign communication and fundraising.

Foundational Documents

• Declaration of Independence (1776): Natural rights, social contract.

• Articles of Confederation (1781): Weak central government.

• U.S. Constitution (1787): Federalism, separation of powers.

• Federalist No. 10 (1787): Large republics can control factions.

• Brutus No. 1 (1787): Concerns over strong government.

• Federalist No. 51 (1788): Checks and balances.

• Federalist No. 70 (1788): Strong executive.

• Federalist No. 78 (1788): Judicial review.

• Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963): Nonviolent protest.

Required Supreme Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison (1803): Judicial review.

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Federal supremacy, implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

• United States v. Lopez (1995): Limited Commerce Clause power.

• Engel v. Vitale (1962): School prayer violates Establishment Clause.

• Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972): Violates Free Exercise Clause.

• Tinker v. Des Moines (1969): Students' symbolic speech.

• New York Times Co. v. United States (1971): No prior restraint.

• Schenck v. United States (1919): "Clear and present danger" not protected.

• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963): Right to counsel.

• Roe v. Wade (1973): Right to privacy, abortion.

• McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Second Amendment applies to states.

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Segregation violates Equal Protection Clause.

• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010): Protected speech.

• Baker v. Carr (1961): Established the principle of "one person, one vote"

• Shaw v. Reno (1993): Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.