AG Final Exam Review

Here’s a full list of terms from your study sheet with definitions:

Terms and Definitions:

• Federalism: A system of government where power is shared between a central government and smaller political units (states, provinces).

• Popular Sovereignty: The principle that government’s power is derived from the consent of the governed (the people).

• Judicial Review: The power of the courts to examine laws and government actions to determine whether they are constitutional.

• Separation of Powers: The division of government into different branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

• Unitary Government: A system where all power is held by a single, central government.

• Confederate Government: A system where smaller political units (states) hold most of the power, and the central government has limited authority.

• Selective Incorporation: The process by which certain protections in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states via the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

• Expressed Powers: Powers explicitly granted to the government by the Constitution.

• Implied Powers: Powers not directly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the expressed powers.

• Reserved Powers: Powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government nor denied to the states, and thus are reserved for the states.

• Articles of Confederation: The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak central government and was later replaced by the current Constitution.

• Ex Post Facto: A law that makes an act illegal retroactively; prohibited by the Constitution.

• Denied Powers: Powers that are specifically prohibited to the federal government or the states by the Constitution.

• Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by both the federal government and state governments, such as taxing.

• Habeas Corpus: The right of individuals to be brought before a court to ensure they are not unlawfully detained.

• Supremacy Clause: A clause in the Constitution (Article VI) stating that the Constitution, laws made by the national government, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

• Republic: A form of government where representatives are elected by the people to make decisions on their behalf.

• Federalist Papers: A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

• Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual freedoms and rights.

• Naturalization: The process by which an immigrant becomes a citizen of a country.

• Plessy v. Ferguson: An 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.”

• Poll Tax: A tax levied on voters, often used to disenfranchise African Americans in the South.

• Marginalized: Groups or individuals who are pushed to the edge of society, often denied basic rights or access to opportunities.

• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Legislation aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the South.

• Political Party: A group of individuals who organize to win elections and control government policies.

• Plurality: The number of votes for a candidate that is more than any other candidate, but not necessarily a majority.

• Bipartisan: Involving the cooperation of two political parties.

• Unitary: A government system where all power is concentrated at the national level (opposite of federalism).

• Federalists: Supporters of the U.S. Constitution who advocated for a strong central government.

• Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the U.S. Constitution who feared too much power would be given to the national government.

• Federalist Papers: A series of essays promoting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, arguing for a strong central government.

• Representative Democracy: A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

• Double Jeopardy: A legal principle that prevents a person from being tried twice for the same crime.

• Brown v. Board of Education: A landmark 1954 Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

• Eminent Domain: The power of the government to take private property for public use, with compensation.

• Disenfranchised: Denied the right to vote or participate in the political process.

• Bicameral Congress: A legislature consisting of two chambers or houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Partisanship: Strong allegiance to one’s political party, often leading to a lack of cooperation across party lines.

• Majority: More than half of the total votes or a group.

• Incumbent: The current holder of an office or position.

• Checks and Balances: A system in which each branch of government (executive, legislative, judicial) can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

• Limited Government: A government whose powers are restricted by law or a constitution.

• Federal Type Government: A system in which power is shared between a central government and state governments.

• Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically listed in the Constitution.

• Rule of Law: The principle that all people and institutions, including the government, are subject to and accountable to law.

• Commerce Clause: The clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Native American tribes.

• Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause: Grants Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers.

• Bill of Attainder: A law that punishes someone without a trial; prohibited by the Constitution.

• Confederacy: A union of states or nations, often with limited central authority.

• Ratification: The process of formally approving something, like the Constitution or an amendment.

• Constitutional Convention: The 1787 meeting where the U.S. Constitution was drafted.

• Petition Your Grievances: The right to formally complain to the government about injustices or wrongdoings.

• Repealed: To revoke or annul a law or act.

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: A law that ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

• "Lame Duck" Period: The period between an election and the inauguration of a new president, when the outgoing president has limited power.

• Chisholm v. Georgia: An 1793 Supreme Court case that allowed citizens to sue states in federal court.

• Parties as "Watchdogs": The role of political parties, especially opposition parties, to monitor and criticize the actions of the party in power.

• Equal Protection: The principle that laws must apply equally to all people, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.

• Incorporation: The application of the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment.

• Libertarians: People who believe in minimal government intervention in both personal and economic matters.

• Moderates: Individuals or groups that fall between the extremes of political ideologies.

• Primary Election: An election to choose a political party's candidate for a general election.

• Impeachment: The process by which a sitting president or other federal official is charged with misconduct, leading to a trial to determine if they should be removed from office.

• Veto: The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

• Reapportion: The process of reallocating congressional seats among the states based on population changes.

• Approving a Treaty: The process of the Senate ratifying international agreements made by the president.

• Compromise: The process of reaching an agreement by making concessions on both sides.

• Persuasion: The act of influencing others to accept a particular position or viewpoint.

• Due Process: The fair treatment of individuals through the judicial system, guaranteed by the 5th and 14th Amendments.

• Congressional Districts: Geographical areas within a state from which members of the House of Representatives are elected.

• Green Party: A political party that emphasizes environmental issues, social justice, and nonviolence.

• Democrats: A major political party that typically supports social programs, government regulation, and progressive policies.

• Republicans: A major political party that generally advocates for limited government, free-market policies, and conservative social issues.

• General Election: A nationwide election where voters choose among candidates for public office.

• Speaker of the House: The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

• Rider/Pork/X-Mas Ornaments: Provisions added to a bill that may not be related to the main purpose of the bill, often to benefit a legislator's constituents.

• Congressional Budget Office: A federal agency that provides budget and economic information to Congress.

• Census: The official count of the population, which determines representation in Congress.

• Gerrymandering: The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party.

• Overriding a Veto: When Congress passes a bill into law despite the president’s veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses.

• Approving Presidential Appointments: The Senate's role in confirming presidential nominees for federal positions.

• Negotiation: The process of reaching an agreement between parties through discussion.

• Consensus Building: The process of finding common ground and mutual agreement among differing groups or individuals.

• Oversight: The process of monitoring and reviewing the actions of the executive branch to ensure it is properly implementing laws and policies.

This should give you a thorough understanding of the terms and concepts you need for your exam.