AP Gov Final Review

AP GOVERNMENT FINAL – ALL VOCAB AS BULLETS (QUIZLET READY)

• Social Contract Theory – Government exists by consent of the governed to protect natural rights
• Republic – A system in which citizens elect representatives to govern
• Direct Democracy – Citizens vote directly on laws and policies
• Popular Sovereignty – The people are the ultimate source of government authority
• Liberal – Favors active government, regulation, and social equality
• Conservative – Favors limited government, tradition, and free markets
• Libertarianism – Minimal government with maximum individual liberty
• Confederacy – States hold most power; weak central government
• Federalism – Power is shared between national and state governments
• Articles of Confederation – First U.S. governing document with weak national government
• Declaration of Independence – Asserted natural rights and justification for independence

• John Locke – Natural rights to life, liberty, and property
• Montesquieu – Separation of powers
• Thomas Hobbes – Strong central authority prevents chaos
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Government reflects the general will

• Checks and Balances – Each branch limits the powers of the others
• Elastic Clause – Congress may pass laws necessary and proper to carry out powers
• Commerce Clause – Congress regulates interstate commerce
• Supremacy Clause – Federal law overrides state law
• Full Faith and Credit Clause – States honor other states’ laws and court decisions
• Privileges and Immunities Clause – States cannot discriminate against citizens of other states
• Enumerated Powers – Powers explicitly given to Congress
• Concurrent Powers – Powers shared by state and federal governments
• Denied Powers – Powers prohibited to federal or state governments
• 10th Amendment – Powers reserved to states or the people
• Interstate Compact – Agreement between states approved by Congress
• Federalists – Supported ratification of the Constitution
• Anti-Federalists – Opposed ratification due to lack of rights protections
• Amendment Process – Proposal by 2/3 of Congress or states; ratification by 3/4 of states

• McCulloch v. Maryland – Confirmed elastic clause and federal supremacy
• US v. Lopez – Limited Congress’s commerce power
• US v. Morrison – Reinforced limits on commerce clause
• Brutus 1 – Warned against strong central government
• Federalist 10 – Large republic controls factions
• Federalist 51 – Explained checks and balances
• Federalist 78 – Supported judicial independence

• Judicial Review – Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
• Marbury v. Madison – Established judicial review
• Supreme Court – Nine justices with life tenure
• Original Jurisdiction – Court hears case first
• Appellate Jurisdiction – Court reviews lower court decisions
• Writ of Certiorari – Order to bring a case before the Supreme Court
• Rule of 4 – Four justices must agree to hear a case
• Stare Decisis – Follow precedent
• Amicus Curiae Brief – Brief submitted by non-litigants
• Judicial Restraint – Courts defer to elected branches
• Judicial Activism – Courts take active role in policy making
• Judiciary Act of 1789 – Created the federal court system
• Common Law – Law based on precedent
• Senatorial Courtesy – Senators influence judicial appointments

• Selective Incorporation – Applying Bill of Rights to states via 14th Amendment
• Due Process – Fair treatment under the law
• Bill of Rights – First ten constitutional amendments
• Civil War Amendments – 13th ended slavery; 14th equal protection; 15th voting rights
• Voting Rights Amendments – 15th, 19th, 24th, 26th expanded suffrage
• Equal Protection Clause – Laws must treat people equally

• Tinker v. Des Moines – Protected student symbolic speech
• Schenck v. United States – Speech limited by clear and present danger
• New York Times v. United States – Prior restraint unconstitutional
• Engel v. Vitale – School-sponsored prayer unconstitutional
• Wisconsin v. Yoder – Religious freedom over compulsory schooling
• Symbolic Speech – Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment
• Prior Restraint – Government censorship before publication

• Exclusionary Rule – Illegally obtained evidence excluded
• Miranda v. Arizona – Suspects must be informed of rights
• Gideon v. Wainwright – Right to an attorney

• Brown v. Board of Education – Ended school segregation
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Prohibited discrimination
• Voting Rights Act – Protected minority voting
• Shelby v. Holder – Limited VRA enforcement
• De Jure Discrimination – Discrimination by law
• De Facto Discrimination – Discrimination by practice
• Title IX – Prohibits sex discrimination in education
• Affirmative Action – Policies addressing past discrimination
• Americans with Disabilities Act – Protects individuals with disabilities
• Letter from Birmingham Jail – MLK defended civil disobedience

• Presidential Qualifications – 35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14-year residency
• Cabinet – Heads of executive departments
• Bully Pulpit – President uses office to influence opinion
• 22nd Amendment – Two-term limit
• 25th Amendment – Succession and disability
• Executive Order – Presidential directive
• Executive Privilege – Confidential communications
• Pardon Power – Forgives federal crimes

• Youngstown Steel Case – Limited executive power
• US v. Nixon – Executive privilege not absolute
• INS v. Chadha – Legislative veto unconstitutional

• Bureaucracy – Agencies that implement laws
• Pendleton Act – Merit-based civil service
• Hatch Act – Limits political activity

• Bicameral – Two-house legislature
• Appropriations – Power of the purse
• Oversight – Review of executive agencies
• Impeachment – Removal process
• Filibuster – Senate debate delay
• Cloture – Ends filibuster

• Gerrymandering – Drawing districts for advantage
• Baker v. Carr – One person, one vote
• Shaw v. Reno – Limited racial gerrymandering

• Electoral College – Indirect presidential election
• Incumbent – Current office holder
• Split Ticket Voting – Voting for multiple parties
• Straight Ticket Voting – Voting one party
• Political Efficacy – Belief participation matters