ap gov vocab

⚖ Government Structures & Concepts

Republicanism – electing representatives to govern

Pluralist Democracy – power is spread among groups

Elite Democracy – a small group makes most decisions

Participatory Democracy – broad, direct citizen participation

Concurrent Powers – shared powers between federal and state

Fiscal Federalism – using money to influence states

Categorical Grants – money with strict rules

Block Grants – money with flexibility

Mandates (Unfunded/Funded) – federal orders with or without money

Devolution – shifting power back to states

🏛 Congress & Legislation

Bicameral – two chambers: House and Senate

Logrolling – exchanging votes for favors

Pork Barrel – spending on local projects for votes

Filibuster – Senate stalling tactic

Cloture – vote to end filibuster

Discharge Petition – forces bill out of committee

Unanimous Consent – Senate agreement to speed things up

Rules Committee – sets House debate procedures

Committee of the Whole – speeds up House debate

Trustee Model – vote based on judgment

Delegate Model – vote based on constituents

Politico Model – mix of both models

🏛 Executive Branch & Bureaucracy

Executive Agreement – international deal without Senate approval

Bully Pulpit – president’s use of media to influence

Iron Triangle – Congress, interest groups, bureaucracy alliance

Issue Network – broader web of policy influencers

Bureaucratic Discretion – ability to interpret and carry out laws

Rule-making Authority – bureaucracy creates regulations

Civil Service – merit-based government jobs

Merit System – hiring based on ability

📜 Civil Rights & Liberties Terms (no cases)

Selective Incorporation – applying Bill of Rights to states

Procedural Due Process – fair methods

Substantive Due Process – fair laws

📊 Political Beliefs & Behavior

Political Socialization – how beliefs are formed

Political Efficacy – belief that you can influence politics

Liberal Ideology – favors more government programs

Conservative Ideology – favors less regulation and taxes

Libertarian Ideology – limited gov in both economy and social issues

Keynesian Economics – gov spending to boost demand

Supply-Side Economics – tax cuts to boost supply

Monetary Policy – Fed controls money supply

Fiscal Policy – Congress controls taxing/spending

🗳 Political Participation

Rational Choice Voting – vote based on self-interest

Retrospective Voting – vote based on past performance

Prospective Voting – vote based on future promises

Party-line Voting – vote with your party

Realignment – major shift in party loyalty

Dealignment – decline in party attachment

Candidate-Centered Campaigns – focus on personality, not party

PACs – organizations that donate money to candidates

Super PACs – unlimited fundraising, no direct coordination

Dark Money – undisclosed political spending

Free Rider Problem – people benefit without contributing

Grassroots Mobilization – bottom-up political pressure

Horse-Race Journalism – focus on who’s winning, not policies