AP Gov Key Terms

Question 1

10th amendment

Answer 1

Powers not granted to the Federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or the people

Question 2

cooperative federalism

Answer 2

Situations in which the national and state governments work together to complete projects.

Question 3

fiscal federalism

Answer 3

Financial transfers between Federal and State or local governments to pursue policy (i.e. federal money to build highways or strengthen local law enforcement)

Question 4

categorial grant

Answer 4

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose

Question 5

block grant

Answer 5

Funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose. Because block grants shift resources from the federal government to the states, they contribute to the growing number of state and local government employees.

Question 6

devolution

Answer 6

A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal government to state and local governments.

Question 7

political efficacy

Answer 7

The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference

Question 8

plurality election

Answer 8

The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes than anyone else, but less than half the total

Question 9

single-member district

Answer 9

An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office. This type of electoral system typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties.

Question 10

party era

Answer 10

A historical period dominated by one political party

Question 11

critical election

Answer 11

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty

Question 12

party realignment

Answer 12

The majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era.

Question 13

divided government

Answer 13

A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress. The pattern of divided government has dominated U.S. politics since the early 1970s.

Question 14

free riders

Answer 14

People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions. Labor unions and public interest groups often have a free-rider problem because people can benefit from the group’s activities without joining.

Question 15

power elite theory

Answer 15

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, power and corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

Question 16

pluralist theory

Answer 16

The theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

Question 17

hyperpluralist theory

Answer 17

The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups.

Question 18

linkage institutions & 3 main linkage institutions

Answer 18

Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions.

Question 19

horse-race journalism

Answer 19

The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.

Question 20

congressional redistricting

Answer 20

The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives

Question 21

gerrymandering

Answer 21

The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts to ensure the maximum number of seats for its candidates.

Question 22

franking privilege

Answer 22

The right of members of Congress to mail newsletters to their constituents at the government’s expense.

Question 23

standing committees

Answer 23

Permanent subject-matter congressional committees that handle legislation and oversee the bureaucracy

Question 24

conference committees

Answer 24

Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

Question 25

house rules committees

Answer 25

The House Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate. It gives each bill a rule that places the bill on the legislative calendar, limits time for debate, and determines the type of amendments that will be allowed.

Question 26

house ways and means committee

Answer 26

House committee that handles tax bills.

Question 27

seniority

Answer 27

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving committee chairs to members of the committee with the longest records of continuous service.

Question 28

cloture

Answer 28

A Senate motion to end a filibuster. Cloture requires a three-fifths vote.

Question 29

logrolling

Answer 29

Tactic of mutual aid and vote trading among legislatures.

Question 30

oversight

Answer 30

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office.

Question 31

delegate role of representation

Answer 31

When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

Question 32

closed primary

Answer 32

A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket.

Question 33

frontloading

Answer 33

The recent pattern of the states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence. Three-fourths of the presidential primaries are now held between February and mid-March.

Question 34

soft money

Answer 34

Contributions to political parties for party-building activities not given directly to the candidate to circumvent legal limits on hard money.

Question 35

527 group

Answer 35

A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process; 527 groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party.

Question 36

line-item veto

Answer 36

The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills. The Supreme Court struck down the line-item veto as an unconstitutional expansion of the president’s veto power.

Question 37

executive agreement

Answer 37

A pact between the president and a head of a foreign state. Executive agreements do not have to be approved by the Senate. However, unlike treaties, executive agreements are not part of U.S. law and are not binding on future presidents.

Question 38

executive privilege

Answer 38

The president’s power to refuse to disclose confidential information. In U.S. v Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court ruled that there is no constitutional guarantee of unqualified executive privilege.

Question 39

lame-duck period

Answer 39

The period of time in which the president’s term is about to come to an end. Presidents typically have less influence during a lame-duck period.

Question 40

iron triangle

Answer 40

An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member of the iron triangle provides key services, information, or policy for the others.

Question 41

issue network

Answer 41

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue.

Question 42

senatorial courtesy

Answer 42

An unwritten tradition whereby the Senate will not confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president’s own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

Question 43

writ of certiorari

Answer 43

An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review.

Question 44

rule of four

Answer 44

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to do so.

Question 45

solicitor general

Answer 45

The solicitor general is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the United States government to the Supreme Court.

Question 46

amicus curiae brief

Answer 46

A friend of the court brief filed by an interest group or interested party to influence a Supreme Court decision.

Question 47

judicial restraint

Answer 47

Philosophy that the Supreme Court should use precedent and the Farmers’ original intent to decide cases.

Question 48

judicial activism

Answer 48

Philosophy that the Supreme Court must correct injustices when other branches of government or the states refuse to do so.

Question 49

monetary policy

Answer 49

Monetary policy involves regulating the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates. Monetary policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.

Question 50

fiscal policy

Answer 50

Raising and lowering taxes and government spending programs. Fiscal policy is controlled by the executive and legislative bodies.

Question 51

entitlement program

Answer 51

A government-sponsored program that provides mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements. Social Security and Medicare are the government’s largest entitlement programs.

Question 52

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Answer 52

The OMB is responsible for preparing the budget that the president submits to Congress.

Question 53

civil liberties

Answer 53

Legal and constitutional rights that protect individuals from arbitrary acts of government. Civil liberties include freedom of speech and guarantees of a fair trial.

Question 54

civil rights

Answer 54

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals. Civil rights include laws prohibiting racial and gender discrimination.

Question 55

selective incorporation

Answer 55

The case-by-case process by which liberties listed in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Question 56

establishment clause

Answer 56

A provision of the First Amendment that prohibits Congress form establishing an official government-sponsored religion.

Question 57

writ of habeas corpus

Answer 57

A court order directing that a prisoner be brought before a court and that the court officers show cause why the prisoner should not be released.

Question 58

bill of attainder

Answer 58

A legislative act that provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial

Question 59

ex post facto law

Answer 59

A law applied to an act committed before the law was enacted.

Question 60

exclusionary rule

Answer 60

Supreme Court guideline that prohibits evidence obtained by illegal searches or seizures from being admitted in court.

Question 61

strict scrutiny

Answer 61

Supreme Court rule that classification by race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a “compelling public interest.”