AP Gov Terms Flashcards
Want more government involvement in economic issues and less government involvement in social issues
Liberal
Want more government involvement in social issues and less government involvement in economic issues
Conservatives
Want less government involvement in both economic and social issues
Libertarian
Want more government involvement in both economic and social issues
Populist
Extreme liberals
Radicals
Extreme conservatives
Reationaries
A bill proposed by the people to be put on the ballot
Initiative
A bill proposed by the state’s legislature to be put on the ballot
Referendum
A government ruled by the people
Democracy
A government where the people vote directly on policies
Direct Democracy
A government where people vote for a representative to represent them
Representative Democracy
A government that requires the broad participation from the people
Participatory Democracy
A government where groups are responsible for policy making
Pluralist Democracy
A government where a select few have power, unlike the general population
Elite Democracy
The feeling that your vote doesn’t matter among corporations
Elitism-Voter Apathy
A colony type that has a bicameral government, one appointed by the king and one elected by the people
Royal Colony
A colony where a royal grant was granted and a unicameral colony was founded, nearly completely independant
Proprietary Colony
A colony that received a charter from the king and is most independent type of colony
Charter Colony
Health neglect
Statutory Neglect
An act that added tax to anything with sugar in it that previously wasn’t enforced
Sugar Act
An act that added a tax to all formal documents and die
Stamp Tax
An act that increased tax on tea
Tea Act
Four acts that were meant to be a punishment for the Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts(Coercive Acts)
A rebellion lead by David Shay alongside hundreds of farmers to shut down Boston court houses
Shay’s Rebellion
A colonial meeting with 12 of the 13 colonies to discuss their future under british rule
First Continental Congress
A colonial meeting meant to resolve issues with Britain but in the end, independence was declared
Second Continental Congress
A meeting meant to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead produced the Constitution
Constitutional Convention
A document of a nation’s basic laws, that establishes political structures, and assigns governmental powers
Constitution
A small group within a larger group that hold opposing view to the larger group
Faction
A plan for the legislative branch that would give more populous states more representation
Virginia Plan
A counter to the Virginia Plan that would give all states the same amount of representation, regardless of population
New Jersey Plan
A compromise between the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan, establishing two houses for the legislative branch
Connecticut Compromise(The Great Compromise)
A compromise to count 3 out of every 5 enslaved person for population and representation reason
Three-Fifths Compromise
A proposed structure of government that would establish the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Madison Model
A compromise that defined what could be taxed out of imports and exports, and what could be regulated by the federal government or state government
Compromise on Commerce
A compromise that established how the president would be elected and term limits and duration
Presidential Compromise
To enfore
Levy
Group of people who didn’t want a strong federal government or to ratify the Constitution, saying they would need a Bill of Rights to protect the public
Anti-Federalists(Democratic Republicans)
Group of people who wanted to ratify the Constitution, mostly wealthy members of society
Federalists
Papers written mostly by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to rally support for the Constitution
Federalist Papers
A Bill of Rights meant to provide British citizens with certain rights from the monarchy
English Bill of Rights
An exchange of some liberties for protection provided by the government
Social Contract
An event that ended in three dead colonists and that violated the Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights
Boston Massacre
A system of government where the power is shared between a federal governments and a state government
Federal System
A balance of state government and federal government, both ruling over the same people
Federalism
A system of government where a federal government holds all the power
Unitary
A system of government where the states hold all the power and the federal government is nearly powerless
Confederate
Powers given to the federal government by the Constitution
Enumerated Powers(Expressed Powers)
A clause in the Constitution that gives the federal government the flexibility to enforce the Constitution
Elastic Clause(Necessary and Proper Clause)
Powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution but are assumed to be a part of it
Inherited Powers
Powers shared by both the State government and Federal government
Concurrent Powers
A clause in the constitution that allows the federal government to regulate trade with foreign entities, interstate trade, and with Native Americans
Commerce Clause
The federal and state governments work separately, having clearly defined, separate powers as stated in the Constitution
Dual Federalism
When the state and federal governments have to work together
Cooperative Federalism
Money from the federal government that is given to a state to be spent of a specific project
Grant-In-Aid
Money given to a state’s government by the federal government for specific purposes
Categorical Grants
Money given to a state’s government by the federal government for broad purposes and it is up to the state to decide how to use it
Block Grants
When the federal government gives income from taxes to state governments
Revenue Sharing
A plan proposed by President Nixon that returns some powers the federal government has to the states
New Federalism
Laws enacted by the federal government that states must follow, often at their own expense
Federal Mandate
The returning of powers the federal government holds to the states
Devolution
Powers given to state governments that aren’t prohibited from they or aren’t already given to the federal government
Reserved Powers
Power given to the states to regulate behaviors within their boundaries in order to protect people’s safety, health, and morals
Police Power
Powers that are denied from the federal government or state governments
Prohibited Powers
Agreements between states that require approval from Congress
Interstate Compacts
Grants given to state governments from the federal government whose amounts are based on variables in a state and a formula
Formula Grant
Grants that states have to apply for
Program Grants
Term for government spending and revenue
Fiscal
A structure of government where one layer of the government gives revenue from taxes to another layer
Fiscal Government
A competition that appears when two states are competing in the same field
Competitive Federalism
A state must recognize another state’s legal documents
Full Faith and Credit
Laws apply to both residents and visitors of a state, requiring both to follow it
Extradition
If someone breaks the law, they must be returned to the state if the state asks while simultaneously being protected the same as a state’s residents
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Limitations on the government to protect someone’s rights
Civil Liberties
An addition to the Constitution that was meant to protect civil liberties
Bill of Rights
Guarantees that civil liberties are protected
Civil Rights
Freedoms that allow you to do anything unless it infringes another’s rights
Rights
False or malicious written statements that damage one’s reputation
Libel
False or malicious spoken statements that damage one’s reputation
Slander
Laws that allow journalists to protect their sources
Shield Laws
Censorship of media prior to something happening if there is clear and present danger
Prior Restraint
A topic or other such things that could be seen as bad depending on one’s judgment
Obscenity
Free speech that is done through actions or other non-verbal means
Symbolic Speech
A doctrine that implements the Bill of Rights in the states
Incorporation Theory
A clause that states no government can establish a leading religion
Establishment Clause
A clause that states the government prohibited the people from practicing a religion of their choice
Free Exercise Clause
A three point test that tests whether a government action is legal under the establishment clause
Lemon Test
A type of speech that promotes something for economic reasons
Commercial Speech
A tests that says speech can be limited if it can cause dangerous conditions
Clear and Present Danger Test
A rule that states speech can be restricted in it can lead to something “evil”
Bad Tendency Rule
A tests that states that speech can be limited if it means to lead to lawless action
Imminent Lawless Action Test
Wrongful harm to someone’s good reputation
Defamation of Character
A rule that states if evidence is illegally obtained, it can’t be used in a court of law
Exclusionary Rule
A piece of legislation that punishes a person(s) without a court
Bill of Attainder
A court order that orders someone who is insurected in front of the court
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A rule that states that if found innocent of a crime, one can’t be tried for the same crime again
Double Jeopardy
A jury meant to determine whether there is enough evidence for a trial
Grand Jury
A formal charge from a grand jury that official charges someone with an offense
Indictment
Money that is paid to be released between court proceedings that says that you will appear at court hearings
Bail
The decision not to grant someone bail as they are seen as a either a flight risk or are deemed to dangerous
Preventive Detention
Saying something that you know to be false or with reckless regard if it is true or not
Actual Malice
Someone known to the public due to their position
Public Figure
An order that can be issued by a judge to restrict publication of news of a trial if they feel it would infringe on the defendant’s right to a fair trial
Gag Order
A law that can punish someone for an action that was done prior to the law’s enactment
Ex Post Facto Law
A branch of government with two houses
Bicameralism
The process of dividing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states
Apportion
A tactic that a state’s legislatures does to one group an advantage over another
Gerrymandering
The most powerful member of the House of Representatives that maintains orders in the House
Speaker of the House
Someone if government that is unlikely to be replaced from office once they are instated
Incumbent
Powers given to the federal government due to previously stated powers
Implied Powers
Powers of the legislative branch that aren’t directly connected to policy making
Non-Legislative Powers
A process to formally charge someone in the government with an offense
Impeachment
Those who representative are elected to represent
Constituents
The position if the Senate that is held by the Vice President of the U.S. and onl votes to break ties
President of the Senate
A mostly symbolic position in the Senate that is meant to stand in for the President of the Senate if they aren’t present
President Pro Tempore
Members of the House that coordinate the business of the floor
Floor Leaders
Members of the House that coordinate between their party and leadership, helping the majority/minority leaders
Whips
A permanent committee
Standing Committee
A temporary committee
Select Committee
A committee that is a part of a standing committee
Subcommittee
A committee with members from both legislative houses
Joint Committee
A position in a committee that decided what the committee will focus on and is usually given based on seniority
Committee Chairman
A joint committee that is made to agree on the language for a bill that was passed in both houses
Conference Committee
The power to deny signing a bill the president holds
Veto
A veto that occurs if the president doesn’t sign a bill in 10 days and Congress doesn’t meet during that time perid
Pocket Veto
Two members of Congress giving supporting each other’s bill
Logrolling
A method to bypass usual allocation process in discretionary bills that directly fund a specific recipient
Earmark
Someone who was elected to vote along their own conscience for the good of the general public
Trustee
Someone who was elected to vote to represent their constituents
Instructed Delegate
Work congress members do on behalf of their constituents
Casework
When Congress checks whether their legislation is being properly enforced
Oversight
Someone who investigates public figures and agencies due to complaints made by private indivisuals
Ombudsperson
The power of the media to focus the public’s attention on specific things
Agenda Setting
A committee that sets the rule for debate for specific bills
Rules Committee
A tactic that abuses the no limit of debate time in the Senate to delay a vote for a bill
Filibuster
A vote that requires 3/5 in agreement to end a filibuster
Cloture
A method of ending a filibuster about a budget bill
Reconciliation
Being able to send mail without paying
Franking
Redistributing the seats in the House of Representative after a cencus
Reappointment
Redrawing the district lines
Redistricting
A question of whether something could possibly be reviewed in court
Justiciable Question
A method of gerrymandering where members of a political party of condensed into as few districts as possible
Packing
A method of gerrymandering that spreads out a political party among districts so they have a majority in as few as possible
Cracking
A petition that can be done to bring a bill to the floor by force, requiring 218 votes
Discharge Petition
A budget the president submits to Congress
Executive Budget
The time period from October 1st to September 30th that the government bases for financial reasons
Fiscal Year
A process of which government bodies and agencies submit requests for funding for the next fiscal year to the Office of Management and Budget
Spring Review
A process of which the Office of Management and Budget reviews what was submitted during the Spring Review, makes changes to a proposed budget, and submits the recommendations to the president
Fall Review
The formal amount of money that is granted to a government agency for a fiscal year
Authorization
The actual amount of money that a government agency is given for a fiscal year
Appropriation
A resolution passed by Congress in May that sets revenue and spending goals for the fiscal year
First Budget Resolution
A resolution passed by Congress that limits the amount of taxes and spending allowed for the nest fiscal year
Second Budget Resolution
A temporary resolution passed by Congress if they haven’t agreed on a resolution by the start of the fiscal year
Continuing Resolution
When a party gains more seats or power due to one of their member’s support
Coattails
An election that is meant to narrow down a party’s candidate
Primary
Someone who is elected to vote with the party’s interests
Partisan
A method an independent donor can donate money to a campaign, with a limit of $5,000
PAC(Political Action Committee)
A method an independant donor can donate money without a limit
Super PAC
An organization that primarily helps republicans get elected
RNC(Republican National Committee)
An organization that primarily helps Democrats get elected
DNC(Democratic National Committee)
Money given to a political party in a way it avoids regulations
Soft Money
A primary where voters vote for a candidate directly
Direct Primary
A primary where a party’s delegates decide a party’s cadidate
Indirect Primary
A primary where registered voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of party affiliations
Open Primary
A primary where registered voters can only vote for a candidate from the same political party as themselves
Closed Primary
Campaigns held in a specific area that are meant to narrow down candidates
Local Campaigns
A meeting or party members and supports to narrow down candidates or promote a policy
Caucus
A campaign done by the president running for reelection
Presidential Campaign
A Tuesday when many primaries and caucuses are held
Super Tuesday
A convention meant to unite a political party and where a Vice president is announced
National Convention
People who cast the final votes to represent their state’s popular
Electors
Election where someone is put into office
General Election
Electors who don’t vote along with the popular vote
Faithless Electors
An alternative to the electoral college where electoral votes are given based on the district’s popular votes and the state’s senate votes are given on the state’s popular vote
District Plan
An alternative to the electoral college where the election is based on the popular vote
District Popular Election
An alternative plan to the electoral college where the winner of the popular vote gain an addition 120 points
National Bonus Plan
An alternative to the electoral college where a state’s electoral votes are distributed based on the percentages of the state’s popular vote
Proportional Plan
A message from the President to Congress about the state of the country
State of the Union Address
A method to prevent one group from controlling the majority of a market
Trust Busting
Programs passed by FDN to help the country during the Great Depression
New Deal
Power of the president to execute laws, appoint positions in office, file executive orders, and remove people they appoint
Chief Executive
The power that allows the president to represent the country when interacting with foreign nations
Chief of State
The power that allows the president to use wartime powers and command troops
Commander in Chief
The power that makes the president the head of their political party and allows them to give government positions to their supporters
Chief of Party
After an election, giving government powers to your supporters
Patronage
The power of the president to veto bills, call sessions of Congress, and propose legislation
Chief Legislature
A power to veto specific lines of a proposed bill
Line-Item Veto
The power of the president to sign treaties, make executive agreements, and to recognize a new country
Chief Diplomat
An agreement between nations that the president makes without involving Congress
Executive Agreement
To dismiss federal offences and wipe the slate clean
Pardon
To delay a sentencing
Reprieve
To reduce a sentencing
Commutation
To pardon a group of people
Amnestry
A role in charge of federal agencies and responsible for implementing nation policies
Chief Administrator
A law that is similar to other laws in place
Common Law
A “structure” set by previous court cases
Precedent
The decision of a court to stick with a previous courts decision of a case
Stare Decisis
Laws in place
Statutes
Courts that were meant to take the cases the Supreme Court didn’t have time for
Lower Courts
When a president appoints Justices to push forward their own policies
Packing the Court
When the court has the right to hear a case first
Original Jurisdiction
When courts have the right to hear the same case
Concurrent Jurisdiction
When a court has the right to be the only one that hears a case
Exclusive Jurisdiction
When the Supreme Court asks a lower court to send a record for a case
Writ of Certiorari
When the plaintiff can make the defendant pay for fees if the statue allows it
Fee Shifting
Proof of wrong doing that must be shown to bring someone to court
Standing
A person representing a group in a court case
Class Action
A written summary of each sides case in court
Briefs
Someone who is not involved in a case that volunteers to assist a court’s decision
Amicus Curiae
When a Supreme Court Justice agrees with a decision but not for the same reason as the others
Concurring Opinion
When a Supreme Court Justice disagrees with a decision
Dissenting Opinion
A court decision that is meant to fix a social issue
Remedy
Supreme Court decions have to be enforced by the state and federal government
Enforcement
A president’s ability to shape the national agenda using their platform
Bully Pulpit
Justiciable
One Person, One Vote Doctrine
