AP Gov vocab v.17 Flashcards
Formal approval on presidential appointments
Advice and consent
Argued for a truly federal government, feared strong executive and Congress’ power to tax
Anti-federalist
Series of statements that defined the initial national government and redefined the former colonies as states
Articles of Confederation
Two house legislature
Bicameral
Includes many essential rights, most of which were violated under the oppressive British regime
Bill of Rights
Limiting powers each branch can use on the others
Checks and Balances
Empowers Congress to regulate commerce with other nations and among the several states
Commerce Clause
Official statement to summarize the colonists’ view that justified the break from Britain and proclaimed reasons for independence
Declaration of Independence
Each state would have same number of electors as representatives and people who vote for electors to choose the president
Electoral College
Elected representatives to make decisions and acts as trustees for the people who elect them. Elites, people with power and money, dominate
Elite Democracy
Power to tax, borrow money, raise an army, create a postal system, address piracy on the seas, and define the immigration and naturalization process and a few others
Enumerated Powers
Return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states they had fled
Extradition
Authors writing to assure citizens that they had created a federal system and that states had not lost their importance. Allay fears that the Constitution would subject people in the states to abuses by new government
Federalist Papers
Balance of power among a central/national authority/government and state/regional authority. Assures a limited government.
Federalism
Endorsed the Constitution
Federalist
Requires states to be open about their laws and encourages states to respect one another’s laws. States cannot favor their citizens over others
Full faith and credit clause
The matter of representation was referred to a committee made up of one delegate from each state at the convention.
Grand Committee
Created a two-house Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate
Great Compromise
From Congress, seats awarded based on population and those wanting equal representation
House of Representatives
Accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing
Impeachment
Influenced the creation of the Constitution, strong supporter of Constitution, wrote Federalist Papers, nickname is Father of the Constitution
James Madison
Courts can deem an act of legislature unconstitutional when deciding a case
Judicial Review
Makes certain all states must adhere to the Constitution
National supremacy/supremacy clause
Law of God and acknowledge through human sense and reason. People were born free and equal. Right to rebel when rulers did not respect consent of governed
Natural Law
Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers
Necessary and proper (elastic) clause
States would retain sovereignty, national legislature would have only limited and defined powers, no national courts
New Jersey Plan
Direct participation of many. People vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them
Participatory democracy
Non-governmental groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision making in interest groups
Pluralist democracy
When a president refuses to sign a bill at the end of a legislative session
Pocket Veto
The people as ultimate ruling authority
Popular Sovereignty
Constitution’s mission statement that starts with “We the people” and outlines the purpose of the new government including “establishing justice” and providing for the “common defense”
Preamble
A collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense
Representative republic
People elect representatives who are responsible to make and carry out laws
Republicanism
Not specifically listed and thus any powers not mentioned remain with the states
Reserved powers
Two senators from each state regardless of the state’s size
Senate
Defining the distinct responsibilities and limits of each branch to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful
Separation of Powers
Contract between a democratic government and people. If a government violated in the contract, people take power back
Social contract
Makes certain all states must adhere to the Constitution
Supremacy clause/National Su
Northern and southern delegates agreed to count only three of every five slaves to determine representation in the House
Three-fifths compromise
If a president vetos a bill, Congress, each house acting separately, can reverse the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house
two-thirds override
Law covered intelligence gathering and sharing by executive branch agencies, points of criminal procedure and border protection after 9/11 attacks
USA PATRIOT Act
presidential power to reject a bill
veto
Created a three-branch system of government by 15 resolves, becomes blueprint of the Constitution
Virginia Plan
Congress offers larger sums of money to states to take care of large purpose without any strings
Block grants
Federal government offers money as long as states follow federal guidelines
Categorical grants
The states created the national government and could judge whether federal authorities broke the compact (contract) by overstepping their limited authority
Compact Theory
Powers held by both state and federal
Concurrent Powers
Specific requirements attached to categorical grants
Conditions of aid/strings
Congress distributes federal tax revenues to states to take care of particular national concerns
Cooperative/fiscal federalism
Or revenue sharing
Expressed powers in the Constitution
Delegated powers
Devolving some responsibilities assumed by the federal government back to the states
Devolution
National government is supreme in its sphere and the states are equally supreme in their own sphere
Dual federalism
Expanded Congress’ reach of regulation in order tax
Federal income tax
Federal funds given to states to address basic needs but come in different forms with different requirements
Grants-in-aid
Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but deriving from the elastic clause
Implied powers
federal, state, local governments, and even private groups share federal money with interrelated goals
Marble cake federalism
Banking is part of the federal government’s business and appropriate under the necessary and proper clause
McCulloch v. Maryland
Transferring certain powers from the federal government back to the states
New Federalism
Gave states the right to declare null and void and federal law states thought violated the Constitution
Nullification
States have powers to create and enforce laws on health, safety, and morals
Police Powers
Protects rights of individual citizens and restricts states from discriminating against out of state citizens
Privileges and immunities clause
Doctrine asserting that Congress may regulate when a commodity requires national uniformity
Selective exclusiveness
Someone who believes the Constitutions should be interpreted literally
Strict constructionist
Specific requirements attached
Strings
Single governing authority in a central capital with uniform law throughout the land
Unitary government
A gun near school property does not have an impact on interstate commerce and is not covered by the commerce clause
United States v. Lopez
Controversy over federal tax on whiskey distillers that required military force to end. Questioned growing federal power
Whiskey Rebellion
Requires states to comply with a federal directive, sometimes with reward of funds and sometimes without
Mandates
Legislative branch, Congress, makes laws
Article I
Executive branch, President, enforce laws
Article II
Judicial branch, Supreme Court, interpret laws
Article III
States and their relationship with national government
Article IV
How to add amendments
Article V
Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Article VI
How to ratify the Constitution
Article VII
5 freedoms: Speech, Petition, Religion, Assembly, Press
1st
Right to bear arms
2nd
Against quartering troops
3rd
Against unlawful search and seizure
4th
Rights of accused: formal charges, against double Jeopardy and self-incrimination
5th
Right to speedy, fair trial and lawyer
6th
Right to civil suits (suing but not criminal)
7th
Against unreasonable bail or punishment
8th
Any other rights reserved to the people
9th
Powers reserved to the states
10th
States sued in own courts
11th
President and Vice President on separate ballots
12th
Abolished slavery
13th
Defines citizens, right to due process for all, equal protection for all
14th
No racial discrimination for voting
15th
Income tax allowed
16th
Direct vote of senators
17th
Alcohol prohibited
18th
Women can vote
19th
“Lame Duck Amendment” and changes date for presidential term
20th
Alcohol allowed
21st
President is limited to two terms
22nd
Citizens of Washington, D.C. can vote for President
23rd
No poll tax
24th
Presidential succession and disability
25th
18-year-olds may vote
26th
Congressional pay increase takes place in the next term
27th
Believe in following tradition and having reverence for authorities, less taxation and less government spending
Conservative
Government should take a laissez-faire (let it be) approach and an “invisible hand”- guided by the interaction of producers and consumers- would regulate over time
Free enterprise
Process of expanding and increasing world economy and political culture
Globalization
Comprehensive and mutually consistent set of ideas
Ideology
A belief in the fundamental worth and importance of the individual
Individualism
Being open to allowing government to flexibly expand beyond established constraints
Liberal
Oppose government intervention or regulation, conservation on economy and liberal on social issues
Libertarian
Variety of physical, social, and psychological changes that people go through as they age
Lifecycle effects
Government kept under control by law, checks and balances, and separation of powers,
Limited government
Middle of the spectrum, some conservative beliefs and some liberal beliefs
Moderate
Self-identifying with a party, acknowledging their membership or openly referring to themselves as members of their chosen party
Party Identification
The process by which one develops political beliefs
Political socialization
Generally attended a Protestant church and follow fundamental Christian ideas with a strict moral code
Populist
Criticize traditional political establishments that have too much power in government and business, wealthy should pay more taxes
Progressive
The principle of a government that establishes laws that apply equally to all members of society and prevents the rule and whims of leaders who see themselves as above the law
Rule of law
Importance
Saliency
Issues that are shared by people with a variety of ideologies
Valence issues
Issues that sharply divide the public
Wedge issues
Gauged by pollsters to determine president’s job performance
Approval rating
A shift of support to a candidate/position hold the lead in public opinion polls
Bandwagon effect
Conducted outside the polling place on Election Day to predict the outcome of the election by asking who they intend to support
Entrance polls
First type of poll used in an election to gather general information about people’s views and concerns before any candidates declare intentions to run
Benchmark polls
Conducted outside the polling place on Election Day to predict the outcome of the election by asking how the voters voted
Exit polls
Small groups of citizens (10-40) to hold conversations about issues or candidates
Focus group
Amount allowed for cases of miscalculation
Margin of error
Telephone poll with ulterior motive, offer positive on candidate and negative on opponent
Push polling
Computer randomly calls possible numbers in a given area until enough people respond to establish a representative sample
Random-digit dialing
Every member of the universe must have an equal chance of selection into the sample
Random sample
Group of people meant to represent the larger group in question a.k.a. universe
Representative sample
Measure results in two or more polls to determine difference between poll results
Sampling error
Making sure demographic groups are properly represented in a sample
Stratification/Weighting
Ask people the same or similar questions over time to track public opinion
Tracking polls
Group of people meant to represent the larger group in question
Universe
A list of potential policy ideas, bills, or plans to improve society
Agenda
Securities or government IOUS
Bonds
Interest rate at which the government loans actual dollars to commercial banks
Discount rate
Include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, block grants, financial aid, food stamps, money owed on bonds, and the government’s other contractual obligations
Entitlements
Called the “The Fed”, sets monetary policy by buying and selling securities or bonds, regulating money reserves required at commercial banks, and setting interest rates
Federal Reserve Board
Part of economic policy that is concerned with government spending and taxation
Fiscal Policy
Taxes citizens at the same rate
Flat tax
Rising prices and devaluation of the dollar
Inflation
Oversees the tax collection process
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Congress awards cash to individuals, groups, local, or state governments by paying those who are legally entitled to these funds
Mandatory Spending
Test to determine which citizens qualify for aid
Means test
Provides health insurance coverage for the poorest Americans
Medicaid
Helps ease the medical cost of seniors over the age of 65
Medicare
How the government manages the supply and demand of its currency and the value of the dollar
Monetary policy
Lifted trade barriers and removed import taxes between Canada, Mexico, and the USA
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Called “Obamacare”, an expansion of government regulation of health insurance and making services more affordable
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
One’s tax rate increases, or progresses, as one’s income increases
Progressive tax
How much cash commercial banks must keep in their vaults
Reserve requirement
Government insurance program that required the employed to pay a small contribution via a payroll tax into an insurance fund designed to assist the unemployed and to help financially strapped retirees. Everyone who pays collects retirement benefits
Social Security Act
Support for disadvantaged people to meet their basic needs
Social Welfare
Belief that the govt should leave as much of the money supply as possible with the people, letting the laws of the marketplace to govern the market aka laissez-faire
Supply-side economics
A nation that exports more than it imports has a favorable trade balance. One that imports more than it exports has a deficit. The balance between surplus and deficit measures economic success
Trade balance
Mail in ballot if voter can’t make it to the polls
Absentee ballot
Advocate for expanding suffrage to all white men by end property requirement to vote
Andrew Jackson
Makes elections fair by printing and distributing ballots at public expense, show all candidates’ names, be available at polling places, and be completed in private
Australian ballot
Addressed discrimination in voter registrations and outlawed poll taxes in elections
Civil Rights Act
Right to vote
Franchise/Suffrage
Difference in political views between men and women expressed when voting
Gender gap
Recognized a registering voter as it would have their grandfather to prevent blacks from voting while allowing white to vote
Grandfather clause
Required states to make voting electronic and accessible for the handicapped
Help America Vote Act
Organized groups that interact with the government to shape policy
Linkage institutions
Test given to attempt to deny suffrage to African Americans
Literacy test
Addressed national standards of voter, mail-in, and government agency-based registration to make it easier to vote and increase voter participation
National Voter Registration Act (motor-voter law)
Acknowledging their membership and self-identifying with a political party
Party identification
Sense that their vote does or doesn’t make a difference
Political efficacy
Allowed federal government to stop states’ attempts to diminish black suffrage
Preclearance
Voting based on anticipating the future
Prospective voting
Ballots set aside to make sure a voter voted in the correct polling places based on registration address
Provisional ballots
Voting in a way that benefits to voter
Rational-choice voting
Voting by looking back to consider candidates’ track records
Retrospective voting
Lack of concern for the election outcome
Voter apathy
Allows government to prepare for an election, verify voter qualifications
Voter registration
Number of voters who actually cast votes
Voter turnout
Everyone in the US over the age of 18, whether they can vote or not
Voting-age population
Groups that vote in noticeable patterns
Voting blocs
Citizens over the age of 18 and in most states, must be non-felons
Voting-eligible population
Outlawed literacy tests and states with low voter turnout were watched by the Justice Department
Voting Rights Act
Popular method of southern states to keep African Americans from voting by defining membership as white men’s clubs
White primary
Fee required to vote to attempt to deny suffrage to African Americans
Poll tax
Assembly of a party to talk address concerns of different factions and select candidates for office
Conventions
Elections that reveal sharp, lasting changes in loyalties to political parties
Critical elections
Anonymously place status updates, photos, videos, or links in target audience to manipulate emotions in order to sway votes
Dark ads
Complex network dedicated to furthering party goals and meet every 4 years at national conventions to sharpen policy and increase influence
Democratic National Committee/ Republican National Committee
Support aggressive efforts for minority rights, stronger protections for the environment, more government services to solve public problems
Democratic party
When the presidency is held by one party and one or both houses of Congress by the other party
Divided government
Parties that appear in times of economic distress and blame problems on real or imagined enemies
Economic protest parties
Contributions regulated by the Federal Election Commission with strict limits on donations where only individuals, PACs, and parties can donate
Hard money
Non-lawmaking committees that strategize how to win seats in Congress
Hill Committees
Have specific, comprehensive beliefs on social, economic, and/or political matters
Ideological Parties
Advertisements that highlight an issue of concern
Issue ads
