AP Government Review Packet Flashcards
A system in which citizens meet and vote directly on government decisions.
direct democracy
A system in which citizens choose officials who make
decisions on government policy
representative democracy (republic)
Political theory that people enter into this with the government and can revoke this if they feel the government has compromised their rights.
social contract
Principle that there are no supreme rulers, all
rulers depend on the approval of the people, when governments fail to
protect rights the people have the right to change the government.
consent of the governed
principle that all people are born with certain rights: life,
liberty, and property
natural rights
Thomas Jefferson’s document built on principles
of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” consent of the governed, and social
contract theory. It also justified American revolution against England.
Declaration of Independence
Belief in doing what’s best for the nation overall.
common good
Belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people.
popular sovereignty
Belief that government is run based on the will of the majority.
majority rule
First constitution establishing a weak central government. Congress did not have the power to tax or regulate interstate trade. Each state had one vote and a two-thirds majority was needed to pass laws. No chief executive to enforce laws.
Articles of Confederation
Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts 1786-‐1787 protesting
mortgage foreclosures and terrible economy. Rebellion represented how weak the central government was, and terrified many Americans.
Shays’s Rebellion
The current central document for the United States, establishes a strong federal government. Congress now has the power to tax directly and regulate interstate trade, and a bicameral legislature distributes votes more proportionally among the states (Article I). Establishes a chief executive (President) to enforce federal law (Article II). The Supreme Court is established to interpret the Constitution (Article III).
U.S. Constitution
Supported the Constitution because it gave
power to a strong central government.
Federalists
Opposed the Constitution because they thought the national government would become tyrannical and take power away from the states.
Anti-Federalists
Articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison arguing for the Constitution.
Federalist Papers
Written by Madison, discusses importance of factions, factions are inevitable, but factions are best handled by a large
republic.
Federalist #10
Written by Madison, discusses importance of
checks and balances and the separation of powers in the constitution
Federalist #51
The system in which each branch of government is independent from the others.
separation of powers
The system in which all three branches can keep each other from becoming too powerful.
checks and balances
Separation between powers of the federal, state, and local
governments.
federalism
System of government in which the central government is very
weak, and most of the true power lies in individual states.
confederacy
System of government in which the central government is
extremely powerful, and individual states have few powers.
unitary system
Belief that the state and national governments are supreme within their own sphere of influence.
dual federalism (“layer cake” federalism)
Belief that the optimal system is sharing powers
between state and federal governments.
cooperative federalism (“marble cake” federalism)
Government’s patterns of spending, taxing, and providing
grants to influence state and local governments.
fiscal federalism
Money given from the federal government to the states.
grants-in-aid
Federal money for a specific purpose (building an
airport).
categorical grant
Broad grants from the federal government that give
local/state governments a lot of freedom to spend money as they please without many strings attached.
broad grant
Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue
with the states
revenue sharing
Terms set by the federal government that states must meet
if they accept federal grants.
mandates
Process of returning power to the states, this began during New
Federalism under presidents Nixon, Reagan, and Bush.
devolution
Powers listed (enumerated) in the constitution for the Federal government: go to war, raise an army, regulate interstate
and foreign commerce, establish post offices.
express powers
Based on necessary and proper clause (elastic
clause) – gives congress flexibility to make laws necessary and proper
for carrying out express powers, upheld in McCulloch v. Maryland.
implied powers
Powers dealing with foreign policy not in
constitution, but given to federal government.
inherent powers
Powers explicitly forbidden for the government: suspending writ of habeas corpus, passing bills of attainder and ex post facto laws.
denied powers
Powers shared by the Federal and State governments (power to tax
and spend, establish courts, make laws).
concurrent powers
Any power not denied nor given to
federal government is reserved for state governments.
reserved powers
Constitutional clause stating federal law is superior to state law. Affirmed in McCulloch v. Maryland.
Supremacy Clause
Constitutional clause that gives Federal Government authority to regulate
all of interstate commerce.
Interstate Commerce Clause
Constitutional clause that orders the president to enforce ALL laws passed by congress
Take Care Clause
Constitutional clause forcing states to honor laws and court rulings of other states.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Constitutional clause requiring states to extend same privileges and
immunities to all citizens (even of other states).
Privileges and Immunities Clause
First 10 amendments to the Constitution that guarantees
individual and states’ rights. This was a concession the Federalists made to the Anti-‐Federalists to ensure constitution would be ratified.
The Bill of Rights
Freedom of speech, assembly, petition, religion, press.
First Amendment
Right to bear arms.
Second Amendment
No unreasonable searches and seizures.
Fourth Amendment
Right to a trial, no double jeopardy, individuals are not required to testify against themselves, and restricts eminent domain.
Fifth Amendment
Right to a speedy, public, impartial trial with a lawyer.
Sixth Amendment
No excessive bails or fines, no cruel or unusual punishments.
Eighth Amendment
Powers not given to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states.
Tenth Amendment
Either 2/3 of Congress propose amendment and 3/4 of states ratify it, or conventions called by 2/3 of states propose amendment and 3/4 of states ratify it.
amendment processes
Manner in which people develop their political views
(family, friends, media, current government, education)
political socialization
Someone who believes that large federal government involvement needed to provide for the people (welfare, new deal, great society)
liberal
Someone who believes in an extremely powerful state to protect people.
socialist
Someone who believes that limited government is necessary to grow strong economy, very pro-business anti-regulation.
conservative
Someone who believes in very small government and extreme focus on
individual and business rights, no regulation of industry.
libertarian
Characteristics of population on income, education, race,
gender.
demographics
Every 10 years a count of the total population, different ethnic
groups, religions, and how people vote.
U.S. Census
Process in which after every census the congressional districts are redrawn based on population.
redistricting
Process in which state legislatures reapportion (resize) state congressional districts after every census.
reapportionment
The practice of redistricting in order to benefit a specific party
by drawing districts based on the demo of their residents.
gerrymandering
Patterns in voting; people vote because of the party of the candidate, on basis of candidate, and on basis of issues.
voting behavior
Voters who agree with a political party’s stance on issues tend to align with that party as well.
party identification
Belief that you can participate in politics, or that government
will respond (my vote counts).
political efficacy
The belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political
affairs, particularly voting.
civic duty
Held every four years in which president is elected.
general election
A political party’s elections to determine nominee for
general election. Distinction between open (people from either party can vote) and closed (people can only vote if they are a registered member of that party).
primary election
Candidate nomination process in which party members meet to
discuss and decide on candidate.
caucus
People vote on whether or not to accept a law passed by state
legislature, or a proposed amendment to the state constitution.
referendum
People vote on laws and constitutional amendments within state
(direct democracy).
initiative
Voters remove elected officials.
recall
Congressional elections use this system in which the winner of a
plurality wins.
Winner-take-all system
Represent specific ideological positions, sometimes can serve as
“spoilers” but rarely make much of an impact.
third parties
When one party controls the White House and another controls Congress.
divided government
Major change in the core members/beliefs of a political party.
realignment
When people abandon parties and become independents.
dealignment
Party members that promote certain policies, candidates and ideologies.
party activists
The system in which U.S. citizens vote for the President indirectly, by picking electors that then vote directly.
electoral college
Eliminated the discrimination in voting rights based on race.
15th Amendment
Direct election of senators.
17th Amendment
Eliminated the discrimination rights based on sex.
19th Amendment
Allowed DC residents to vote.
23rd Amendment
Eliminated the poll tax.
24th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
26th Amendment
A collection of common people who share a common interest or attitude, and seek to influence government. These groups use fundraising and lobbying to influence the political process.
interest group
The financial branch of interest groups.
political action committees (PACs)
Close relationship between interest groups, congress, and government agencies.
iron triangle
The phenomenon of government officials retiring and moving on to work as lobbyists for interest groups.
revolving door
Activities aimed at influencing public officials and trying to promote or defeat certain legislation. Often comes in the form of supplying data to government officials to convince them to vote a certain way.
lobbying
Referred to as the “4th estate” of the government.
the media
The tendency of the media to spin the news towards a certain political ideology to earn more money.
media bias
The tendency of the media to focus almost exclusively on the winning candidate in an election.
horserace journalism
Passed in 1972, set limits on individual contributions to candidates, among other things.
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)
Passed in 2002 as an amendment to FECA, limited the amount of soft money donated to political parties. Does not limit spending on issue advocacy.
McCain-Feingold Act
Tax-exempt organization created to influence nomination/election of a candidate.
527 Group
The system in which politicians “trade” votes for their respective bills.
logrolling
Adding extra, unrelated programs to bills that will benefit a politician’s constituents.
pork barrel legislation
A House committee that determines whether bills have close rule (no amendments + time limits) or open rule. No equivalent in the Senate.
Rules Committee
The ability of a minority party in the Senate to kill a bill through unlimited debate.
filibuster
A 3/5 majority vote to end a filibuster.
cloture
Irrelevant amendments to bills added in the Senate.
rider
Permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight
responsibilities. The members become experts.
standing committee
Formed to tackle specific tasks within standing committee.
subcomittee
Temporary groups with limited purposes.
special committee
Includes members from both houses to perform housekeeping tasks of studies.
joint committee
Special type of joint committee that reconciles Senate and House versions of a bill.
conference committee
Executive office that writes the budget for congressional approval.
Office of Management and Budget
Help advise the President on economic issues.
council of economic advisers
Orders written by president or agency that have the weight of law.
executive order
Right of president to keep certain documents
private if pertaining to national security.
executive privilege
The right of the president to set out legislation he wants passed. Also called the “bully pulpit”.
agenda setting
Ability to refuse to spend money appropriated by Congress, now unconstitutional.
impoundment
Politically-neutral administrative system that divides works into specific departments carried out by non-elected officials.
bureaucracy
Bureaucratic power to choose course of action and make policies not explicitly spelled out by laws.
discretionary authority
Government offices to which people are appointed by basis of merit.
competitive civil service
Preceding system when bureaucrats where appointed by the President in return for political favors. Now replaced with competitive civil service.
spoils system
Complex rules and procedures in the bureaucracy to keep it running well.
red tape
Coalitions of interest groups, members of Congress, and bureaucrats form a close working relationship. More complicated than an iron triangle.
alliance network
Removing government restrictions and regulations.
deregulation
Headed up by secretaries, secretaries are appointed by president, confirmed by senate. Each has its own budget.
cabinet departments
Perform services on behalf of government. These are established by Congress outside of the Executive Branch.
independent executive agencies
Regulate economic activities, operate independently. Once
appointed, leaders cannot be removed without cause. Leaders
serve fixed terms.
independent regulatory commissions
Businesses established by government that serve a public need and are intended to be profitable.
government corporations
Type of law dealing with crimes and their punishments.
criminal law
Type of law dealing with the rights and relationships of citizens.
civil law
The rule of precedent, whereby a law contained in a judicial decision is viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is raised.
stare decisis
The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the constitution.
strict-constructionist approach
Principle that courts will not overturn previous decisions.
judicial restraint
The view that judges should discern the general principles underlying the constitution, and apply them to modern circumstances. These justices typically try to overturn precedent.
activist approach
The lowest federal courts, where federal trials usually go first.
district courts
Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts, no juries, decisions made by panels of appointed judges. To get here someone must claim that their constitutional rights have been violated.
court of appeals
Hears appeals of appeal court rulings (somebody appeals the decision of the circuit court). 4 of 9 justices must agree to hear case (writ of certiorari). Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases between states or with foreign ambassadors.
Supreme Court
Applying for a writ of certiorari free of charge.
in forma pauperis
A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated.
class-action suit
A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it.
brief
Brief submitted by a third party “friend of the court” (typically an interest group).
amicus curiae brief
A signed opinion by the majority that decided the ruling in a case.
opinion of the court
A signed opinion that agrees with majority for other reasons.
concurring opinion
A signed opinion from the justices on the losing side.
dissenting opinion
Freedoms protected against government restraint, secured by 1st , 14th , and 15th amendments.
civil liberties
Denies government the right to deny people of life, liberty,
or property without trial.
due process clause
The process by which individual liberties originally only applied to the federal government are applied to the states (through the due process clause of the 14th amendment).
selective incorporation
Right of people to speak, punish, assemble, and
petition.
freedom of expression
Libel, obscenity, fighting words, and commercial speech.
non-protected speech
Evidence that is obtained through illegal means cannot be used. This means that police can only conduct searches if they have search warrants and there is probable cause.
exclusionary rule
When the government spends more money than it makes.
deficit
Sum of all the deficits.
debt
Most highly valued alternative given up or forgone when a choice is made.
opportunity cost
Amount of product producers are willing to sell.
supply
Various amounts of a product or service customers are willing and able to buy at a certain price.
demand
Actions the Federal Reserve takes to control the economy by promoting growth and contractions and to control the money supply.
monetary policy
When there is too much currency in circulation, causing the value of money to fall.
inflation
The amount of money banks are required to keep in reserve. Raised to slow growth and lowered to increase growth.
reserve requirement
Interest rate charged on banks when they borrow money. Raised to slow growth and lowered to increase growth.
discount rate
When an investor loans money to the government for a certain amount of time at a certain interest rate.
government bond
What the President and Congress do to control the economy via taxing and spending.
fiscal policy
The President’s formal estimate of how much every government agency and program will cost.
budget
A tax system that forces people with higher incomes to pay a larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.
progressive taxation
A tax system that charges a flat payment of taxes from people of all different income levels.
flat taxation
A tax system in which people with lower incomes pay a
higher fraction of their incomes than do people with higher incomes.
regressive taxation
Income government gets from people. Raised to slow economic growth, cut to increase it.
taxes
Money spent by government on goods and services. Decreased to slow economic growth, increased to increase it.
spending
The manner in which government regulates the economy to
provide for the greater good. More slows economic growth, less increases it.
regulatory policy
Belief that government must manage the economy by spending more money during recessions and cutting spending when there is inflation.
Keynesianism
The belief that inflation occurs when government prints too much money, and that government should leave the economy to the free market.
monetarism
The belief that total government control over the economy such as wage and price controls or direction of investment can improve the economy.
planning
Belief that lower taxes and fewer regulations stimulate economic growth.
supply-side economics
Economic policy that combines monetarism, supply-side economics, and lower spending (except on the military) to stimulate the economy.
Reaganomics
Universal welfare programs in which everyone pays and everyone benefits.
majoritarian politics
Means tested programs in which everyone pays yet only a few benefit.
client politics
Policies that provide poor people with education and job training to lift them out of poverty.
service strategy
Policies that give poor people money to lift them out of poverty.
income strategy
Provision of 1975 law that entitles working families with children to receive money from government if their income is below a certain level.
Earned Income Tax Credit
During this period most of the welfare in the nation came from the state governments, federal government didn’t play any role in it. States passed laws dealing with social problems (child labor, public schools, unemployment benefits, mandated pensions).
State Sponsored Era (1789-1932)
During this period the federal government took more responsibility for the poor. This began because of the crisis following the Great Depression. FDR in the New Deal established Social Security. LBJ in the Great Society established Medicare,
Food Stamps, and Medicaid.
Federal Era (1932-1980)
This period was during the Reagan Administration. Reagan
believed that welfare spending was too much and had created a
dependency on the state.
Safety Net (1980s)
Congressional republicans pass laws returning responsibility to the states
Block Grant Era (1995-2010)
A program that began in 1935 that taxed individuals to provide funds that were used to support the poor, elderly, and unemployed.
Social Security
An insurance program begun under LBJ in 1964 that paid for the medical expenses of senior citizens.
Medicare
Chaired by the president, includes vice president, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, head of CIA, Attorney General. It is designed to present various perspectives, facilitate presidential decision making discussions, and implement presidential decisions.
National Security Council
Congressional responsibility to authorize and appropriate the funds needed for foreign policy missions. Check on the President.
power of the purse
All commitments of troops in hostile situations must be reported within 48 hours. Troops may only be deployed for 60 days without a formal congressional declaration of war or statutory authorization. Seldom used in reality.
War Powers Act of 1973
Opposes involvement in wars/conflicts, believes America should withdraw from world affairs.
isolationism
Belief that the US should resist the expansion of aggressive nations, especially the Soviet Union.
containment
Belief that America was harmed by the Vietnam War and should avoid similar events.
disengagement
View that America should intervene to improve the lives of people in other countries.
human rights
