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midterm Flashcards

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U.S. Government Basics flashcards AP® U.S. Government flashcards
1
Q

democracy

A

a system of government where the power is held by people

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2
Q

participatory theory

A

the idea that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

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3
Q

elitist theory

A

theory of democracy that elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policy-making process

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4
Q

political institutions

A

the structure of the government including, legislative, executive, and judicial

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5
Q

formal amendment process

A

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed by either Congress with a two-thirds majority vote of both the House of Representatives and the Senate or a constitutional convention called for by the two-thirds of state legislatures. The ratification is completed by the approval of 3/4ths of state legislatures or state conventions.

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6
Q

enumerated powers

A

powers listed directly in the constitution (authority specifically granted to a branch of the government in the constitution)

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7
Q

concurrent powers

A

those powers that both the national government and the states possess and exercise.

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8
Q

federalism

A

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal government and the states

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9
Q

ex post facto law

A

a law punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

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10
Q

federalists/antifederalists

A

supporter of the proposed constitution called for a stronger national gov / a person who opposed the proposed constitution and favored stronger state governments.

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11
Q

unitary government

A

a system where the central government has all the power over subnational governments

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12
Q

dual federalism

A

a form of American federalism in which states and the national government operate independently in their areas of public policy

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13
Q

unfunded mandate

A

federal requirements states must follow without being provided funding

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14
Q

Congressional oversight

A

effort by Congress to ensure executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals.

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15
Q

Checks and Balances

A

a design of government in which each branch has powers to prevent other branches from making policy

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16
Q

Executive branch

A

Carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, most federal agencies)

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17
Q

legislative branch

A

Makes laws (Congress, comprised of the House of Representatives and Senate)

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18
Q

judicial branch

A

evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

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19
Q

Apportionment

A

Congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the House. reapportionment occurs every ten years when census data reports shifts in the population of districts. each district must have an equal number of residents. states may lose or gain seats during reapportionment, but the total House membership remains at 435

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20
Q

Standing Committee

A

a permanent committee in Congress that oversees bills that deal with certain kinds of issues.

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21
Q

Conference committee

A

A temporary joint committee created to settle differences in versions of a bill passed by each house of Congress. (set up to reach a compromise when the houses can’t agree on a bill.)

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22
Q

Bill making process

A

A bill to create a new law can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it.

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.

The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.

If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.

Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.

The president then considers the bill. The president can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the president can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto.

If the president chooses to veto a bill, in most cases Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law. But if the president does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.

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23
Q

trustee role

A

The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their judgment and knowledge.

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23
Q

filibuster

A

a tactic through which an individual senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation

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24
Q

divided government

A

a situation that occurs when control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between to major parties.

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25
Q

Political Socialization

A

the experiences and factors that shape our political values, attitudes, and behaviors.

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25
Q

Public opinion

A

the sum of individual attitudes about governments, policies, and issues.

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26
Q

sample

A

a group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion

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26
Q

exit poll

A

a survey conducted outside of a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for and why.

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27
Q

political ideology

A

an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics

28
Q

linkage institution

A

channels that connect individuals with the government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.

29
Q

electoral college

A

a constitutionally required process for selecting the president through slates of electors chosen in each state, who are pledged to vote for the nominee in the presidential election.

30
Q

random sampling

A

a method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not under- or over-represent any group of the population.

31
Q

Political Participation

A

the different ways individuals take action to shape laws and policies of the government

32
Q

liberals

A

an ideology supporting less government control of social behavior and more regulations of business and economy

33
Q

conservatives

A

an ideology favoring more control of social behavior, fewer regulations on business, and less government interference in the economy

34
Q

who votes and who doesn’t

A

women tend to vote more than men, rich ppl vote more than poor ppl, whites vote more, older ppl vote more

35
Q

national party convention

A

a meeting where delegates official select their party’s nominee

36
Q

political efficacy

A

a person’s belief that he or she can make effective political change

37
Q

functions of political parties

A

Parties play 3 main roles.
- As organizations political parties recruit, nominate, and support candidates for political office.
- In the electorate, political parties provide labels that voters can use as shortcuts in identifying candidates closer to their political ideologies.
-In government, a party enacts the policy positions of its members and acts as an opposition to the majority party when it’s in the minority.

38
Q

Party as an organization

A

A political party unites people with shared social, economic, and ideological goals. It finds and supports candidates to run for federal, state, and local offices. Parties educate and mobilize voters. They raise money and develop a media strategy to try to get their candidates elected. If those candidates win, parties try to keep them in office. The parties also come up with party flatforms that they want their candidates to follow (national paeties are struggling lately due to the ability of outside groups to raise and spend large amounts od money on behalf of political causes)

39
Q

Party in the electorate

A

In the electorate, political parties provide labels that voters can use as shortcuts in identifying candidates closer to their political ideologies.

40
Q

Interest Groups

A

a voluntary association of people who come together with the goal of getting the policies they favor enacted

41
Q

Amicus Curiae Brief

A

A Brief filed by someone who is not a party to a case in an attempt to persuade the court to agree with the arguments set forth in the brief

42
Q

free rider problem

A

individuals who enjoy collective goods and benefit from the actions of an interest group without joining.

43
Q

lobbying

A

Interacting with government officials in order to advance a group’s public policy goals.

44
Q

Casework

A

Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, doing favors and answering questions

45
Q

incumbency advantage

A

institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election.

46
Q

Declaration of Independence

A

The Declaration of Independence contains five parts. In the preamble, Jefferson sets the argument that the British Government was no longer legitimate. Next Jefferson defines citizen’s rights as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of property”(natural rights). It also stated that if the government didn’t protect those rights, citizens have the right to abolish the gov. The longest part of the declaration is the list of grievances against the king of England, including charges that the colonists were not being represented in the government and many more. The declaration ends with a statement separating colonies from Great Britain.

47
Q

The US Constitution

A

Bc of the difficulties caused by the Articles of Confederation, delegates decided to meet up at Philadelphia in 1787 to draft a new governing document. The Constitution set a republican government. It begins with a preamble and is followed by 7 articles. Article 1 (legislative branch) deals with the form and powers of the Congress and it also declares the “necessary and proper clause” meaning that the Congress has implied powers. Article 2 talks about the provisions of the executive branch or the president. First, it talks about electing the president through the Electoral College. Then it lists the power of the president. Article 3 deals with the judicial branch and it establishes only one supreme court and gives Congress the power to establish other courts. Article 4 talks about the relationship between the federal government and the states and the state’s relationships within themselves. article 5 talks about the process for amending the constitution. article 6 declares the supremacy clause (federal law will always override state laws). The Bill of rights guaranteed the rights of the ppl.

48
Q

How are the Senate and the House of representatives represented?

A

In the Senate, each state is equally represented (2 senators per state. House of Representatives is apportioned by population.

48
Q

enumerated powers of congress

A
  • collect taxes
  • coin money
  • borrow money
  • maintain a navy
  • raise and support an army
  • declare war
49
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

Once the US declared independence from Britain they were left without any government. So the AC solved that problem. Handed most of the power to the states. There was a single legislative branch of the government. (No executive or judicial) Representation among the states in the congress was equal, everyone was granted one vote. Congress couldn’t raise an army. Needed unanimous consent to ratify an amendment. Congress was poor.

50
Q

federalist 10

A

An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government.

51
Q

federalist 51

A

An essay in which Madison argues separation of powers and republicanism can prevent tyranny

52
Q

bill of rights

A

Anti-federalists agreed to ratify the constitution only if there was a bill of rights.
1st Amendment- protects the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
2nd amendment- rights to keep and bear arms
3rd amendment- protects citizens from having soldiers quartered in their homes
4th amendment-protects against unreasonable searches and seizure of personal property and effects
5th amendment -deals with the rights of citizens when they are accused of crimes.
6th amendment - explains how the process will go when a person is accused of crimes and explains the to protections which they are entitled.
7th amendment- guarantees the right to a trial by jury
8th Amendment - protects against cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail
9th amendment- acknowledges that if there are other rights not mentioned in the first ten amendments, their exclusion from the list does not mean such rights are not protected.
10th amendment - returns powers that are not granted to the federal gov to the states.

53
Q

what justification did the colonists use to separate from Great Britain in the Declaration of Independence?

A

Many colonists were angry because no one represented their needs in the British government. Colonists believed they did not have self-government. The British forced colonists to allow British soldiers to sleep and eat in their homes. The colonists joined together to fight Britain and gain independence.

54
Q

Suppose Congress has passed a law that makes it illegal to wear pink in public spaces and wants to punish those who have worn pink in public places before passing the law. Which constitutional protection prevents Congress from doing so?

A

Ex post facto law

55
Q

which branch of government enforces laws?

A

executive branch

56
Q

who ratifies constitutional amendments?

A

3/4ths of state legislatures or state convention

57
Q

What Supreme Court case established judicial review

A

Marbury v. madison

58
Q

what are the main ideas of federalist 51?

A

checks and balances. An essay in which Madison argues separation of powers and republicanism can prevent tyranny

59
Q

what amendment in the constitution grants states their rights?

A

10th amendment

60
Q

Who can introduce bills in Congress?

A

A bill to create a new law can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it.

61
Q

What is divided government?

A

When the control over the presidency and one or both houses of congress is split between two major parties.

62
Q

how do we know about public opinion

A

polling (random sampling)

63
Q

what are the three linkage institutions?

A

There are four main types of linkage institutions that connect the citizens with the government. These are political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.

64
Q

name a power that is concurrent between states and the federal government

A

power to tax, maintain laws, create courts

65
Q

why do seats in the House of Representatives need to be reapportioned?

A

Bc the House of Representatives is represented proportionally to the state’s population and population changes a lot. A census is done every 10 years and the house is reapportioned based on that

66
Q

how do liberals differ from conservatives?

A

Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems. Conservatives believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

67
Q

Who votes more? Men or women? white or minority,? educated or uneducated? rich or poor? old or young?

A

women, white, educated, rich, old

68
Q

what is the most important thing a political party does?

A

Representation has been regarded as a main function of political parties which means they represent the views and beliefs of large sections of society and act in their interest.

69
Q

What are the different ways that interest groups can influence public officials?

A

Lobbying. When a representative of an interest group tries to influence the government by communicating with those in government.
Litigation. Lawsuits.
Mobilizing public opinion. Institutional advertising, protests and demonstrations, and grassroots mobilizations.
Using electoral politics.

ap gov (5 decks)

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