Popular sovereignty: Government's authority comes from the people Social contract: Idea that people agree to be governed in return for protection of rights Republicanism: Government by elected representatives Federalism: Power divided between national and state governments Separation of powers: Dividing government into legislative, executive and judicial branches Checks and balances: Each branch can limit the others Enumerated powers: Powers specifically listed for Congress in Article I Implied powers: Powers not listed but needed to carry out those that are Necessary and proper clause: Gives Congress power to make laws needed to carry out its duties Supremacy clause: The Constitution and federal law outrank state law Commerce clause: Gives Congress power to regulate trade among states Reserved powers: Powers kept by states through the 10th Amendment Concurrent powers: Powers shared by national and state governments McCulloch v. Maryland: Established implied powers and federal supremacy Block grant: Federal money given to states for broad purposes Categorical grant: Federal money for specific purposes with conditions Unfunded mandate: A federal requirement imposed on states without funds Federalist No. 10: Madison essay on controlling factions in a large republic Brutus No. 1: Anti-Federalist essay warning against a large central government Bicameral: Having two chambers Filibuster: Using long debate to delay a Senate vote Cloture: Senate vote ending a filibuster, needing 60 votes Discharge petition: Procedure to bring a bill out of committee in the House Rules Committee: House committee setting terms of debate Pork barrel: Spending directed to a lawmaker's home district Logrolling: Trading votes to support each other's bills Gerrymandering: Drawing district lines to favor a party Reapportionment: Reassigning House seats after the census Incumbency advantage: Edge officeholders have when running again Delegate model: Representative follows constituents' wishes Trustee model: Representative uses own judgment Veto: President's rejection of a bill Pocket veto: A bill dies if the president takes no action as Congress adjourns Executive order: A presidential directive with the force of law within the executive branch Executive agreement: Pact with another country that does not need Senate approval Impeachment: House brings charges; Senate holds the trial War Powers Act: 1973 law limiting presidential use of troops without Congress Cabinet: Advisers who lead executive departments Bureaucracy: Agencies that carry out laws Independent regulatory commission: An agency, like the FCC, that regulates an industry outside the cabinet Iron triangle: Mutually supportive ties among agencies, committees and interest groups Issue network: A looser group of experts and advocates around a policy Discretionary authority: Freedom agencies have to decide how to apply a law Judicial review: Courts' power to strike down unconstitutional laws Judicial restraint: Courts should defer to elected branches Judicial activism: Courts should actively rule to correct problems Stare decisis: Following precedent Original jurisdiction: Authority to hear a case first Appellate jurisdiction: Authority to review a lower court's decision Writ of certiorari: Order from the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case Amicus curiae brief: Written argument from a non-party who has an interest in the case Marbury v. Madison: Case that established judicial review Baker v. Carr: Established one person, one vote claims are reviewable Engel v. Vitale: School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause Tinker v. Des Moines: Students keep free speech rights at school unless there is disruption Wisconsin v. Yoder: Amish families may exempt children from school after eighth grade on religious freedom grounds Gideon v. Wainwright: Right to an attorney for those who cannot afford one Miranda v. Arizona: Police must inform suspects of their rights Mapp v. Ohio: Evidence from an illegal search cannot be used in state courts Citizens United: Limited restrictions on independent political spending by groups Selective incorporation: Applying Bill of Rights protections to states through the 14th Amendment Due process clause: Guarantees fair legal procedures Equal protection clause: States must treat people equally under the law Establishment clause: Government cannot establish a religion Free exercise clause: Government cannot ban religious practice without strong reason Prior restraint: Government blocking speech before it occurs; generally unconstitutional Symbolic speech: Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment Clear and present danger: Test for limiting speech that creates immediate harm Civil liberties: Protections of individuals from government Civil rights: Guarantees of equal treatment under law Political culture: Shared beliefs about government in a society Political socialization: Process of forming political views through family, school and media Public opinion polling: Measuring views via samples Sampling error: Gap between sample results and the true population Linkage institutions: Elections, parties, interest groups and media connecting people to government Political party: Organization that seeks to win elections to run government Party platform: Statement of a party's positions Realignment: Lasting shift in party loyalties Primary election: Vote to choose a party's nominee Open primary: Voters of any party may take part Caucus: Local meeting to choose party delegates Electoral College: 538 electors choose the president; 270 needed to win Winner-take-all: The candidate with the most votes in a state gets all its electoral votes in most states Super PAC: Committee that can raise unlimited sums to support or oppose candidates independently Political action committee: Group that raises money to support candidates Soft money: Money given to parties for general purposes, restricted by 2002 law Campaign finance: Rules about raising and spending money in elections Pluralism: Many groups compete to influence policy Collective action problem: People benefit from a group's work without joining it Lobbying: Efforts to influence officials Agenda setting: Media and officials choosing which issues get attention Fiscal policy: Government taxing and spending to affect the economy Monetary policy: Federal Reserve's control of money and interest rates Entitlement program: Benefits guaranteed to all who qualify, like Social Security Mandatory spending: Federal spending required by law, such as entitlements Discretionary spending: Spending set each year in appropriations bills Incorporation doctrine: Idea that the 14th Amendment carries Bill of Rights guarantees to the states Voter turnout: Share of eligible voters who vote Voting Rights Act of 1965: Barred discriminatory voting practices Amendment process: Proposed by two-thirds of Congress or convention; ratified by three-fourths of states Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/tp-ap-government