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AP U.S. Government Key Terms

Constitution, institutions, civil rights, parties and elections.

100 cardsGrades 9–12, College#ap#government#civics

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100 cards
  • Popular sovereigntyTerm
    Government's authority comes from the people
  • Social contractTerm
    Idea that people agree to be governed in return for protection of rights
  • RepublicanismTerm
    Government by elected representatives
  • FederalismTerm
    Power divided between national and state governments
  • Separation of powersTerm
    Dividing government into legislative, executive and judicial branches
  • Checks and balancesTerm
    Each branch can limit the others
  • Enumerated powersTerm
    Powers specifically listed for Congress in Article I
  • Implied powersTerm
    Powers not listed but needed to carry out those that are
  • Necessary and proper clauseTerm
    Gives Congress power to make laws needed to carry out its duties
  • Supremacy clauseTerm
    The Constitution and federal law outrank state law
  • Commerce clauseTerm
    Gives Congress power to regulate trade among states
  • Reserved powersTerm
    Powers kept by states through the 10th Amendment
  • Concurrent powersTerm
    Powers shared by national and state governments
  • McCulloch v. MarylandTerm
    Established implied powers and federal supremacy
  • Block grantTerm
    Federal money given to states for broad purposes
  • Categorical grantTerm
    Federal money for specific purposes with conditions
  • Unfunded mandateTerm
    A federal requirement imposed on states without funds
  • Federalist No. 10Term
    Madison essay on controlling factions in a large republic
  • Brutus No. 1Term
    Anti-Federalist essay warning against a large central government
  • BicameralTerm
    Having two chambers
  • FilibusterTerm
    Using long debate to delay a Senate vote
  • ClotureTerm
    Senate vote ending a filibuster, needing 60 votes
  • Discharge petitionTerm
    Procedure to bring a bill out of committee in the House
  • Rules CommitteeTerm
    House committee setting terms of debate
  • Pork barrelTerm
    Spending directed to a lawmaker's home district
  • LogrollingTerm
    Trading votes to support each other's bills
  • GerrymanderingTerm
    Drawing district lines to favor a party
  • ReapportionmentTerm
    Reassigning House seats after the census
  • Incumbency advantageTerm
    Edge officeholders have when running again
  • Delegate modelTerm
    Representative follows constituents' wishes
  • Trustee modelTerm
    Representative uses own judgment
  • VetoTerm
    President's rejection of a bill
  • Pocket vetoTerm
    A bill dies if the president takes no action as Congress adjourns
  • Executive orderTerm
    A presidential directive with the force of law within the executive branch
  • Executive agreementTerm
    Pact with another country that does not need Senate approval
  • ImpeachmentTerm
    House brings charges; Senate holds the trial
  • War Powers ActTerm
    1973 law limiting presidential use of troops without Congress
  • CabinetTerm
    Advisers who lead executive departments
  • BureaucracyTerm
    Agencies that carry out laws
  • Independent regulatory commissionTerm
    An agency, like the FCC, that regulates an industry outside the cabinet
  • Iron triangleTerm
    Mutually supportive ties among agencies, committees and interest groups
  • Issue networkTerm
    A looser group of experts and advocates around a policy
  • Discretionary authorityTerm
    Freedom agencies have to decide how to apply a law
  • Judicial reviewTerm
    Courts' power to strike down unconstitutional laws
  • Judicial restraintTerm
    Courts should defer to elected branches
  • Judicial activismTerm
    Courts should actively rule to correct problems
  • Stare decisisTerm
    Following precedent
  • Original jurisdictionTerm
    Authority to hear a case first
  • Appellate jurisdictionTerm
    Authority to review a lower court's decision
  • Writ of certiorariTerm
    Order from the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case
  • Amicus curiae briefTerm
    Written argument from a non-party who has an interest in the case
  • Marbury v. MadisonTerm
    Case that established judicial review
  • Baker v. CarrTerm
    Established one person, one vote claims are reviewable
  • Engel v. VitaleTerm
    School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause
  • Tinker v. Des MoinesTerm
    Students keep free speech rights at school unless there is disruption
  • Wisconsin v. YoderTerm
    Amish families may exempt children from school after eighth grade on religious freedom grounds
  • Gideon v. WainwrightTerm
    Right to an attorney for those who cannot afford one
  • Miranda v. ArizonaTerm
    Police must inform suspects of their rights
  • Mapp v. OhioTerm
    Evidence from an illegal search cannot be used in state courts
  • Citizens UnitedTerm
    Limited restrictions on independent political spending by groups
  • Selective incorporationTerm
    Applying Bill of Rights protections to states through the 14th Amendment
  • Due process clauseTerm
    Guarantees fair legal procedures
  • Equal protection clauseTerm
    States must treat people equally under the law
  • Establishment clauseTerm
    Government cannot establish a religion
  • Free exercise clauseTerm
    Government cannot ban religious practice without strong reason
  • Prior restraintTerm
    Government blocking speech before it occurs; generally unconstitutional
  • Symbolic speechTerm
    Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment
  • Clear and present dangerTerm
    Test for limiting speech that creates immediate harm
  • Civil libertiesTerm
    Protections of individuals from government
  • Civil rightsTerm
    Guarantees of equal treatment under law
  • Political cultureTerm
    Shared beliefs about government in a society
  • Political socializationTerm
    Process of forming political views through family, school and media
  • Public opinion pollingTerm
    Measuring views via samples
  • Sampling errorTerm
    Gap between sample results and the true population
  • Linkage institutionsTerm
    Elections, parties, interest groups and media connecting people to government
  • Political partyTerm
    Organization that seeks to win elections to run government
  • Party platformTerm
    Statement of a party's positions
  • RealignmentTerm
    Lasting shift in party loyalties
  • Primary electionTerm
    Vote to choose a party's nominee
  • Open primaryTerm
    Voters of any party may take part
  • CaucusTerm
    Local meeting to choose party delegates
  • Electoral CollegeTerm
    538 electors choose the president; 270 needed to win
  • Winner-take-allTerm
    The candidate with the most votes in a state gets all its electoral votes in most states
  • Super PACTerm
    Committee that can raise unlimited sums to support or oppose candidates independently
  • Political action committeeTerm
    Group that raises money to support candidates
  • Soft moneyTerm
    Money given to parties for general purposes, restricted by 2002 law
  • Campaign financeTerm
    Rules about raising and spending money in elections
  • PluralismTerm
    Many groups compete to influence policy
  • Collective action problemTerm
    People benefit from a group's work without joining it
  • LobbyingTerm
    Efforts to influence officials
  • Agenda settingTerm
    Media and officials choosing which issues get attention
  • Fiscal policyTerm
    Government taxing and spending to affect the economy
  • Monetary policyTerm
    Federal Reserve's control of money and interest rates
  • Entitlement programTerm
    Benefits guaranteed to all who qualify, like Social Security
  • Mandatory spendingTerm
    Federal spending required by law, such as entitlements
  • Discretionary spendingTerm
    Spending set each year in appropriations bills
  • Incorporation doctrineTerm
    Idea that the 14th Amendment carries Bill of Rights guarantees to the states
  • Voter turnoutTerm
    Share of eligible voters who vote
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965Term
    Barred discriminatory voting practices
  • Amendment processTerm
    Proposed by two-thirds of Congress or convention; ratified by three-fourths of states

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