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AP Gov Units 1-PRESENT--2016-17

Terms in this set (88)

Attentive public
those who follow politics and public affairs carefully.
Australian ballot
secret ballot printed at the expense of the state.
Balancing the ticket
occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket.
Blanket primary
election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and that allows voters to choose candidates from all the parties.
Caucus
local party meeting
Closed primary
party election to choose candidates that is closed to independents. Voters may not cross party lines.
Coattail effect
the influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party.
Demographics
characteristics of populations, e.g., race, sex, income.
Direct election
election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group such as the Electoral College.
Direct primary
election in which the people choose candidates for office.
Fixed terms
terms of office that have a definite length of time, e.g., two years for a member of the House.
Front loading
scheduling presidential primary elections early (e.g., February or March) in an election year.
Gender gap
difference in voting patterns for men and women, particularly in the greater tendency of the latter to vote for Democratic presidential candidates.
General election
election in which the officeholders are chosen. Contrast with a primary election, in which only the candidates are chosen.
Hard money
campaign contributions donated directly to candidates.
Ideology
set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.
Incumbent
an officeholder who is seeking reelection.
Independent
one is not registered with a political party. Independent leaners tend to vote for candidates of one particular party, whereas pure independents have no consistent pattern of party voting.
Issue advocacy ads
ads that focus on issues and do not explicitly encourage citizens to vote for a certain candidate.
Open primary
election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and in which voters may choose candidates from any one party.
Party identification
a sense of affiliation that a person has with a particular political party.
Party platform
a list of positions and programs that the party adopts at the national convention. Each position is called a plank.
Political culture
the widely shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government.
Plurality
more votes than anyone else, but less than half
Political efficacy
capacity to understand and influence political events
Political socialization
process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.
Realigning ("critical") election
an election in which there is a long term change in party alignment
Safe seat
an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party.
Single member district system
system in which the people elect one representative per district. With a winner-take-all rule, this system strengthens the two major parties and weakens minor parties.
Soft money
campaign contributions that are not donated directly to candidates, but are instead donated to parties.
Solid South
historically, the South voted solidly Democratic. However, the South is now strongly Republican
Split ticket voting
casting votes for candidates of one's own party and for candidates of opposing parties
Straight ticket voting
casting votes only for candidates of one's party.
Suffrage
the right to vote.
Superdelegate
a delegate to the Democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office.
Super Tuesday
a Tuesday in early March in which many presidential primaries, particularly in the South, are held.
Swing state
a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections.
Bicameral legislature
two-house legislature.
Block grant
money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose ( e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).
Categorical grant
money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose ( e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).
Centralists
those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.
Checks and balances
system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law.
Commerce clause
gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
Concurrent powers
those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.
Confederation
system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.
Decentralists
those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.
Direct democracy
system in which the people rule themselves.
Elastic clause
states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States.
Enumerated powers
those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers.
Federalism
constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. Different varieties:
Dual federalism
system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere.
Cooperative federalism
system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems.
New Federalism
system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.
Federalist Papers
group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution.
Formal amendment
a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states.
Implied powers
those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.
Indirect democracy
system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.
Inherent powers
foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government.
Informal amendment
a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board.
Judicial review
power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.
Mandates
requirements imposed by the national government upon the states.
Marbury v. Madison, 1803
established the power of judicial review.
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819
established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.
Police powers
powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.
Popular sovereignty
principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.
Reserved powers
powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states.
Separation of powers
principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.
Shays' Rebellion
1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
Supermajority
a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3.
Unicameral legislature
one-house legislature.
Bill of Attainder Clause
Congress cannot pass a law that singles out a person for punishment without trial.
Commerce Clause
Congress can regulate trade between nations, between states, and among Indian tribes.
Contracts Clause
No state can interfere with the execution of contracts. For example, a state could not pass a law that declares all debts to be null and void.
Due Process Clause 5th Amendment
The national government must observe fair procedures when it denies a person life, liberty, or property.
Due Process Clause 14th Amendment
State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person life, liberty, or property.
Elastic Clause Article I
Congress can exercise powers not specifically stated in the Constitution if those powers are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its expressed powers that are specifically stated.
Equal Protection Clause 14th Amendment
States cannot unreasonably discriminate against individuals. They must treat people "equally."
Establishment Clause 1st Amendment
Congress cannot establish an "official" religion.
Ex Post Facto Clause
Congress cannot pass a law that punishes a person retroactively, i.e., after the fact. In other words, a person cannot be punished for something he/she did that was not a crime when committed.
Extradition Clause
An accused person who flees to another state must be returned to the state in which he/she allegedly committed the crime.
Free Exercise Clause 1st Amendment
Congress cannot pass laws that ban freedom of worship.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
A state must recognize the validity of the public acts, records, and court decisions of other states. For example, a state must recognize as valid the birth certificate issued by another state.
Preamble
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Privileges & Immunities Clause
A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states.
Reserved Power Clause 10th Amendment
Any power that is not granted to the national government, or denied to the states, automatically reverts to the states.
Search & Seizure Clause 4th Amendment
The authorities do not have a general power to search and arrest individuals at any time, at any place, and in any manner; rather, they can only do so according to specified procedures that must be "reasonable."
Supremacy Clause
Federal law is supreme over state law.
Takings Clause 5th Amendment
Government can take private property for a public purpose, but it must provide fair compensation to the owners of that property.
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