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AP GOV Unit Test Study Guide

Terms in this set (73)

Fed 51
Checks and balances & Separation of powers
Fed 10
Dangers of factions
Fed 70
Unitary executive
First Amendment
freedom of religion, speech, press, assemble, and protest
Second Amendment
Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment
no quartering of soldiers
Fourth Amendment
protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Fifth Amendment
protects against double jeopardy & self incrimination
Sixth Amendment
right to a speedy & public trial
Seventh Amendment
right to a jury trial
Eighth Amendment
protection against cruel & unusual punishment
Ninth Amendment
rights not limited to what is said in the Constitution
Tenth Amendment
federal government only has the powers delegated in the Constitution
Eleventh Amendment
protects the states from law suits
Twelveth Amendment
seperate ballets for president and vice president
Thirteenth Amendment
abolishment of slavery
Fourteenth Amendment
equal protection under the law
Fifthteenth Amendment
no voting discrimination of race
Sixteenth Amendment
income tax is legal
Seventeenth Amendment
popular vote for united states senate
Eighteenth Amendment
prohibition of alcohol
Nineteenth Amendment
women's right to vote
Twentieth Amendment
moving of dates for terms of presidency
Twenty-First Amendment
repeal of prohibition of alcohol
Twenty-Second Amendment
limits the terms presidents can serve
Twenty-Third Amendment
Washington DC have the right to vote for president
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
no poll taxes are allowed
Twenty-Fifth Amendment
the succession for presidency shall something happen to the president
Twenty-Sixth Amendment
the minimum voting age is 18
Twenty-Seventh Amendment
congress cannot get a pay raise until the next term
Commerce Clause
gives Congress authority to regulate commerce and restrict states' powers to regulate commerce

example: if a company wants to distribute a product to another country, the agreement is subject to federal laws and regulations.
Separation of Powers
dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Checks and Balances
allows the branches to check the power of the other branches
Shaw v Reno
No racial gerrymandering, equal protection clause
Barker v Carr
one person -- one vote; redrawing lines for house
Bully Pulpit
a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.
Popular Sovereignty
Rule by the people
Republicanism
Citizens elect representatives to carry out their will
Social Contract
An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed
participatory democracy
people have the power to make their own decisions that affect themselves
pluralist democracy
many different political groups in one government with their own political beliefs
elite democracy
a group of wealthy individuals who are able to change any final decisions because of their status
electoral college
a group of people who vote to pick someone to lead a section
three fifths compromise
the way slaves were counted to find out the "actual" population in a state
federalism
main control government
exclusive powers
power arranged to the state and federal government; can declare war
concurrent powers
power the federal and state government shares; taxes
block grant
money from the federal government for services; education
constitution of the us
unite, maintain peace, equal rights
ex post facto laws
Punishes people for a crime that was not a crime when they did it
marbury v madison
judicial review
us v lopez
federal crime to knowingly possess a firearm in a school zone
whip
chosen by their party members whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline
gridlock
a slowdown or halt in Congress' ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship
divided government
control of presidency and one or both chambers of congress split between the two major parties
lame duck period
at the end or presidential term when congress may block presidential nominees
gerrymandering
drawing congressional districts to favor one group over another
enumerated powers
The powers explicitly given to the federal government
fillibuster
the use of long speeches to prevent the vote on a bill
cloture
A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill
holds
one or more Senators can prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor
discharge petition
a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor
pork barrel legislation
legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
Logrolling
trading of favors or quid pro quo
us v nixon
Holds that executive privilege does not extend to criminal cases
original jurisdiction
the authority to hear cases for the first time
appleate jurisdiction
The second and subsequent a case is tried
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
political patronage
appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected
merit system
hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications
Iron Triangle
The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.
bureaucratic discretion
bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress
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