Amsco AP Gov vocabulary Final Exam 2024

advice and consent - answersThe power of the United States Senate to be consulted on and approve of treaties signed and appointments made by the President Bill of Rights - answersThe first 10 Amendments to the Constitution checks and balances - answersWays in which the three parts of government can limit each other commerce clause - answersThe government's ability to initiate and regulate trade among states and with other countries Anti-Federalist - answersA person who opposed the ratification of the constitution bicameral - answersTwo branches or chambers of a legislature Electoral College System - answersThe body of electors chosen from each state to elect the president and vice president of the U.S. enumerated powers - answersSpecific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution Federalist Papers - answersA collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution federalism - answersA system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and its subordinate parts Articles of Confederation - answersThe original constitution of the U.S. Declaration of Independence - answersFormal statement declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain extradition - answersTo give someone up to another government or authority Federalists - answersSupporters of a federal government Great Compromise - answersCompromise between the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan House of Representatives - answersElected by the people and proportionate to the population of the state impeachment - answersProcess by which elected officials are removed from office James Madison - answersAuthor of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and Federalist Papers author John Locke - answersSaid that humans have certain rights that are natural to them judicial review - answersThe ability to judge certain laws and rules unconstitutional Marbury v. Madison (1803) - answersSupreme Court case that established the power of judicial review national supremacy - answersConstitutional doctrine teaching that the federal government has the ultimate power when in conflict with state power natural law - answersPhilosophy that all humans have certain rights that cannot be taken away necessary and proper (elastic) clause - answersCongress has the right to express its powers, and the right to make all laws as needed to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government New Jersey Plan - answersA constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new Congress pocket veto - answersIf a bill is proposed within 10 days of Congress adjourning and the president does not sign it , it will die. popular sovereignty - answersA government in which the people rule by their own consent. Preamble - answersIntroduction to the Constitution representative republic - answersA system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions based on the law and/or constitution. reserved powers - answersPowers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states. Held by the states through the Tenth Amendment. Senate - answersThe upper house of Congress. It has 100 members, 2 members for each state. Members are elected every 6 years. The Vice President is the head of this body. separation of powers - answersDivision of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches social contract - answersA voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. supremacy clause - answersMakes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits. Texas v. Johnson (1989) - answersSupreme Court case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was a part of free speech and was protected by the First Amendment two-thirds override - answersTo pass a bill over the President's objections requires a two-thirds vote in each Chamber United States v. Eichman (1990) - answersSupreme Court case that invalidated a federal law against flag desecration as violating free speech under the First Amendment to the Constitution. veto - answersChief Executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature Virginia Plan - answersCalled for proportional representation to population, thus favoring larger states federalism - answersThe sharing of power between a central government and equally sovereign regional governments unitary governments - answersThose with a single governing authority in a central capital with uniform law throughout the land full faith and credit clause - answersStates must regard and honor one another's governments and laws privileges and immunities clause - answersCitizens of each state shall be entitled to all rights of citizens in the other states extradition - answersObligates states to deliver captured fugitive criminals back to the state where they committed the original crime police powers - answersPowers to create and force laws on health, safety, and morals Tenth Amendment - answersGranted any powers not specifically enumerated to the federal government to be "reserved" to the states delegated powers - answersPowers the states have delegated to the federal government reserved powers - answersPowers not specifically listed in the Constitution and thus set aside for the states concurrent powers - answersPowers held by both national and state authorities strict constructionist - answersOne who believes in following the Constitution to the letter Whiskey Rebellion - answersControversy after a federal tax offended whiskey makers and caused concern about growing federal power over the states compact theory - answersBy creating a federal government, the 13 states entered a contract about its jurisdiction nullification - answersStates can declare a law void if they feel it violates the Constitution (Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) - answersRuled that states cannot tax the federal government and that federal government can create a national bank thus strengthening the supremacy and necessary and proper clauses implied powers - answersPowers not specifically listed in the Constitution (derived from elastic clause) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) - answersClarified commerce clause and put Congress in charge of interstate commerce dual federalism - answersFederal and state government have clearly defined powers such as in a "layer-cake" selective exclusiveness - answersA doctrine asserting that when a commodity requires national rule, Congress is the only one who can regulate it revenue sharing - answersThe distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments cooperative federalism - answersA system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government such as in a "marble-cake." They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly fiscal federalism - answersThe pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments grants-in-aid - answersMoney given to the national government by the states categorical grants - answersFederal grants that can only be used for specific things and often come with strings attached (drinking age) strings - answersSpecific requirements of grants block grants - answersFederal grants that can be used for pretty much anything marble cake federalism - answersA form of federalism in which there is mixing of powers, resources, and programs between the state and federal governments New Federalism - answersPolitical philosophy of a return of powers to state and local government South Dakota v. Dole (1987) - answersSupreme Court rules that Congress can set restrictions on drinking age to receive grants mandates - answersAn official order to do something coming from the federal government (Congress) Clean Air Act (1970) - answersU.S. federal law to control air pollution on a national level Americans with Disabilities Act - answersCongressional mandate requiring states to make public sector buildings and transportation systems accessible for the disabled devolution - answersSurrender of powers from federal to state and local governments United States v. Lopez (1995) - answersSupreme Court rules that Congress cannot control where guns are allowed thus providing the first limitation of the Commerce Clause in modern times No Child Left Behind Act (2002) - answersAct of Congress which reauthorized the Elementary & Secondary Education Act by calling for "highly qualified" teachers and holding schools accountable based on test scores conditions of aid/strings - answersFederal rules attached to the grants that states receive. States must agree to abide by these rules in order to receive the grants. political socialization - answersThe process by which a political opinion is developed; begins as soon as someone can form an opinion on something party identification - answersThe political party one associates with straw poll - answersSimple, non-scientific tallies of opinion on a topic 1936 Literary Digest poll - answersClassic case study relating to polling inaccuracies. The election prediction was flawed due to faulty sampling. sample - answersA group of people meant to represent a large group universe - answersThe set of people a particular poll is to represent random sample - answersEvery single member of a universe must have an equal chance of selection for the poll random digit dialling - answersCalls possible numbers in a given area until enough people respond to establish a sample stratification - answersAssuring a balance of demographics in a poll margin of error - answersAn amount allowed for miscalculation/change in circumstances in polling...Good polls try to keep this to within +/- 3% sampling error - answersA mistake in a statistical analysis of a poll due to the non-representative nature of the sample taken push polling - answersPolling with ulterior motives...not concerned with gathering data, but rather instilling a message with the poll respondent tracking poll - answersAsk people the same questions to see if opinion changes over time exit polls - answersConducted outside the voting place after one has voted...used to predict election results and draw demographic statistical data often for use by the major news networks in their election night reporting focus groups - answersSmall groups of citizens (10-40) gathered to hold conversations about issues/conditions approval ratings - answersThe percentage of respondents who approve of a person/program communicated to an opinion poll liberal - answersAllowing the government to flexibly expand beyond established constraints...modern-day proponents believe in government staying out of social-moral issues while taking a more active role in the economy conservative - answersThose who follow tradition and have reverence for authority...modern-day proponents believe in greater government involvement in regulating social-moral issues while staying out of economic affairs as much as possible libertarian - answersThose who oppose government intervention or regulation in both social-moral issues and the economy populist - answersPrimarily Protestants following fundamental Christian ideas...modern-day proponents for example would be likely to support increased prayer in public schools while also supporting a higher minimum wage and a solid welfare system progressive - answersBelieve in workers' rights over corporate rights and believe the wealthier classes should pay a much larger percentage of taxes than they currently do. saliency - answersThe amount of importance attached to something...typically divisive issues are also seen as important to the general population valence issues - answersConcerns or policies that are viewed in the same way by people with a variety of ideologies wedge issues - answersConcerns or policies that sharply divide the public moderate - answersEssentially an acceptance or support of a balance of a degree of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy, while opposing political changes which would result in a significant shift of society either strongly to the left or the right. voting-age population - answersThe set of individuals that have reached the minimum voting age voter turnout - answersThe percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in the election electorate - answersAll of the people in a country who are eligible to vote in an election suffrage (franchise) - answersThe right to vote in elections initiative - answersCitizens gather the necessary number of signatures of registered voters to place a proposal on the ballot referendum - answersA general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision recall - answersProcedure where an elected official can be voted out of office voter registration - answersProcess of getting qualified to vote ward - answersFirst-order division of counties/cities precinct - answersSecond-order division of cities/counties polling place - answersA place where people can vote Andrew Jackson - answersPresidential advocate for expansion of voting rights...often to his own political party's advantage 15th amendment - answersGave African-Americans right to vote literacy test - answersAn exam under the pretense of seeing of one could read in order to intelligently vote...in reality a way to stifle African-American voting poll tax - answersA charge in order to vote...outlawed via the 24th Amendment grandfather clause - answersYou could only vote if your grandparents were free citizens...a way used to stifle African-American voting white primary - answersMethod to keep African-Americans from voting by not allowing them to vote in primary elections Civil Rights Act (1957, 1964) - answersAddressed issues with discrimination with regards to African-Americans voting 24th Amendment - answersOutlawed poll taxes preclearance - answersIf states try to create a new loophole to voting, the federal government could intervene and stop the loophole 19th Amendment - answersGranted women the right to vote 23rd Amendment - answersGave Washington D.C. citizens the right to vote in presidential elections 26th Amendment - answers18-20 year olds are legally allowed to vote Australian ballots - answersA ballot with the names of the candidates on it to be handed out and marked in secret voter apathy - answersLack of concern for what happens in an upcoming election political efficacy - answersSense that your vote matters and you can make a difference politically party identification - answersThe party someone associates themselves with voting blocs - answersVoters in various demographics gender gap - answersThe difference between the two gender's point of view and how they express themselves Voting Rights Act (1965) - answersWide-ranging congressional act that led to a substantial increase in African-American voting Help America Vote Act (2002) - answersReformed election system in the U.S. by replacing lever and punch based voting systems in response to the controversy stemming from the 2000 election National Voter Registration Act (motor-voter law) (1993) - answersAllowed voters to register to vote at motor-vehicle departments when getting their drivers' licenses Minor v. Happerset (1875) - answersSupreme Court case declaring that the 14th Amendment does not guarantee women the right to vote two-party system - answersA political system in which two political parties dominate the government minor parties - answersPolitical parties that play a smaller (sometimes insignificant) role in the country's politics Democrat-Republicans - answersA political party from the early 19th century that favored a strict interpretation of the Constitution that limited federal government power and gave the states more power realignments - answersChanges in the electorate due to changes in party identification critical election - answersAn election that reveals sharp, lasting changes in the electorate caucus - answersA group of people with shared concerns within a political party...examples are the Black Congressional and Freedom versions of this term Republicans - answersFounded on an anti-slavery platform...modern-day adherents believe in traditional conservative principles and an overall smaller role for the federal government coalition - answersA group united for a greater cause...often used in the context of trying to influence legislation and nominations Whigs - answersOpposed autocratic rule and Andrew Jackson... tried to elect a presidential candidate based on the ideal of national improvement...died out in the 1850s party convention - answersA meeting of delegates in order to nominate candidates for president and vice president and create party platforms popular sovereignty - answersThe authority of the government is maintained by the people who are ruled over by their own consent Grand Old Party (GOP) - answersNickname for the Republican Party New Deal Coalition - answersRoosevelt's followers that elected him four times through the Great Depression...consisted of city machines, labor unions, blue collar workers, minorities, farmers, white Southerners, welfare recipients, and intellectuals...succeeded in getting Democrats (except for Eisenhower) elected to the presidency until the late 1960's white primary - answersA primary that consisted of all-white people dealignment - answersA trend where a large portion of the electorate abandons what they previously supported...in modern politics the movement towards identifying less with political parties and the rise in independents ticket splitting - answersVoting for candidates for both parties on a single ballot divided government - answersWhen one party controls Congress and the other controls the White House Democratic National Committee (DNC) - answersOfficial governing body of the United States Democratic Party Republican National Committee (RNC) - answersOfficial governing body of the United States Republican Party party chairperson - answersChief strategist and spokesperson, most often appears on TV, real leader of the party elites - answersA small group of people with a disproportionate amount of power within the party Know-Nothings - answersPolitical party in the mid 1800s with the goal of keeping governmental control within the hands of native-born citizens rank and file - answersThe ordinary members of an organization/political party McGovern-Fraser Commission - answersBrought significant changes that ensured minorities, women, and younger voters greater representation at the Democratic National Convention in response to the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago superdelegates - answersHigh-ranking office holders also allowed to be delegates that are essentially free-agents in the delegate selection process...make up about 15% of delegates at the Democratic National Convention platform - answersList of principles and plans a political party plans to enact single-issue parties - answersCreated to advance a particular policy or to solve one particular political concern Free Soil Party - answersOpposed the extension of slavery into territories that had not achieved statehood splinter/bolter parties - answersBroke from a larger existing party due to an ideological difference economic protest parties - answersParties with strong feelings about economic conditions ideological party - answersA party that follows a prescribed ideology i.e. Socialist Party Theodore Roosevelt - answersPresident from 1901 to 1909, caused division in Republican party and ran as a member of the Progressive Party in 1912 H. Ross Perot - answersCreated the United We Stand America group and funded his 1992 political campaign with his own money...Highest vote percentage of a 3rd party candidate in recent times United We Stand America - answersName chosen by H. Ross Perot for his citizen action program Reform Party - answersA moderate, centrist and populist party that sits in the center of the political spectrum spoiler - answersDoesn't win the election but causes another candidate to lose single-member district - answersAn electoral district with a single representative in a legislative body Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) - answersOrganization that looks to elect Democratic candidates to the House of Representatives Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) - answersOrganization that looks to elect Democratic candidates to the Senate Republican Congressional Campaign Committee (RCCC) - answersOrganization that looks to elect Republicans to the House of Representatives Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (RSCC) - answersOrganization that looks to elect Republicans to the Senate sound bites - answersShort and simple phrases used to cast a politician in a negative or positive light congressional caucuses - answersPrivate gatherings of like-minded Congress members that nominated presidential candidates in the early years of our country political machine - answersOrganization that rewards votes and support with jobs and services primary election - answersDeclared party members choose who they want to run as their candidate in the general election general election - answersDecides who the candidate winning an office will be closed primary - answersElection where you must declare your party before Election Day open primary - answersElection where you can declare party affiliation on Election Day blanket primary - answersElection where you can vote for multiple parties for different offices on the same ballot split ticket - answersCandidates from each party are chosen by a voter Federal Elections Commission (FEC) - answersEnforces campaign finance law in the United States midterm elections - answersCongressional elections that happen halfway into a president's term war chest - answersMoney intended for a political campaign visual - answersNews segment showing a candidate in action spot - answersShort, expensive commercial for a candidate incumbent - answersReelection seeker; stronger chance of winning political action committees (PACs) - answersFormed by interest groups for campaign fundraising and spending purposes; Donate heavily to incumbents coattail effect - answersOccurs when a strong candidate at the top of the ballot such as in a presidential race, helps create victories for other down-ballot candidates runoff election - answersOccurs if no candidate receives a majority of the vote the first time in an election invisible primary - answersCandidates compete in polls and appear with political commentators while trying to gain popularity front-loading - answersStates schedule primaries and caucuses earlier to boost political influence in the election cycle Super Tuesday - answersOccurs when many states schedule primaries and caucuses on the same day in order to boost national excitement Electoral College - answers538 electors who cast votes to determine the president electors - answersMembers of the electoral college 23rd Amendment - answersGave Washington D.C. the right to vote in presidential elections winner-take-all - answersCandidate who receives majority/plurality wins the election while any other candidate gets nothing plurality - answersMost votes in an election, but not a majority mandate - answersThe feeling that a candidate has been given the authority to act on campaign promises following a solid electoral victory (FECA) Federal Elections Campaign Act - answersTightened campaign finance reporting requirements and limited candidate spending (FEC) Federal Elections Commission - answersMonitors and enforces campaign finance regulations Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) (2002) - answersCampaign finance law which attempted to reign in soft money political advertising Buckley v. Valeo (1976) - answersCampaign finance case in which the Supreme Court upholds some campaign finance limits, but does not limit the amount individuals can spend on their own campaigns...essentially equating freedom to spend as much on one's campaign to the 1st Amendment protection on Freedom of Speech Citizens United v. FEC (2010) - answersOverturned Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's restrictions on corporation and union independent expenditures for campaigns and issues McConnell v. FEC (2003) - answersSupreme Court decision which largely upheld the provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act hard money - answersPolitical donations that are regulated by law via the FEC Iowa caucuses - answersFirst election for delegates of presidential campaigns matching money - answersThe federal government matches any donations of $250 or less for presidential election campaigns New Hampshire primary - answersFirst primary of the presidential campaign season soft money - answersCash donations to political parties and interest groups that was not traced and not subject to campaign finance regulations access - answersThe ability through certain channels to be able to more easily approach certain politicians, staffers, and policymakers in order to influence public policy amicus curiae - answersSomeone who is not a party to a case but submits a legal brief on behalf of the case Citizens United v. FEC (2010) - answersCampaign spending by unions and corporations is a protected form of speech--This case started SuperPACs. 501 (c)(4) - answersCertain organizations such as a civic or a neighborhood organization that can lobby and campaign 501 (c)(3) - answersInclude churches and certain hospitals, they receive tax deductions for charitable donations and can influence government, but they cannot lobby government officials or donate to campaigns direct lobbying - answersAttempts to influence a legislative body through communication with a member or employee of a legislative body, or with a government official who participates in formulating legislation free rider - answersNonmembers of interest groups that choose not to bear the participation costs of time and fees but do benefit from the associated group's efforts grassroots lobbying - answersAn approach that separates itself from direct lobbying through the act of asking the general public to contact legislators and government officials concerning the issue at hand, as opposed to conveying the message to the legislators directly. Companies, associations and citizens are increasingly partaking in this type of lobbying as an attempt to influence a change in legislation grasstops - answersActivists or members of an organization or geographic area that have a high professional and/or public profile, may be part of the "political family" for a decision maker, and can raise public attention or influence decision makers through established connections. Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007) - answersA law that strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills. insider strategies - answersQuietly persuade government decision makers through exclusive access. intergovernmental lobby - answersMade up of mayors, governors, superintendents of schools, state directors of public health, country highway commissioners, local police chiefs, and others who count on federal funds. K Street - answersA segment of highway in Washington D.C. where many major lobbying firms were located. Now used as more of a metaphor to refer to interest groups access in Washington D.C. leadership PACs - answersA political action committee that can be established by current and former members of Congress as well as other prominent political figures. lobbying - answersThe process by which interest group members and other individuals attempt to influence public policy through contacts with public officials. lobbyist - answersA person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators. material incentives - answersTravel discounts, subscriptions, or complimentary items such as bags or jackets used to get people to join an interest group Nineteenth Amendment - answersGuaranteed women the right to vote throughout the United States outsider strategy - answersLobbying technique that relies on things such as lawsuits or get-out-the vote drives pluralism - answersA multitude of views that ultimately results in a consensus government political action committees (PACs) - answersThe political arm of a labor union, interest group, or corporation. They involve themselves in a wide array of election season activities, such as sending direct mail, creating advertising, staging rallies, and campaigning door-to-door. professional associations - answersAn organization seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest. public interest group - answersGeared towards improving life or government for the masses. purposive incentives - answersA reason or motive having to do with ethical beliefs or ideological principles revolving door - answersOccurs when officials leave their jobs in Congress or the Executive Branch to lobby the very government agencies that they departed. Seventeenth Amendment - answersEmpowered citizens to elect their U.S. senators directly as opposed to them being appointed by state legislators single-issue group - answersGroups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. Sixteenth Amendment - answersAllows for Congress to impose an income tax solidary incentives - answersSocial rewards such as pleasure, status, or companionship that lead people to join political organizations super PAC - answersTechnically known as independent expenditure-only committees, these groups may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations and individuals, then spend unlimited sums to overtly advocate for or against political candidates. think tanks - answersResearch institutions, often with specific ideological goals Thirteenth Amendment - answersOutlaws slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States trade associations - answersOrganizations founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. Twenty-sixth Amendment - answersGrants 18-20 year olds the right to vote in the United States United States v. Harriss (1954) - answersUpholds lobbyists' registration requirements and ensures anyone or any group the right to lobby. upper-class bias - answersThough annual membership fees in most interest groups are modest, critics argue that the trend results in policies that favor higher socioeconomic classes. Wagner Act (1935) - answersGuaranteed the right to strike and allowed unions to bargain collectively