Shared Flashcard Set

Details

AP American Government
vocab words and the like
36
Other
12th Grade
05/09/2011

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Grassroots Mobilization
Definition
interest groups organize citizens, who act to influence policymakers
Term
lobbying
Definition
direct contact with policymakers in order to persuade by sharing of info
Term
litigation
Definition
use of courts to gain policy preferences by case/amicus curiae
Term
amicus curiae
Definition
NOT from political party; individuals/interest groups send own opinion to court for a case
Term
merit system
Definition
civil-service employees; based on merit/experience/qualifications and/or testing
Term
federalism
Definition
divides the power between the national and state governments
Term
Establishment Clause
Definition
prevents establishing national religion and disallows preferential treatment toward a certain religion; 1st Amendment
Term
Free Exercise Clause
Definition
government may not restrict citizens' free exercise of their own religious beliefs
Term
"Lemon Test"
Definition
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971); government must not become "excessively entangled" with religion, must stay secular; 1st amendment
Term
Citizenship Clause
Definition
national definition of citizenship that states cannot violate; limits state gov
Term
selective incorporation
Definition
prohibits states from denying Bill of Rights provisions to citizens; through 14th amendment
Term
gerrymandering
Definition
majority Congress members can redraw district lines in order to benefit them in voting
Term
incumbent
Definition
existing holder of a political party; tends to have an advantage in election against other runner
Term
judicial review
Definition
the judiciary branch as the power to check the constitutionality of legislative/executive actions; not in the Constitution
Term
17th Amendment
Definition
mandated direct election of U.S. Senators
Term
14th Amendment
Definition
citizens under the national government first; see 'Citizenship Clause'
Term
filibuster
Definition
a tool Senators use to stall while a bill is on the floor; House of Reps CANNOT do this
Term
standing committee
Definition
permanent; legislative oversight; investigative power
Term
select committees
Definition
temporary; for a specific purpose
Term
joint committees
Definition
consists of both the House and Senate
Term
conference committees
Definition
temporary; consists of both House and Senate; used to work out differences in a bill passed by both of them
Term
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Definition
established judicial review; gave power to judicial branch
Term
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Definition
established national supremacy through taxing powers
Term
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Definition
established the idea of "separate but equal"
Term
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
Definition
precedent of applying Bill of Rights to the states; freedom of speech
Term
Brown v. Board of Education
Definition
school segregation now considered unconstitutional; overturns Plessy v. Ferguson
Term
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Definition
establishes the idea of "one man, one vote," legislative districts should be near equal in size
Term
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Definition
the right to remain silent
Term
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Definition
established national abortion guidelines
Term
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Definition
legislatures can limit contributions, but not how much one spends of his own money on campaigns; campaign spending protected under 1st amendment
Term
House Rules Committee
Definition
maintains control of the House floor
Term
mandatory spending
Definition
nondiscretionary spending; not controlled by annual budget decisions
Term
party polarization
Definition
increased interparty differences
Term
lame-duck period
Definition
an office holder's term is coming to an end
Term
fiscal policy
Definition
involves taxing/spending and the budget
Term
10th amendment
Definition
reserves powers to the states and the people
Supporting users have an ad free experience!