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AP GOV EXAM
terms
129
History
11th Grade
02/22/2009

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Term
Natural Rights
Definition
life, liberty, property (John Locke says these are superior to human laws and that the purpose of the government was to protect natural rights)
Term
First Continental Congress (Sept 1774)
Definition
Each colony sent delegates to Philadelphia to discuss future relations with Britain
Term
Common Sense
Definition
Written by Thomas Paine in 1776
Term
Factions
Definition
James Madison believed that Factions would compete to seize government. Solution? have lots of factions so they would cancel out each other.
Term
Republic
Definition
System based on the consent of the governed- representatives of the public have power
Term
Federalist papers were written by...?
Definition
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
First "constitution." No president/ no national court. All government power was in the states. Congress: states all got 1 vote. No federal judiciary or executive. Inefficient (9/13 states necessary to pass. 13/13 to amend).
Term
Shays' Rebellion
Definition
An attack on the courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing the farms of in-debt farmers unable to pay. Congress and state couldn't raise a militia to stop them
Term
New Jersey Plan/ Virginia Plan/ Compromise
Definition
NJ:Each state should have same number of reps
VA: amount of reps is based on state's population
Connecticut Compromise= Senate (2 reps) and house (based on population)
Term
3/5 compromise
Definition
Each slave counted as 3/5 of a person toward their population total
Term
Madisonian Model
Definition
Human nature= self interest. To prevent tyranny of the majority place as much control beyond the direct control on the majority. JM wants powers to be with elite. Checks and balances are important
Term
Checks and Balances (basic)
Definition
Legislative: approves/ confirms presidential nominations/ control budget, can pass over president's veto and can impeach president
Executive: can veto congressional legislation and can nominate judges
Judicial: can declare presidential acts/laws unconstitutional
Term
Federalists VS. Anti-Federalist
Definition
Federalists: large landowners, wealthy merchants, professionals (supported constitution)
Anti-Federalists: small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers- they opposed constitution
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
1791- JM got 10/12 constitutional amendments ratified
Term
2 stages to the amendment process
Definition
Proposal: (1) by a 2/3 vote in house and senate or (2) by national convention at request 2/3 of state legislatures
Ratification: (1) by 3/4 of states or (2) by special state conventions
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
gives the courts the right to decide whether the actions of the legislative and executive branches of state and national governments are constitutional
Term
Federalism
Definition
way of organizing government so that 2 or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land/ people. 2 main questions: Who should decide? What should be done?
Term
Supremacy Clause
Definition
National laws and treaties supreme of the state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits
Term
Tenth amendment
Definition
Constitutional amendment stating that "the powers not delegated to the U.S. by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people"
Term
McCulloch vs. Maryland
Definition
Supreme court case- established supremacy of national government. Congress held implied powers
Term
Enumerated powers/ implied powers
Definition
enumerated: stated in constitution
implied: are implied in constitution
Term
Elastic Clause
Definition
aka "necessary and proper" clause
Term
Gibbons vs. Ogden
Definition
Supreme court case. Congress was supreme with the power to regulate interstate commerce
Term
Full faith and credit
Definition
in constitution requiring each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states
Term
Dual federalism/ cooperative federalism
Definition
dual: states and national governments remain supreme within their own spheres, separated
cooperative: powers and policy assignments are shared within states and national governments (1. shared costs, 2. federal guidelines, 3. shared admin)
Term
Fiscal Federalism
Definition
pattern of taxing, spending, and providing grants in the federal system
Term
Categorical grants
Definition
Federal grants that can be used for only specific purposed or categories of state and local spending (comes with strings attached)
Term
project grants
Definition
federal grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of merit
Term
formula grants
Definition
federal grants distributed accordingly to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations
Term
block grants
Definition
federal grants given more or less automatically to states of communities to support broad programs
Term
cross-cutting requirements
Definition
using federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another
Term
Advantages/ Disadvantages of Federalism
Definition
Advantages: (1) more participation in politics (2) if a party loses national election it can still rebuild at a more local level (3) if every issue had to be resolved in Washington -> overload
Disadvantages: (1) diversity of states, each has different needs (2) complicates law passing process (slower)
Term
privileges and immunities
Definition
in constitution- according each citizen of each state most of the privileges of the other states
Term
Melting Pot
Definition
Mixture of cultures, ideas and peoples changing the nation
Term
minority majority
Definition
having a non-caucasian majority in the united states
Term
Reapportionment
Definition
process of reallocating seats in house of reps every 10 years based on the census
Term
random sampling
Definition
technique used by survey researchers= everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for the sample (small portion of people chosen for a survey)
Term
random digit dialing
Definition
technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to listed and unlisted numbers
Term
exit poll
Definition
public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners- ask certain people when they are leaving the polls
Term
Bandwagon Effect
Definition
people who support a candidate because they see others are
Term
Demographic trends (4)
Definition
1. more diversity (especially hispanic immigration)= dem
2. older= rep: conservative/ dem= social security and medicare
3. southern= helps GOP for... now
4. well-educated= helps dems
Term
Narrowcasting
Definition
media programming focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience
Term
beats
Definition
specific locations from which news frequently emanates
Term
trial balloons
Definition
intentional news leak
Term
policy entrepreneurs
Definition
people who invest their political "capital" in an issue
Term
FCC
Definition
Federal Communications Commission- regulates use of airwaves (equal time rule- if a station sells air time to one candidate it has to be willing to sell to their opponents for the same office)
Term
public ownership/ private ownership
Definition
public: media can serve the public interest without worrying about audience size
private: having the largest audience is the key to success and the sole objective
Term
public relations
Definition
hired company to improve candidate's image and their ability to peddle their issue positions
Term
party in electorate
Definition
can register as a party but not legally binding, they claim to be a member
Term
party as an organization
Definition
party has a national office, full time staff, rules, by laws, and budgets. keeps party running between elections and makes rules
Term
party in government
Definition
elected officials who call themselves members of a party
Term
linkage institutions
Definition
channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the government's policy agenda. 4 main linkage institutions: parties, elections, TV/ media, interest groups
Term
Rational Choice theory
Definition
individuals act in their own best interest
Term
ticket splitting
Definition
voting for one party for one office and with another party for other offices
Term
party machines
Definition
type of political party that relies heavily on material rewards, such as patronage (promotion/job given fro political reasons, not based on merit)= corrupt
Term
closed primaries
Definition
elections to select party nominees, people have a register in advance with the party to vote
Term
open primaries
Definition
elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether to to vote dem OR rep
Term
blanket primaries
Definition
elections to select party nominees, voters can choose to vote some dem and some rep
Term
national convention
Definition
meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose presidential ticket and write party platform (< long, no one actually reads)
Term
national committee
Definition
one of the institutions that keeps the party operating between conventions
Term
national chairperson
Definition
responsible for day to day activities on the party, usually hand picked by presidential nominee
Term
coalition
Definition
group of individuals with a common interest
Term
critical election
Definition
electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions, and often the majority party is displaced by minority
Term
party realignment
Definition
the displacement of the majority party by minority party
Term
New deal coalition
Definition
coalition formed by democrats. basic elements: urban working class, ethnic groups, catholics, jews, poor, African Americans, and intellectuals
Term
party dealignment
Definition
disengagement of people and politicians from parties
Term
party neutrality
Definition
floating voters
Term
winner take all system of government
Definition
like in America, legislative seats are awarded to candidates who come in first in constituencies
Term
proportional government
Definition
like Europe. legislative seats given to political parties in proportion to number of votes won in election
Term
coalition government
Definition
2 or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature
Term
Responsible party model
Definition
ideal government
1. must present distinct comprehensive programs
2. candidate must be committed to program and have internal cohesion
3. majority party must implement programs
4. majority party must accept responsibility for performance of government
Term
Caucuses
Definition
- for the public to declare preferences
- filter effect
- privacy in votes
- bad= disenfranchises voters, people who cannot get to caucus
- each candidate gets a number of delegates proportional to votes (dem) (rep= winner takes all)
Term
primaries
Definition
-popular vote %= # of delegates (proportional representation)
- delegates go to national convention to vote for candidate they are pledged to
Term
Party bosses
Definition
no longer exist. they chose the party nominees
Term
superdelegates
Definition
designed to keep some power in the elites. "un-pledged" delegate. 15% of delegates at national convention will be superdelegates
Term
FEC
Definition
Federal election committee is a bi-partisan regulatory agency that oversees federal finance laws. goals= transparency and regulating and limiting amount on $ in politics
Term
matching funds
Definition
a candidate meeting certain qualifications can get money from certain taxes but cannot raise money outside of that
Term
PAC
Definition
Political action committee- has to register with FEC, can give $5,000 per election cycle to candidate
Term
hard/ soft money
Definition
hard: money given directly to candidate- can give $4,600
soft: money given to candidate's party- banned at a federal level, can give $28,000
Term
McCain- Feingold Act 2002
Definition
banned soft money at a federal level, can still give $28,000 to state parties
Term
Buckley vs. Valeo
Definition
speech= $$
says you can limit people to give $2, 300 but cannot limit the total amount candidate raises
-extended the right of free speech to PACs
Term
527s
Definition
"charities" that are unregulated by FEC. can give unlimited amounts of $ and they don't have to disclose who is in the organization/ where money comes from
Term
three effects of campaigns of voters
Definition
1. reinforcement *
2. activation
3. conversion
Term
Interest Groups
Definition
organization of people with similar policy goals who enter the political process to achieve those goals
Term
pluralist theory
Definition
IGs are good
they give citizens a voice and they balance each other out
Term
elite theory
Definition
IGs are bad
they are not all created equal, they don't all have the same amount of $$
Term
hyperpluralist theory
Definition
system is bad because ALL bad IGs are too powerful/ too successful/ too influential
Term
free-rider problem
Definition
people getting the rewards of something without having to contribute or participate
Term
lobbying
Definition
done by IGs
give money to candidates (have to convince candidate to do what they want)
Term
electioneering
Definition
campaign donations, TV ads, mobilization of voters
Term
litigation
Definition
taking it to court- getting courts to say something is unconstitutional (ex. Brown v. board- NAACP)
Term
Referendum
Definition
state level method of direct legislation hat gives voters a chance to approve/ disapprove proposed legislation or a proposed constitutional amendment (put on the ballot)
Term
motor voter act
Definition
1993, requires states to permit people to register to vote at the same time as they apply for their driver's license
Term
policy voting
Definition
electoral choices made on the basis of where the candidates stand on policy issues
Term
electoral college
Definition
selection of the president by the electors (chosen by the state parties)
Term
3 types of elections
Definition
1. primary elections- electing nominees
2. general elections between the nominees
3. elections on specific policy questions
Term
election of 1800
Definition
no primaries, nominating conventions, candidate speeches, or entourage of supporters. first friendly transfer of power
only property owning white males voted
Term
election on 1896
Definition
William McKinley ran a "front porch campaign" against William Jennings Bryan, who gave over 600 speeches, and WM won.
Term
Who is more likely to vote
Definition
higher education
older
african americans/ hispanics are underrepresented
women
married
if someone in your family is in a union
Term
How many electoral votes does each state have?
Definition
the amount of its representatives in the house and senator (at least 3)
Term
casework
Definition
activities of members on congress that help constituents as individuals
Term
pork barrel
Definition
the mighty list of federal projects, grants and contracts available to cities, businesses, college and institutions in a congressional district
Term
bicameral legislature
Definition
legislature divided into 2 houses
Term
house rules committee
Definition
institution unique to the house of representatives that reviews all bills coming from house committees before if goes to the full house
Term
filibuster
Definition
strategy unique to the senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to "talk it to death"
Term
speaker of the house
Definition
office mandated in the constitution. Speaker is chosen by majority party, has formal and informal powers. in line after VP to be pres
Term
majority leader
Definition
principal partisan ally of the speaker of the house or the party's manager in the senate. responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions
Term
whips
Definition
party leaders who work with majority and minority leaders to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to the bill
Term
minority leader
Definition
principal leader of the minority party in the house of reps and senate
Term
standing committees
Definition
separate subject-matter committees in each house of congress that handle bills in different policy aread
Term
joint committees
Definition
congressional committees on a few subject matter areas with membership drawn from both houses
Term
conference committees
Definition
congressional committees formed when the senate and the house pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences bring back a single back
Term
select committees
Definition
congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose (ex. watergate investigation)
Term
legislative oversight
Definition
congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, preformed mainly through hearings
Term
committee chairs
Definition
most important influencers of the congressional agenda. manage when bills are brought in front of the house
Term
caucus (congressional)
Definition
group of members of congress sharing some interest or characteristic. most are composed of members from both parties and both houses
Term
amount of people and qualifications required in the house of representatives and the senate
Definition
House of reps: 435 members, but be 25 years old and have been an American citizen for 7 years
Senate: 100 members, must be 30 years old and have been a citizen for 9 years
Term
chief legislator
Definition
= president
they help to create congress' agenda
Term
politicos
Definition
mix of trustees (using their best judgment to make policy in the interests of their constituents) and instructed delegates (mirroring the preferences of their constituents)
Term
Grass-roots lobbying
Definition
such as computerized mailings to encourage citizens to pressure their representative on an issue
Term
Congress in session is congress ___ _________, congress in committees is congress __ _______.
Definition
Wilson quote:
Congress in session is congress on display, congress in committees is congress at work
Term
franking
Definition
members of congress have the privilege of sending mail free of charge
Term
bureaucracy
Definition
a hierarchical structure that uses task specialization, operates on merit principle, ad behaves with impersonality. They govern modern states
Term
Merit principle
Definition
idea that hiring should be based on enterance exams and promotion rating to produce administration by people with talent and skill
Term
Office of Personnel management
Definition
OPM- office in charge of hiring for most agencies of federal government
Term
GS (general schedule) rating
Definition
schedule for federal employees (GS1-GS18) by which salaries can be keyed to rating and experience
Term
senior executive service (SES)
Definition
elite cadre of about 9000 federal government managers, established by civil service reform act of 1978, most career officials but include some political appointees who do not require senate confirmation
Term
policy implication
Definition
stage of policy making between the establishment of a policy and the consequences of the policy for the people whom it affects. Implementation involves translating the goals and objectives of a policy into an operating, on going program
Term
administration discretion
Definition
the authority of administrative actors to select among various responses to a given problem
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