AP Gov flash cards
Definitions to study for Ap gov
22nd Amendment
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
25th Amendment
In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.
“solid south”
Electoral support of the Southern United States for Democratic Party candidates from 1877 (the end of Reconstruction) to 1964 (the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964).
10th Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Americans with Disabilities Act
The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Amicus Curiae Brief
Someone who is not a party to a case who offers information that bears on the case but that has not been solicited by any of the parties to assist a court.
Appellate Court
A court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies
Bill of attainder
A legislative act pronouncing a person guilty of a crime, usually treason, without trial and subjecting that person to capital punishment and attainder. Such acts are prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.
Blanket primary
Primary election that permits all voters, regardless of party affiliation, to vote on candidates. You can thus vote in both Democratic and Republican primaries.
Block grants
A large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent.
Brown v. Board of Education
United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional.
Budget & Impoundment Control Act
Allows Congress to vote on budgets for whole units of spending. This means that following the Act, Congress could vote for or against the budget authorizing spending for an entire department, where previously Congress had to vote on each separate appropriation. The Act gave power to the President and the heads of government departments to withdraw authority for certain specific parts of a budget, provided that they explained their reasoning in statements to Congress.
Categorical Grants
Issued by the United States Congress, which may be spent only for narrowly-defined purposes.
Categorical grants are the main source of federal aid to state and local government, can be used only for specific purposes and for helping education or categories of state and local spending.
Caucus
A meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement.
Christmas Tree Bill
Referring to a bill that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. A Christmas tree bill consists of many riders. The amendments which adorn the bill may provide special benefits to various groups or interests. The term refers to the proposed legislation being subject to having each member of Congress hang their own amendment on it.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities, and women. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public (known as “public accommodations”).
Clean Air Act
It was designed to control air pollution on a national level. It requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and enforce regulations to protect the public from airborne contaminants known to be hazardous to human health.
Closed primary
A direct primary in which only persons meeting tests of party membership may vote.
Cloture motion
The procedure by which debate is formally ended in a meeting or legislature so that a vote may be taken. When they want to end a Fillibuster.
Coattail effect
The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
Conference committee
A committee of the Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.
Congressional Budget Office
A federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides economic data to Congress
Critical election
A critical election is an electoral process that causes a dramatic change in the political system in a country.
De facto segreation
Racial segregation, especially in public schools, that happens “by fact” rather than by legal requirement.
De jure segregation
Segregation that is imposed by the law.
Open seat election
Where there is no incumbent running in an election. Like when a president leaves office after his second term.
Dealignment
A trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan affiliation, without developing a new one to replace it. It is contrasted with realignment.
Debt
Something that is owed, such as money, goods, or services
Deficit
Inadequacy or insufficiency. An unfavorable condition or position; a disadvantage. The amount by which a sum of money falls short of the required or expected amount; a shortage.
Delegated powers
Powers that are specifactly granted to the federal government by the constitution.
Democratic National Committee
Provides national leadership for the Democratic Party of the United States. It is responsible for promoting the Democratic political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy.
District courts
A designation of an inferior state court that exercises general jurisdiction that it has been granted by the constitution or statute which created it. A U.S. judicial tribunal with original jurisdiction to try cases or controversies that fall within its limited jurisdiction.
Division of powers
The principle or system of vesting in break up branches, which are the executive, legislative as well as judicial powers of a government. It can also be defined as the constitutional principle that confines the powers vested in any person or institution.
Elites
Government is controlled by some identifiable group that holds a disproportionate amount of political power.
Entitlements
A guarantee of access to something, such as to welfare benefits, based on established legislation. A “legal right” is itself an entitlement associated with a social principle, such that an “entitlement” is a provision made in accordance with a legal framework of a society.
Environmental Protection Agency
An independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
Ex post facto
Laws adopted after an act is committed making it illegal although it was legal when done, or increases the penalty for a crime after it is committed.
Exclusionary rule
Designed to exclude evidence obtained in violation of a criminal defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights.
Executive agreements
An agreement made between the executive branch of the U.S. government and a foreign government without ratification by the Senate.
Executive orders
The president’s power to issue executive orders. Executive orders do not require congressional approval. Thus, the president can use them to set policy while avoiding public debate and opposition.
Factions
A group of persons forming a cohesive, usually contentious minority within a larger group.
Federal Communication Commission
An independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satellite
Federal Reserve System
A U.S. banking system that consists of 12 federal reserve banks, with each one serving member banks in its own district.
Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
Filibuster
The use of irregular or obstructive tactics by a member of a legislative assembly to prevent the adoption of a measure generally favored or to force a decision against the will of the majority. An exceptionally long speech, as one lasting for a day or days, or a series of such speeches to accomplish this purpose.
Fiscal policy
Government spending policies that influence macroeconomic conditions. Through fiscal policy, regulators attempt to improve unemployment rates, control inflation, stabilize business cycles and influence interest rates in an effort to control the economy.
Fiscal Year
A fiscal year (or financial year, or sometimes budget year) is a period used for calculating annual (“yearly”) financial statements in businesses and other organizations.
Formal/informal Amendments
A formal amendment is a revision, which has been passed at a meeting and it is in writing. Informal amendment describes how the meaning, or interpretation, changes through judicial review or changes in circumstances.
Franking Privilege
Privilege of sending mail without payment of postage. This privilege is exercised in pursuance of personal or official designations.
