AP Gov test Flashcards
(190 cards)
1
Q
What are the six purposes of government listed in the Preamble?
A
1) Form a more perfect union 2) Establish justice 3) Ensure domestic tranquility 4) Provide for common defense 5) Promote general welfare 6) Secure blessings of liberty
2
Q
What principle divides power between national and state governments?
A
Federalism
3
Q
What are the three branches of government?
A
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
4
Q
What is the main function of the Legislative Branch?
A
Make laws
5
Q
What is the main function of the Executive Branch?
A
Enforce laws
6
Q
What is the main function of the Judicial Branch?
A
Interpret laws
7
Q
What document establishes the structure of the U.S. government?
A
The Constitution
8
Q
What are the first ten amendments called?
A
Bill of Rights
9
Q
What principle prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful?
A
Checks and balances
10
Q
What are the two houses of Congress?
A
House of Representatives and Senate
11
Q
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
A
435
12
Q
How many members are in the Senate?
A
100
13
Q
What is the length of a House term?
A
2 years
14
Q
What is the length of a Senate term?
A
6 years
15
Q
What are the enumerated powers of Congress?
A
Powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8
16
Q
What clause gives Congress implied powers?
A
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
17
Q
What clause gives Congress power to regulate trade?
A
Commerce Clause
18
Q
What is the Speaker of the House’s role?
A
Presiding officer and leader of the majority party
19
Q
What is the Vice President’s role in the Senate?
A
President of the Senate (votes only to break ties)
20
Q
What is a filibuster?
A
Tactic to delay Senate voting by prolonged speech
21
Q
How can a filibuster be stopped?
A
Cloture vote (requires 60 senators)
22
Q
What are the President’s formal powers?
A
Commander-in-Chief, pardon power, treaty-making (with Senate approval), appointment power
23
Q
What are the President’s informal powers?
A
Executive orders, signing statements, bargaining/persuasion
24
Q
What is judicial review?
A
Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
25
What case established judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
26
What is the supremacy clause?
Constitution/federal laws override state laws (Article VI)
27
What is selective incorporation?
Applying Bill of Rights protections to states via 14th Amendment
28
What does the 1st Amendment protect?
Religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
29
What does the 4th Amendment protect?
Against unreasonable searches/seizures
30
What does the 5th Amendment protect?
Against self-incrimination, double jeopardy; due process
31
What does the 14th Amendment guarantee?
Equal protection under the law and due process
32
What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
Liberties = protections FROM government; rights = protections BY government
33
What was the significance of Brown v. Board of Education?
Ended school segregation (1954)
34
What was the significance of Baker v. Carr?
Established 'one person, one vote' principle for redistricting
35
What was the significance of Shaw v. Reno?
Racial gerrymandering violates Equal Protection Clause
36
What was the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland?
Confirmed federal supremacy and implied powers (1819)
37
What was the significance of Citizens United v. FEC?
Corporations/unions can spend unlimited funds in elections (2010)
38
What are the types of federalism?
Dual (layer cake), Cooperative (marble cake), New (devolution)
39
What are categorical grants?
Federal funds for specific purposes with strings attached
40
What are block grants?
Federal funds for general purposes with fewer restrictions
41
What is an iron triangle?
Relationship between congressional committees, agencies, and interest groups
42
What is the bureaucracy's role?
Implement and administer federal laws and programs
43
What is the spoils system?
Rewarding political supporters with government jobs
44
What is the Pendleton Act?
Established merit-based civil service system (1883)
45
What are the models of representation?
Delegate (votes as constituents want), Trustee (uses judgment), Politico (combination)
46
What is divided government?
When one party controls presidency and another controls Congress
47
What are the functions of political parties?
Nominate candidates, mobilize voters, simplify choices, influence policy
48
What is realignment?
Dramatic shift in party coalitions
49
What is dealignment?
Decline in party loyalty among voters
50
What are primary elections?
Elections to select party nominees
51
What is the difference between open and closed primaries?
Open: any voter can participate; Closed: only registered party members
52
What is the Electoral College?
System where electors choose president based on state popular votes
53
How many electoral votes are needed to win presidency?
270
54
What is the incumbency advantage?
Current officeholders have better chance of reelection
55
What is gerrymandering?
Drawing districts to favor one political group
56
What are the types of interest groups?
Economic, public interest, single-issue, ideological
57
What is lobbying?
Attempting to influence policymakers
58
What are PACs?
Political Action Committees that raise/spend money to elect candidates
59
What are Super PACs?
Can raise unlimited funds but cannot coordinate with candidates
60
What is the media's role as gatekeeper?
Decides which stories receive attention
61
What is horserace journalism?
Focus on polls and competition rather than policy issues
62
What is political socialization?
Process of acquiring political beliefs and values
63
What are the agents of socialization?
Family, school, peers, media, religion, events
64
What are the core American values?
Liberty, equality, individualism, rule of law, free enterprise
65
What is political efficacy?
Belief that one's participation matters
66
What are the voting models?
Rational-choice, prospective, retrospective, party-line
67
What factors affect voter turnout?
Age, education, income, race, party competition
68
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do?
Banned racial discrimination in voting
69
What is the difference between fiscal and monetary policy?
Fiscal: taxing/spending; Monetary: money supply/interest rates
70
What is Keynesian economics?
Government should spend during recessions to stimulate economy
71
What is supply-side economics?
Lower taxes stimulate economic growth (Reaganomics)
72
What is the Federal Reserve?
Central bank that controls monetary policy
73
What are entitlement programs?
Mandatory spending like Social Security and Medicare
74
What is discretionary spending?
Annual budget items Congress can adjust
75
What is the difference between liberal and conservative ideologies?
Liberals favor more government intervention; conservatives favor less
76
What is libertarianism?
Minimal government in both economic and social spheres
77
What is populism?
Anti-elite movement favoring ordinary people
78
What are the types of polls?
Benchmark, tracking, exit, entrance, focus groups
79
What affects poll accuracy?
Sampling error, question wording, response bias
80
What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties?
Rights = equal treatment; Liberties = freedoms from government
81
What was the significance of Roe v. Wade?
Legalized abortion (1973, overturned by Dobbs in 2022)
82
What was the significance of Obergefell v. Hodges?
Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide (2015)
83
What was the significance of Gideon v. Wainwright?
Right to attorney in state cases (1963)
84
What was the significance of Miranda v. Arizona?
Right to remain silent and attorney during interrogation (1966)
85
What is the exclusionary rule?
Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court
86
What is the difference between substantive and procedural due process?
Substantive = content of laws; Procedural = how laws are applied
87
What are the levels of scrutiny?
Rational basis, intermediate, strict
88
What is affirmative action?
Policies to address historical discrimination
89
What was Regents of UC v. Bakke?
Race can be factor in admissions but quotas unconstitutional (1978)
90
What was Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard?
Struck down race-based affirmative action in college admissions (2023)
91
What is the difference between the House and Senate impeachment roles?
House impeaches (charges); Senate holds trial and removes
92
What are the presidential succession rules?
VP → Speaker → President pro tempore → Cabinet members
93
What is the War Powers Act?
President must notify Congress within 48 hours of troop deployment; 60-day limit without approval
94
What is executive privilege?
President's right to withhold information for national security
95
What is the bully pulpit?
President's platform to influence public opinion
96
What are executive agreements?
International agreements without Senate approval
97
What are executive orders?
Presidential directives with force of law
98
What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction?
Original = first hearing; Appellate = reviewing lower court decisions
99
What is stare decisis?
Following precedent in court decisions
100
What is judicial activism vs restraint?
Activism = shaping policy; Restraint = deferring to other branches
101
What is the Lemon test?
Three-pronged test for church-state separation (overturned in 2022)
102
What is the establishment clause?
Prohibits government establishment of religion
103
What is the free exercise clause?
Protects religious practices from government interference
104
What was Engel v. Vitale?
Banned school-sponsored prayer (1962)
105
What was Tinker v. Des Moines?
Protected student symbolic speech (1969)
106
What was Schenck v. US?
Established 'clear and present danger' test (1919)
107
What was Brandenburg v. Ohio?
Speech can only be banned if inciting 'imminent lawless action' (1969)
108
What was NY Times v. Sullivan?
Public figures must prove 'actual malice' in libel cases (1964)
109
What was DC v. Heller?
Affirmed individual right to bear arms (2008)
110
What was McDonald v. Chicago?
Incorporated 2nd Amendment to states (2010)
111
What is the difference between fiscal and monetary policy?
Fiscal: taxing/spending (Congress/President); Monetary: money supply (Federal Reserve)
112
What is the role of the Federal Reserve?
Control money supply, regulate banks, stabilize economy
113
What are mandatory vs discretionary spending?
Mandatory: required by law (Social Security); Discretionary: annual appropriations (defense)
114
What is the national debt?
Total accumulated government borrowing
115
What is GDP?
Gross Domestic Product - total value of goods/services produced
116
What is the CPI?
Consumer Price Index - measures inflation
117
What is unemployment rate?
Percentage of labor force actively seeking work
118
What are entitlement programs?
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid - guaranteed benefits
119
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare: elderly; Medicaid: low-income
120
What is the social safety net?
Programs to assist disadvantaged (SNAP, TANF, etc.)
121
What is the difference between progressive, regressive, and proportional taxes?
Progressive: higher rates on wealthy; Regressive: lower rates on wealthy; Proportional: flat rate
122
What is the role of interest groups?
Influence policy, represent members, educate public
123
What are the types of interest groups?
Economic (business/labor), public interest, ideological, single-issue
124
What is lobbying?
Attempting to influence policymakers
125
What is the revolving door?
Movement between government and lobbying jobs
126
What is grassroots lobbying?
Mobilizing public to contact representatives
127
What is the free rider problem?
People benefit from group's work without contributing
128
What are the functions of elections?
Choose leaders, influence policy, legitimize government
129
What is frontloading?
States scheduling primaries earlier to increase influence
130
What is the invisible primary?
Pre-primary campaigning and fundraising
131
What is the coattail effect?
Strong candidate helps same-party candidates win
132
What is split-ticket voting?
Voting for different parties in same election
133
What is the gender gap?
Women tend to vote more Democratic than men
134
What is political efficacy?
Belief that one's vote matters
135
What are the voting amendments?
15th (race), 17th (direct Senate election), 19th (women), 23rd (DC), 24th (no poll tax), 26th (age 18)
136
What is the difference between hard and soft money?
Hard: regulated donations to candidates; Soft: unregulated party donations
137
What was the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?
Banned soft money to national parties (2002)
138
What is dark money?
Political spending where donors are undisclosed
139
What is microtargeting?
Using data to tailor messages to specific groups
140
What is the difference between participatory, pluralist, and elite democracy?
Participatory: broad participation; Pluralist: group competition; Elite: educated elites rule
141
What is hyperpluralism?
Too many groups cause government gridlock
142
What is the difference between equality of opportunity vs equality of result?
Opportunity: equal chance; Result: equal outcomes
143
What is the difference between liberal and conservative economic views?
Liberal: more regulation, progressive taxes; Conservative: less regulation, lower taxes
144
What is the difference between liberal and conservative social views?
Liberal: more personal freedom; Conservative: traditional values
145
What is libertarianism?
Minimal government in both economic and social spheres
146
What is the difference between Keynesian and supply-side economics?
Keynesian: government spending stimulates; Supply-side: tax cuts stimulate
147
What is the difference between monetary and fiscal policy?
Monetary: Fed controls money supply; Fiscal: government taxing/spending
148
What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending?
Mandatory: required by law; Discretionary: annual appropriations
149
What is the difference between deficit and debt?
Deficit: annual shortfall; Debt: total accumulated
150
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare: elderly; Medicaid: low-income
151
What is the role of the bureaucracy?
Implement laws, administer programs, regulate
152
What are the types of bureaucratic agencies?
Cabinet departments, independent agencies, regulatory commissions, government corporations
153
What is rule-making authority?
Agency power to create regulations to implement laws
154
What is the difference between discretionary and rule-making authority?
Discretionary: flexibility in implementation; Rule-making: creating binding regulations
155
What is the iron triangle?
Relationship between agencies, committees, and interest groups
156
What is the issue network?
Temporary coalition around specific policy
157
What is regulatory capture?
Agencies dominated by industries they regulate
158
What are the methods of bureaucratic accountability?
Congressional oversight, presidential appointments, judicial review, sunshine laws
159
What is the Hatch Act?
Limits political activities of federal employees
160
What is the Freedom of Information Act?
Allows public access to government records
161
What is the Sunshine Act?
Requires open meetings for agencies
162
What is the difference between categorical and block grants?
Categorical: specific purposes; Block: general purposes
163
What is devolution?
Transfer of power from federal to state governments
164
What is preemption?
Federal law overrides state law
165
What is nullification?
State refusal to enforce federal law (historically)
166
What is the difference between cooperative and dual federalism?
Cooperative: shared responsibilities; Dual: separate spheres
167
What is new federalism?
Returning power to states (Nixon/Reagan)
168
What is the significance of US v. Lopez?
Limited Congress's commerce clause power (1995)
169
What is the significance of Dobbs v. Jackson?
Overturned Roe, returned abortion to states (2022)
170
What is the significance of Obergefell v. Hodges?
Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide (2015)
171
What is the significance of Citizens United v. FEC?
Allowed unlimited corporate political spending (2010)
172
What is the significance of Baker v. Carr?
'One person, one vote' for redistricting (1962)
173
What is the significance of Shaw v. Reno?
Banned racial gerrymandering (1993)
174
What is the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland?
Established federal supremacy (1819)
175
What is the significance of Marbury v. Madison?
Established judicial review (1803)
176
What is the significance of Plessy v. Ferguson?
'Separate but equal' (1896, overturned by Brown)
177
What is the significance of Brown v. Board?
Ended school segregation (1954)
178
What is the significance of Gideon v. Wainwright?
Right to attorney in state cases (1963)
179
What is the significance of Miranda v. Arizona?
Right to remain silent (1966)
180
What is the significance of NY Times v. US?
Limited prior restraint (Pentagon Papers, 1971)
181
What is the significance of Schenck v. US?
'Clear and present danger' test (1919)
182
What is the significance of Brandenburg v. Ohio?
'Imminent lawless action' test (1969)
183
What is the significance of Tinker v. Des Moines?
Protected student speech (1969)
184
What is the significance of Engel v. Vitale?
Banned school prayer (1962)
185
What is the significance of Wisconsin v. Yoder?
Allowed Amish to remove children from school (1972)
186
What is the significance of DC v. Heller?
Affirmed individual gun rights (2008)
187
What is the significance of McDonald v. Chicago?
Incorporated 2nd Amendment (2010)
188
What is the significance of Roe v. Wade?
Legalized abortion (1973, overturned by Dobbs)
189
What is the significance of Lawrence v. Texas?
Struck down sodomy laws (2003)
190
What is the significance of US v. Windsor?
Struck down DOMA (2013)
