ap gov2 Flashcards
(113 cards)
1
Q
The system of civil servants and political appointees who implement congressional or presidential decisions.
A
bureaucracy
2
Q
a formal agreement between the President and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval but can be changed by another President.
A
executive agreement
3
Q
a committee created by the House and Senate to reach a compromise when each chamber passes different versions of the same bill.
A
conference committee
4
Q
a congressional committee created for a specific purpose- sometimes to do an investigation.
A
select special committee
5
Q
a permanent committee in either chamber of Congress- usually focusing on a policy area like defense or education.
A
standing committee
6
Q
an action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination.
A
affirmative action
7
Q
Spoken (written) false statements that damage a person’s reputation.
A
slander (libel)
8
Q
Article IV clause that gives the Constitution and national laws supremacy over state laws.
A
supremacy clause
9
Q
the clause in article 1 that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
A
commerce clause
10
Q
The increase in the price of consumer goods over time.
A
inflation
11
Q
federal health benefits for low income persons.
A
medicaid
12
Q
federal health insurance for the elderly.
A
medicare
13
Q
a government program that provides retirement benefits and healthcare for disabled workers.
A
social security
14
Q
The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of the president.
A
coattail effect
15
Q
the official position of a political party.
A
Platform
16
Q
the extent to which people believe political issues are relevant to them.
A
salience
17
Q
how strongly a person feels about a political issue.
A
Intensity
18
Q
The problem faced by interest groups-including unions- when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group actions without actually joining the group.
A
free rider
19
Q
a structure within society that connects people to the government such as political parties- the media- interest groups- and elections.
A
linkeage institutions
20
Q
Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot.
A
party line voting
21
Q
Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future.
A
prospective voting
22
Q
Voting to decide whether a party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past
A
retrospective voting
23
Q
Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest.
A
rational choice voting
24
Q
the theory that lower taxes stimulate the economy by encouraging spending and investment.
A
supply side economics
25
theory that the government should use fiscal policy to manage the economy through taxing and spending to create more economic stability.
Keynesian economics
26
ideologically supports lower taxes- less government- and a free market.
conservative
27
ideologically supports a stronger government programs and market regulation.
liberal
28
a subsection of a population chosen to participate in a survey in which every member of the whole population has an equal chance of being chosen.
random sample
29
the idea established in Mapp v. Ohio that evidence that is illegally obtained cannot be used in a trial.
exclusionary rule
30
14th amendment clause that forbids states from denying equal protection of the law thus denying discrimination.
Equal Protection Clause
31
The right that forbids the government from denying "life- liberty- or property" without the legal process of fair trials- etc- as stated in the 5th and 14th amendments.
Due Process
32
1st amendment clause that states the government cannot prohibit the practice of religion.
Free Exercise Clause
33
the 1st amendment's ban on laws establishing or favoring a religion.
establishment clause
34
Rights that guarantee individuals freedom from discrimination according to the 14th Amendment.
civil rights
35
the right of people to be protected from government abuse according to the Bill of Rights.
Civil Liberties
36
the idea that judges should decide cases based on the language of laws and the Constitution- deferring to the legislative and executive branches.
judicial restraint
37
the informal relationship between government agencies and departments- congressional committees- and interest groups- also known as the revolving door.
iron triangle
38
the result when the government spends more than it makes in taxes in a single year.
deficit
39
spending that can be increased or cut without changing any laws- which is everything besides contracts- entitlements- and interest on the debt.
discretionary spending
40
the president's ability to speak directly to the public in order to influence opinion and policy.
Bully Pulpit
41
an informal power where the president issues a statement after signing a bill explaining his or her interpretation of the law.
signing statement
42
Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue
politico model
43
a model of representation where a member of Congress loyally votes in their constituent's interest even if they personally object.
Delegate Model
44
model of representation where a member of Congress votes how they want to even if it sometimes is against the wishes of the majority of their constituents.
trustee model
45
the people who a member of Congress represent.
constituents
46
a method where a majority of members can force a bill in the House of Representatives out of a committee to the House floor for a vote.
discharge petition
47
Expenditures that the Federal government cannot realistically reduce because the government cannot control how many people qualify for them.
mandatory spending
48
powers shared by the national and state governments
concurrent powers
49
Those who attended the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government and a system of separated powers.
federalist
50
A system of government which emphasizes limited participation by wealthy and well educated citizens in politics and civil society.
elite democracy
51
When both parties work together to sponsor a bill.
Bipartisan
52
A system of government in which people elect representatives to make policy in the citizen's interest.
Republic
53
The process through which voters leave one party coalition and join the other party's coalition.
Realignment
54
An officeholder who is running for re-election.
Incumbent
55
Powers that are necessary to carry out an expressed power in the Constitution - like the power of Congress to establish a bank.
Implied powers
56
A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money to pay for it.
Unfunded mandate
57
A theory of government in which many groups compete for policy.
Pluralism
58
An organization that advocates for policies through lobbying- electioneering- grassroots mobilization- and protesting.
Interest groups
59
Money given by the federal government to the states to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.
Categorical grants
60
The power of the Supreme Court to overturn a law or executive action as unconstitutional.
Judicial review
61
An organization the is registered with the Federal Election Committee and raises and donates money to a candidate or campaign.
PAC
62
An election to determine a party's candidate for office in which the party allows non-party members to vote.
Open primary
63
When the President is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing party.
Divided government
64
The shared political values of a society.
Political culture
65
The statistical characteristics of a population.
Demographics
66
A process by which the federal government gives more power and authority to the states.
Devolution
67
When a court follows precedent by letting a previous decision stand.
Stare Decisis
68
A system where the federal government and the states work together in funding and administering programs.
Cooperative federalism
69
Problems that have the attention of the government and the public.
Policy agenda
70
Money spent on ads that are not sponsored by a candidate or party.
Independent expenditures
71
Changing congressional district boundaries based on a new census.
Redistricting
72
When the President does not sign a bill within 10 days when Congress is not in session.
Pocket veto
73
The electoral system used to select members of the House of Representatives, winner takes it all
Single-member districts
74
The tendency of men to support the Republican party at greater rates than women.
Gender Gap
75
An individual's belief that his or her political participation can make a difference.
Political efficacy
76
A document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case.
Writ of Certiorari
77
The use of spending by the national government through the grant process to influence state policies.
Fiscal federalism
78
The process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Selective incorporation
79
Influencing the economy through federal interest rates- reserve rates- and the amount of money in circulation.
Monetary policy
80
When members of Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they supported passed.
Logrolling
81
Making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the Constitution.
Original intent
82
Promises made by the government to an identifiable group of people who are guaranteed benefits regardless of need.
Entitlements
83
A provision added to a bill that benefits a specific congressional district.
Pork barrel spending
84
A formal order issues by the President to direct the Federal bureaucracy
Executive order
85
A procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death.
Filibuster
86
The President's personal assistants and advisers.
White House staff
87
Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group- usually a political party.
Gerrymandering
88
A group of people who organize to elect candidates for office.
Political party
89
A relationship between interest groups- agencies- universities- think tanks- media- and congressional committees in a certain policy area.
Issue network
90
When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem.
Casework
91
The tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues.
Horse race journalism
92
A philosophy that the Supreme Court should make bold new policy with their decisions.
Judicial activism
93
An argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit.
Amicus curiae
94
When political parties move farther away from each other ideologically and also move farther from the center.
Party polarization
95
Efforts by an interest group or individual to contact a member of Congress and advocate for a particular policy.
Lobbying
96
The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress.
Franking privilege
97
An election in which voters elect members of Congress but not the President.
Midterm election
98
The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president is sworn in.
Lame duck period
99
Powers that are given to an institution of government (branch) directly in the Constitution- such as Congress' power to tax.
Expressed(enumerated) powers
100
The process by which an individual develops his or her political beliefs.
Political socialization
101
A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the states.
Federalism
102
An organization that can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign and must disclose its donors semiannually.
Super PAC
103
A vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster
Motion for cloture
104
A vote by party members to determine their party's candidate for office which is restricted to registered party members.
Closed primary
105
An election to select the person who will hold office.
General election
106
Impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget.
Fiscal policy
107
When voters no longer identify with one of the two major parties and become independent voters.
Dealignment
108
Congressional committee hearings held to determine how well an agency is doing its job.
Oversight
109
Federal money given to the states with few restrictions about how it should be spent.
Block grants
110
A system of government in which citizens are directly involved in making choices about policy. State initiatives and referendums are examples
Direct democracy
111
Face to face meetings of party members at the local or state level to determine their party's candidate for office.
Caucus
112
Ordinary citizens raising awareness for a cause and pushing the government to adopt a particular policy
Grassroots lobbying
113
powers that are naturally derived from the duties of a specific government position
Inherent Powers
