AP Government

Question 1

A fundamental democratic principle requiring that the majority’s view be respected.

Answer 1

Majority Rule

Question 2

The system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches.

Answer 2

Checks and Balances

Question 3

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government.

Answer 3

Unitary System

Question 4

A system of government in which power is divided by a written constitution between a central government and regional government.

Answer 4

Federalism

Question 5

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution

Answer 5

Expressed Powers

Question 6

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution.

Answer 6

Implied Powers

Question 7

Powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states.

Answer 7

Reserved Powers

Question 8

Situations in which the national and state governments work together to complete projects.

Answer 8

Cooperative Federalism

Question 9

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

Answer 9

Categorial Grant

Question 10

Funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose.

Answer 10

Block Grant

Question 11

Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines.

Answer 11

Mandates

Question 12

A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal government to the state and local governments.

Answer 12

Devolution

Question 13

A set of widely shared political beliefs and values.

Answer 13

Political Culture

Question 14

The process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.

Answer 14

Political Socialization

Question 15

Attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues, and events.

Answer 15

Public Opinion

Question 16

A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.

Answer 16

Political Ideology

Question 17

The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference.

Answer 17

Political Efficacy

Question 18

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election.

Answer 18

Split-Ticket Voting

Question 19

A group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate governments and determine public policy.

Answer 19

Political Party

Question 20

The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes than anyone else, but less than half the total.

Answer 20

Plurality Election

Question 21

An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

Answer 21

Single-Member District

Question 22

A historical period dominated by one political party.

Answer 22

Party Era

Question 23

An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

Answer 23

Critical Election

Question 24

The majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era.

Answer 24

Party Realignment

Question 25

A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress.

Answer 25

Divided Government

Question 26

An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit.

Answer 26

Interest Group

Question 27

A committee formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support.

Answer 27

Political Action Committee

Question 28

People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions.

Answer 28

Free Riders

Question 29

The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporates interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

Answer 29

Power Elite Theory

Question 30

The theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

Answer 30

Pluralist Theory

Question 31

The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups

Answer 31

Hyperpluralist Theory

Question 32

Means of communication such as newspapers, radio, television, and the internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences.

Answer 32

Mass Media

Question 33

Institutions that connect citizens to government.

Answer 33

Linkage Institutions

Question 34

The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.

Answer 34

Horse-Race Journalism

Question 35

The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.

Answer 35

Congressional Redistricting

Question 36

The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts to ensure the maximum number of seats for its candidates.

Answer 36

Gerrymandering

Question 37

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Answer 37

Incumbent

Question 38

The right of members of Congress to mail newsletters to their constituents at the government's expense.

Answer 38

Franking Privilege

Question 39

Permanent subject-matter congressional committees that handle legislation and oversee the bureaucracy.

Answer 39

Standing Committee

Question 40

Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Answer 40

Conference Committees

Question 41

The House Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate.

Answer 41

House Rules Committee

Question 42

House committee that handles tax bills.

Answer 42

House Ways and Means Committee

Question 43

An unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving committee chairs to members of the committee with the longest records of continuous.

Answer 43

Seniority

Question 44

A way of delaying or preventing action on a bill by using long speeches and unlimited debate to "talk a bill to death."

Answer 44

Filibuster

Question 45

A Senate motion to end a filibuster.

Answer 45

Cloture

Question 46

The tactic of mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Answer 46

Logrolling

Question 47

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office.

Answer 47

Oversight

Question 48

When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

Answer 48

Delegate Role of Representation

Question 49

A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket.

Answer 49

Closed Primary

Question 50

The recent pattern of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence.

Answer 50

Frontloading

Question 51

Contributions to political parties for party-building activities.

Answer 51

Soft Money

Question 52

A tax-exempt organization creates to influence the political process; 527 groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party.

Answer 52

527 Group

Question 53

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Answer 53

Veto

Question 54

The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills.

Answer 54

Line-Item Veto

Question 55

A pact between the president and the head of a foreign state.

Answer 55

Executive Agreement

Question 56

The president's power to refuse to disclose confidential information.

Answer 56

Executive Privilege

Question 57

The period of time in which the president's term is about to come to an end.

Answer 57

Lame-Duck Period

Question 58

A large, complex organization of appointed officials.

Answer 58

Bureaucracy

Question 59

A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president.

Answer 59

Executive Order

Question 60

An alliance among an administrative agency, and interest group, and a congressional committee.

Answer 60

Iron Triangle

Question 61

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue.

Answer 61

Issue Network

Question 62

A set of issues and problems that policymakers consider important

Answer 62

Policy Agenda

Question 63

The authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court.

Answer 63

Appellate Jurisdiction

Question 64

An unwritten tradition whereby the Senate will not confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president's own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

Answer 64

Senatorial Courtesy

Question 65

An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review.

Answer 65

Writ of Certiorari

Question 66

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to so do.

Answer 66

Rule of Four

Question 67

The solicitor general is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the United States government to the Supreme Court.

Answer 67

Solicitor General

Question 68

A friend of the court brief filed by an interest group or interested party to influence a Supreme Court decision.

Answer 68

Amicus Curiae Brief

Question 69

Stare decisis is a Latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand."

Answer 69

Stare Decisis

Question 70

The philosophy that the Supreme Court should use precedent and the Framers' original intent to decide cases.

Answer 70

Judicial Restraint

Question 71

The philosophy that the Supreme Court must correct injustices when other branches of government or the states refuse to do so.

Answer 71

Judicial Activism

Question 72

Monetary policy involves regulating the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates.

Answer 72

Monetary Policy

Question 73

Raising and lowering taxes and government spending programs.

Answer 73

Fiscal Policy

Question 74

A government-sponsored program that provides mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements.

Answer 74

Entitlement Program

Question 75

The OMB is responsible for preparing the budget that the president submits to Congress.

Answer 75

Office of Management and Budget

Question 76

Legal and constitutional rights that protect individuals from arbitrary acts of government.

Answer 76

Civil Liberties

Question 77

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

Answer 77

Civil Rights

Question 78

The case-by-case process by which liberties listed in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Answer 78

Selective Incorporation

Question 79

A provision of the First Amendment that prohibits Congress from establishing an official government-sponsored religion.

Answer 79

Establishment Clause

Question 80

A provision of the First Amendment that guarantees each person the right to believe what he or she wants.

Answer 80

Free Exercise Clause

Question 81

Judicial interpretation of the First Amendment that the government may not ban speech unless it poses an imminent threat to society.

Answer 81

Clear and Present Danger Test

Question 82

A court order directing that a prisoner be brought before a court and that the court officers show cause why the prisoner should not be released.

Answer 82

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Question 83

A legislative act that provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial.

Answer 83

Bill of Attainder

Question 84

Law applied to an act committed before the law was enacted.

Answer 84

Ex Post Facto Law

Question 85

Supreme Court guideline that prohibits evidence obtained by illegal searches or seizures from being admitted in court.

Answer 85

Exclusionary Rule

Question 86

Warnings that police must read to suspects prior to questioning that advises them of their rights.

Answer 86

Miranda Warnings

Question 87

Supreme Court rule that classification by race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a "compelling public interest."

Answer 87

Strict Scrutiny

Question 88

A policy requiring federal agencies, universities, and most employers to take positive steps to remedy the effects of past discrimination.

Answer 88

Affirmative Action