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AP Government - Chapter 16 Flashcards

Equality and Civil Rights

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754102522pluralismthe theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation
754102523majoritarianisma political theory holding that in a democracy, the government ought to do what the majority of the people want.
754083711equality of opportunitythe idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life
754083712equality of outcomethe idea that society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved
754083713invidious discriminationdiscrimination against persons or groups that works to their harm and is based on animosity
754083714civil rightspowers or privileges guaranteed to individuals and protected from arbritary removal at the hands of government or individuals
754083715black codeslegislation enacted by former slave states to restrict the freedom of blacks ex: Jim Crow laws
754083716racisma belief that human races have distinct characteristics such that one's own race is superior to, and has a right to rule, others
754083717poll taxa tax of $1 or $2 on every citizen who wished to vote, first instituted in Georgia in 1877. Although it was no burden on most white citizens, it effectively disenfranchised blacks
754083718racial segregationseparation from society because of race
754083719separate-but-equal doctrinethe concept that providing separate but equivalent facilities for blacks and whites satisfies the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment
754083720desegregationthe ending of authorized segregation, or separation by race
754083721de jure segregationgovernment imposed segregation
754083722de facto segregationsegregation that is not the result of government influence
754083723civil rights movementthe mass mobilization during the 1960s that sought to gain equality of rights and opportunities for blacks in the South and to a lesser extent in the north, mainly through nonviolent, unconventional means of participation
754083724boycotta refusal to do business with a firm, individual, or nation as an expression of disapproval or as a means of coercion
754083725civil disobediencethe willful but nonviolent breach of laws that are regarded as unjust
754083726set-asidea purchasing or contracting provision that reserves a certain percentage of funds for minority-owned contractors
754083727protectionismthe notion that women must be protected from life's cruelties, until the 1970s, the basis for laws affecting women's civil rights
754083728Nineteenth Amendmentthe amendment to the constitution, adopted in 1920, that ensures women of the right to vote
754083729sexisminvidious sex discrimination
754083730Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)a failed constitutional amendment introduced by the national women's party in 1923, declaring that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or any state on account of sex"
754083731affirmative actionany of a wide range of programs, from special recruitment efforts to numerical quotas, aimed at expanding opportunities for women and minority groups
75408373213th Amendmentabolished slavery
75408373314th Amendmentmade ex-slaves US citizens
75408373415th AmendmentUS & state governments can't take away the rights of US citizens
75408373519th Amendmentgave women the right to vote
75408373624th Amendmentbanned poll taxes in primary and general elections for national office
754083737Alexander v. Holmes County Board of Education (1969)all school segregation must stop
754083738Swann v. Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools (1971)lower courts have the right to order busing
754083739"white flight"whites left the cities and moved to the suburbs
754083740Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)racial segregation became constitutional
754083741Brown V. Board of Education (1954)racial segregation became unconstitutional
754083742Brown V. Board of Education II (1955)racial desegregation implementation
754083743Regents of U. of California v. Bakke (1978)affirmative action
754083744US. v. Virginia (1996)gender equality
754083745Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000)association rights-boycotts v. gays
754083746Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)affirmative action
754083747Parents Community Schools v. Seattle (2007)Public school racial diversity
754083748Civil Rights Act of 1964-entitled all people to "full and equal enjoyment" of goods, services, and priveleges in public places w/o discrimination of race, color, religion, or national origin -established right to equality in employment opportunity -strengthened voting rights legislation -created equal employment opportunity commission (eeoc) and charged w/ hearing & investigating complaints of job discrimination -provided that funds could be withheld from federally assisted programs administered in a discriminatory manner
754083749Economic Opportunity Actprovided education and training to combat poverty
754083750Voting Rights Act of 1965empowered Attorney General to send voter registration supervisors to areas in which fewer than half of eligible minority voters were registered- doubled black voter registration
754083751Fair Housing Act of 1968banned discrimination in rental and sale of most housing
754083752Stonewall Inngay club in new york that was raided for being a homosexual establishment
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AP Government Ch. 8 Political Parties Flashcards

Political Parties
Government in America

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655332050political partya team of people seeking to control public policy by winning elections to gain public office
655332051party in the electoratea political party as it exists with voters that identify themselves as members of a party
655332052party as organizationa political party as it exists with leaders, offices, staff, and budget; keeps the party running
655332053party in governmenta political party as it exists with government officials that identify themselves as members of the party
655332054Five main tasks of political parties1. pick candidates 2. run campaigns 3. cue voters 4. articulate policies 5. coordinate policymaking
655332055rational-choice theorypopular theory in political science to explain the actions of voters as well as politicians; assumes that individuals acti in their own best interest, carefully weighing the costs and benefits of alternatives when they vote; explains the tendency to vote as a centrist
655332056ticket-splittingthe practice of voting for different parties on the same ballot; norm in American voting behavior; independents most likely to engage in this behavior
655332057party machinespolitcal party organization that relies heavily on material inducements, such as patronage, to win votes and govern
655332058closed primarieselections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party's candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty
655332059open primarieselections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on election day whether they want to participate in Democratic or Republican contests
655332060blanket primarieselections to select party nominees in which voters are presented with a list of candidates from all the aprties; voters may select candidates from either party on the same ballot
655332061national conventionmeeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
655332062national committeeinstitution that keeps the party operating between conventions; composed of representatives from the states and territories
655332063national chairpersonresponsible for day to day activities of the party and is usually handpicked by the presidential nominee
655332064critical electionelection in which new issues emerge; new coalitions replace old ones; majority party is often displaced; sometimes marked by a national crisis
655332065Federalistfirst party era in the U.S. ; led by Hamilton; John Adams was its last president
655332066Democratsparty era started with the election of Andrew Jackson; dominated by Westerners and Southerners
655332067Republicansparty era started with the election of Lincoln; started as anti-slavery party; dominated by Northerners
655332068(New Deal) Democratsparty era started with the election of FDR
655332069divided governmentsituation in which the White House and Congress are controlled by different parties
655332070minor partiesAKA third parties; typically do not win major elections but often bring more voters into the electorate; often spoil elections for a major party; may bring issues that the major parties will adopt
655332071coalitiongroup of individuals with a common interest on which every party depends
655332072linkage institutionschannels through which people's concerns become government policy; includes parties, elections, interest groups, and media
655332073New Deal Coalitionforged by the Democrats, who dominated American politics from the 1930s to the 1960s; basic elements included urban working class, Catholics, Jews, Southerners, African-Americans, intellectuals
655332074party erahistorical period in which a majority of voters cling to the party in power
655332075party identificationa person's self-proclaimed preference for one party over the other
655332076party imagea person's perception of the what a party stands for, such as conservatism or liberalism
655332077party realignmentdisplacement of the majority party, usually during a critical election period; in the U.S. the last party realignment flipped the Solid South from Democrat to Republican
655332078patronagekey inducement used by parties; included a job, promotion, or contract given for political reasons rather than merit
655332079proportional represenationelectoral system dominant in Europe in which legislative seats are awarded on a proportional basis rather than winner-takes-all; favors a multi-party system
655332080responsible party modelasserts that parties should offer clear choices to voters; once in office, parties would carry out campaign promises
655332081winner-take-all systemlegislative seats are awarded only to candidates who come in first in their constituencies; used in the American electoral college system; favors a two-party system and hinders the rise of third parties; tied to single-member districts
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AP Government Chapter 6 Flashcards

Chapter 6 vocabulary for AP Government Wilson textbook

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618898648suspect classificationLegal distinction the Supreme Court scrutinizes especially closely
618898649ReconstructionPost civil war era southern laws
618936369Plessy v FergusonSupreme Court decision upholding state enforced racial segregation
618936370separate but equal doctrineStandard under which the court once held segregation
618936371Jim CrowThe term for laws forcing second class status on blacks
618936372NAACPA black interest group active primarily in the courts
618936373Brown vs BOEA Supreme Court decision declaring segregated schools inherently unequal
618936374de jure segregationSegregation created by law
618936375de facto segregationSegregation that exists but that was not created by law
618936376freedom of choiceA school integration plan mandating no particular racial balance
618936377Martin Luther King JrAn early nonviolent leader in black civil rights
618936378equality of opportunityOffering the races and equal chance at desired things
618936379equality of resultsDistributing desired things equally to the races
618936380reasonablenessThe standard by which the Court judges gender based classifications
618936381Rostker v GoldbergA ruling that held that Congress may draft men but not women
618936382Roe v WadeA ruling that declared all state laws prohibiting abortion unconstitutional
618936383Hyde AmendmentLegislation that barred the use of federal funds for nearly any abortion
618936384NOWA leading feminist organization
618936385nonviolent civil disobedienceA philosophy of peaceful violation of laws considered unjust and accepting punishment for the violation
618936386strict scrutinyThe standard by which the Supreme Court judges classifications based on race: they must have a compelling public purpose
618936387reverse discriminationThe use of race or sex to give preferential treatment to blacks or women
618936388compensating actionHelping disadvantaged people catch up, usually by giving them extra education, training, or services
618936389preferential treatmentGiving minorities preference in hiring, promotions, college admissions, and contracts
618936390affirmative actiondesigning remedies for overcoming racism and sexism by taking race and sex into account
619148477BakkeA Supreme Court ruling stating that college may not use an explicit numerical quota in admitting minorities but could "take race into account"
619148478aliensAny persons who are not U.S. citizens
619148479civil rightsThe rights of citizens to vote, receive equal treatment before the law, and share benefits of public facilities
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AP Government Chapter 14 Flashcards

Chapter 14 AP Government for the Wilson textbook

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697596850impeachmentA constitutional procedure by which federal judges and civil officers can be removed from office before their terms expire
69759685125 amendmentLegislation that specifies the conditions and order of succession to the presidency and vice presidency when the president leaves office before completion of his term
697596852in and outersPeople who alternate between jobs in the federal government and employment in the private sector
697596853White House OfficePresidential staff who oversee the policy interests of the president
697596854veto messageA statement sent to Congres by the president giving the reasons for vetoing a bill
697596855prime ministerThe chief executive in a parliamentary system who is chosen by the legislature
697596856Executive privilegeThe president assertion of the right to withhold certain info from Congress
697596857Office of Management and BudgetThe organization responsible for preparing the federal budget and for central clearance of legislative proposals from federal agencies
697596858independent agenciesAgencies headed by appointees who serve for fixed terms and can be removed only "for cause"
697596859impoundment of fundsA presidential refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress
697596860Executive Office of the PresidentAgencies that perform staff services for the president but are not part of the White House
697596861delegateView of the presidential decision-making which stresses what the public wants
697596862line item vetoThe power of some governors (and the president in a limited way between 1996 and 1998) to veto portions of a bill instead of having to veto the entire bill
697596863electoral collegeA legal system by which states select electors who then vote for the president and vice president
697596864Article 2A statement that defines the constitutional powers of the president
697596865ad hoc structureA method of organizing a president's staff in which several task forces, committees, and informal groups deal directly with the president
697596866cabinetA president's council of advisers
697596867circular structureA method of organizing a president's staff in which several presidential assistants report directly to the president
697596868trusteeView of presidential decision making which stresses what the public interest requires
697596869direct democracyA political system in which all or most citizens participate directly by either holding office or making policy
697596870divided governmentA government in which one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
697596871lame duckA politician who is still in office after having lost an reelection bid
697596872legislative vetoThe rejection of a presidential or administrative action by a vote of one or both houses within ten days and Congress has adjourned during that time
697596873perksThe fringe benefits of holding an office
697596874pocket vetoThe form of veto in which the president fails to sign a bill passed by both houses and Congress has adjourned during that time
697596875pyramid structureA method of organizing a president's staff in which most presidential assistants report through a hierarchy to the president's chief of staff
697596876representative democracyA political system in which leaders and representatives acquire political power by means of a competitive struggle for the people's vote
697596877unified governmentA government in which the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
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AP Government Chapter 9 Flashcards

Chapter 9 vocabulary for the Wilson AP Government textbook

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664277777political partyGroup that seeks to elect candidates and gives them a label
664277778factionsA name applied by some of the Founders to political parties, to connote their tendency towards divisiveness
664277779FederalistsThe political party founded and led by Hamilton
664277780Democratic RepublicansThe political party founded and led by Jefferson
664277781second party systemThe arrangement of political parties initiated by Andrew Jackson
664277782StalwartsA name for party professionals, as opposed to volunteers
664277783MugwumpsA name for party volunteers who later come to form their own reform movement
664277784nonpartisan electionAn election in which candidates for office are not identified by party labels
664277785organizational partyA party that stresses national organization to raise money and give assistance to local candidates and party units
664277786referendumAn election in which citizens directly approve or disapprove legislation proposed by the government
664277787critical periodFeatures a sharp, lasting shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties
664277788initiativeAn election in which citizens can place on the legislative agenda proposals by non-government groups
664277789superdelegatesElected officials who serve as delegates to the national convention
664277790winner take allAn electoral system that gives the only office to the candidate with the largest vote total, rather than apportioning numerous offices by the percentage of the total vote
664277791machineA party unit that recruits members with tangible results and that is tightly controlled by the leadership
664277792caucusA closed meeting of party leaders to select party candidates
664277793ideological partiesParties that value principle above all else
664277794solidary groupsParties organized around sociability, rather than tangible rewards or ideology
664277795sponsored partiesParty units established or maintained by outside groups
664277796split ticket votingThe practice of voting for one major party's candidate in state or local elections and the other's at the national level
664277797proportional representationAn electoral system that distributes numerous seats to parties on the basis of their percentage of the popular vote
664277798factional partiesParties formed by a split within one of the major parties
664277799party column ballotA ballot listing all candidates of a given party together under the name of that party
664277800congressional campaign committeeA committee in each party to help elect or reelect members
664277801national party chairThe person elected and paid to manage the day-to-day work of a national political party
664277802national committeeDelegates from each state who manage party affairs between conventions
664277803national conventionA meeting of elected party delegates every four years to nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates and ratify a campaign platform
6642778042 party systemAn electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in state and national electoins
664277805office bloc ballotA ballot listing all candidates for a given office under the name of that office
664277806plurality systemAn electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes but not necessarily a majority of votes
664277807political machineA party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage
664277808solidary incentivesThe social rewards that lead people to join political organizations
664277809personal followingThe political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks
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AP Government Chapter 3 Flashcards

Chapter 3 vocabulary for AP Government Wilson textbook

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638457106national interestsGovernmental concerns considered to be primarily the responsibility of the central government.
638457110state's rightsGovernment concerns considered primarily the responsibility of the state governments
638457113sovereigntySupreme or ultimate political authority
638457116unitary systemA system in which sovereignty is wholly in the hands of the national government
638457119confederationA system in which the state governments are sovereign and the national government may do only what the states permit
638457122federal systemA system in which sovereignty is shared between the national and the state governments
638457126federal republicThe Founders' term for a federation
638457131tenth amendmentThe clause that stipulates that powers not delegated to the United States are reserved to the states or to the people
638457135McCulloch v MarylandA Supreme Court decision embodying the principle of implied powers of the national government
638457137necessary and proper clauseThe phrase used by the Supreme Court to create the category of implied powers of the national government
638457141nullificationA doctrine espoused by Calhoun that states could hold certain national policies invalid within their boundaries
638457167dual federalismThe doctrine that both state and national governments are supreme in their respective spheres
638457174grants in aidFederal funds provided to states and localities
638457179land grant collegesState educational institutions build with the benefit of federally donated lands
638457186Model CitiesA program proposed in the 1960s to give federal funds to a small number of large cities with acute problems
638457190categorical grantA federal grant for a specific purpose, often with accompanying conditions
638457193block grantsA federal grant that could be used for a variety of purposes, usually with few accompanying restrictions
638457196intrastate commerceBusiness that is conducted entirely within one state
638457198mandatesFederal rules that states must follow, whether or not they receive federal grants or not
638457205conditions of aidFederal rules that states must follow if they choose to receive the federal grants with which the rules are associated
638457208intergovernmental lobbyAn interest group made up of mayors, governors, and other state and local officials who depend on federal funds
638457210James MadisonThe Federalist author who said both state and federal governments "are in fact but different agents and trustees of the people constituted with different powers"
638457212interstate commerceBusiness that is conducted in more than one state
638457214AFDCProgram to distribute welfare benefits that was formerly federally funded then devolved to the states in 1996
638457216MedicaidFederally funded medical care for the poor
638457218devolutionAn effort to shift responsibility for a wide range of domestic programs from Washington to the states
638457221police powersThose state laws and regulations not otherwise unconstitutional, that promote health, safety, and morals
638457224recallA procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office
638457226referendumA procedure that enables voters to reject a measure adopted by the legislature
638457229initiativeA procedure that allows voters to place legislative measures (and sometimes constitutional amendments) directly on the ballot by getting a specified proportion of voter signatures on a petition
638457231second order devolutionRefers to a flow of power and responsibility from the states to local governments
638457233revenue sharinga federal grant that requires no matching funds and provides freedom in how to spend it
638457236third order devolutionRefers to the increased role of nonprofit organizations and private groups in policy implementation
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AP Government Chapter 2 Flashcards

Chapter 2 vocabulary for AP Government Wilson textbook

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606670976Constitutiona set of principles, either written or unwritten, that makes up the fundamental law of the state
606670977Natural Rightsrights of all human beings that are ordained by God, discoverable in nature and history, and essential to human progress
606807982Declaration of Independencea document written in 1776 declaring the colonists' intention to throw off British rule
606807983Articles of Confederationthe government charter of the states from 1776 until the Constitution of 1787
607104756Constitutional Convention 1A meeting of delegates in Philadelphia in 1787 charged with drawing up amendments to the Articles of Confederation
607104757Pennsylvania ConstitutionA governing document considered to be highly democratic yet with a tendency toward tyranny as the result of concentrating all powers in one set of hands
607104758Massachusetts ConstitutionA state constitution with clear separation of powers but considered to have produced too weak a government
607104759Shay's RebellionAn armed attempt by Revolutionary War veterans to avoid losing their property by preventing the courts in western Massachusetts from meeting
607104760John LockeA British philosopher whose ideas on civil government greatly influenced the Founders
607104761Federalist papers 1A series of political tracts that explained many of the ideas of the Founders
607104762Virginia PlanA constitutional proposal that the smaller states' representatives feared would give permanent supremacy to the larger states
607104763New Jersey PlanA constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress
607104764Great CompromiseA constitutional proposal that made membership in on house of Congress proportional to each state's population and membership in the other equal for all states
607104765separation of powersA constitutional principle separating the personnel of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
607104766federalismA constitutional principle reserving separate powers to the national and state levels of government
607104767James MadisonA principal architect of the Constitution who felt that a government powerful enough to encourage virtue in its citizens was too powerful
607104768Charles A. BeardA historian that argued that the Founders were largely motivated by the economic advantage of their class in writing the Constitution
607104769Constitutional Convention 2A meeting of delegates in 1878 to revise the Articles of Confederation
607104770checks and balancesThe power of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government to block some acts by the other two branches
607104771republicA form of democracy in which leaders and representatives are selected by means of popular competitive elections
607104772coalitionAn alliance between different interest groups or parties to achieve some political goal
607104773unalienable rightsRights thought to be based on nature and providence rather that on the preferences of people
607104774amendmentChange in, or addition to, a constitution
607104775factionA group of people sharing a common interest who seek to influence public policy for their collective benefit
607104776judicial reviewThe power of the courts to declare acts of the legislature and of the executive unconstitutional and therefore null and void
607104777Bill of RightsThe first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
607104778Federalist papers 2A series of eighty-five essays published in New York newspapers to convince New Yorkers to adopt the newly proposed Constitution
607104779FederalistsSupports of a stronger central government who advocated ratification of the Constitution and then founded a political party
607104780line-item vetoThe power of an executive to veto some provisions in an appropriations bill while approving others
607104781AntifederalistsThose who opposed giving as much power to the national government as the Constitution did, favoring instead stronger states' rights
607104782bill of attainderA law that would declare a person guilty of a crime without trial
607104783ex post facto lawA law that would declare an act criminal after the act was committed
607104784Madison view ofA philosophy holding that accommodating individual self-interest provided a more practical solution to the problem of government than aiming to cultivate virtue
607104785confederationAn agreement among sovereign states that delegates certain powers to a national government
607104786writ of habeas corpusA court order requiring police officials to produce an individual held in custody and show sufficient cause for that person's detention
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