AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Review Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13863563522StatismThe idea that the rights of a nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation0
13863579904PluralityCandidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half1
13863589173Annapolis ConventionA convention held in 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention2
13863607916BicameralismPrinciple of a two-house legislature3
13863613160Virginia PlanProposal at Constitutional Convention that provided for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states4
13863622435New Jersey PlanProposal for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally5
13863637980Connecticut CompromiseCompromise that provided for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which state would have two senators6
13863652475Three-fifths compromiseCompromise at CC in which slaves are three fifths of the majority and would be counted for taxation and representation7
13863673136InitiativeProcedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted by voters8
13863683115ReferendumProcedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to the state constitution9
13863700819Writ of mandamusCourt order directing an official to perform an official duty10
13863703935Executive orderDirective issued by a president or governor that has the force of law11
13863709672Executive privilegeThe power to keep executive communications confidential, especially when they relate to national security12
13863725349ImpoundmentPresidential refusal to allow an agency to spend the funds that Congress authorized or approved (PROHIBITED NOW)13
13863747918Express powersPowers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of government14
13863751875Implied powersPowers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions15
13863759782Necessary and Proper ClauseClause of the Constitution setting forth the implied powers of Congress. (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3)16
13863769745Inherent PowersPowers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government17
13863783345Commerce ClauseArticle 1, Section 8, Clause 1. Congress has ability to regulate business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations18
13863793795Federal MandateA requirement that the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds19
13863806293Full faith and credit clauseClause in Article 4, Section 1 that requires each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records as valid20
13863821311PreemptionThe right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation21
13863841602PluralismA theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group22
13863855783Amicus curae brief23
13863858331Issue NetworkRelationships amongst interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share common policy concerns24
13863868671Soft money (PAC)25
13863884370PatronageThe dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party26
13863893492CaucusMeeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform27
13863909404DealignmentWeakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents28
13863929069Coattail effectBoost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president29
13863953306ReapportionmentAssigning by Congress of Congressional seats after each census.30
13863963548Enumerated PowersPowers expressly given to Congress in Constitution31
13864005212Means-tested entitlementsprograms such as medicaid and welfare under which applicants must meet eligibility requirements based on need32
13864016042unfunded mandates33
13864024479regressive taxtax whereby people with lower incomes pay higher fraction of their income relatively34
13864031327progressive taxricher people pay more of their income comparatively35
13864039734monetary policymoney supply36
13864053995exclusionary rule37
13864062108prior restraintcensorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually assumed to be unconstitutional38
13864078790clear and present danger testfree speech39
13864082751free exerciseof religion40
13864082752establishment clauseno state and church41
13864085869selective incorporationprocess by which provisions of the bill of rights are brought within the scope of the 14th amendment and so applied to state and local governments42
13864097501bill attainderlegislative act inflicting punishment without trial (unconstitutional)43
13864106084ex post facto lawsunconstitutional retroactive laws44
13864113883writ of habeas corpusa formal write used to explain to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody45
13864120266stare decisisprecedent stands46
13864125778senatorial courtesypresidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work47
13864139294administrative discretionability given to federal bureaucrats to use reasonable judgement in enforcing the laws48
13864145196hatch actfederal employees no politics49
13864188821independent regulatory commissiona government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by congress50
13864195928independent agencya government entity that is independent of the three branches51
13864214976Take Care clausepres has to take care of laws faithfully even if disagrees52
13864222994discharge petitionpetition that can take a bill from committee and present it on the floor53
13864227302logrollingmutual aid and vote trading among legislators54
13864233233trusteegeneral rep, own judgement (delegate MUST use judgement of constituents)55
13864242740earmarksspecial spending projects that are set aside on behalf of certain members of congress for their constituents56
13864254529standing committeepermanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area57
13864260221clotureprocedure for terminating a debate58
13864263489holdtemporarily blocks consideration of bill or nomination59
13864281303linkage institutionsmeans by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy60
13864290586block grantsbroad state grants with few strings attached61
13864335000cooperative federalism62

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!