AP Government Vocabulary Units 1 - 5

French philosopher developed the idea of three branches of government to act as "checks and balances"

section of the Constitution that requires states to honor one another's licenses, marriages, and other acts of state courts

theory that policy making is the result of interest group competition

a political ideology that tends to favor defense spending and school prayer and to disapprove of social programs, abortion, affirmative action, and a large active government

powers that belong only to the national government (delegated or expressed powers). Found in Article 1 Section 8

term used by Madison to denote what is now called interest groups

the section of the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to the performance of its duties (allows Congress to stretch its powers beyond those specified by the Constitution)

consisting of two legislative houses (House of Representatives and Senate)

Congress cannot single out a person for punishment without a trial

addition to the Constitution that require approval by two-thirds of both house of Congress and three-quarters of the states

system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful by requiring the approval of more than one branch for all important acts

principle of government that states that government powers must be confined to those allowed it by the nation's Constitution

form of government under which citizens vote for delegates who in turn represent citizens' interests within the government

federal money given to states with only general guidelines for its use with states deciding how it will be spent

term describing a system under which the national government and local governments share powers (United States and others including Canada, Switzerland, and Australia)

Constitutional powers that belong solely to the states, according to the Tenth Amendment, these powers include any that the Constitution does not either specifically grant the national government or deny the state governments

form of government in which all enfranchised citizens vote on all matters of government

agreement between Southern and Northern states stating that three-fifths of a state's slave population would be counted toward both congressional apportionment and taxation

if allowed, these laws would punish people for actions that occurred before such actions were made criminal

the Republican Party

form of U.S. federalism during the nation's early history, during this period the federal and state governments remained separate and independent (layer cake)

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure

Federal/State relationship proposed by President Reagan during the 80's, marked by returning power to the states

Madison warned about factions and suggested a strong, big Republic would be safer than smaller Republics

Madison discussed how checks and balances will be created to ensure political safety

a collection of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to defend the Constitution and persuade Americans that it should be ratified, they presented concerns and issues the framers faced as they created a blueprint for the new government

an effort to reduce the size of federal government by returning power to the states

federal aid given to states with strings attached, to receive it, the states must agree to adhere to federal mandated guideline for spending it

first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee personal liberties and limits the power of the government

section of the Constitution that requires conflicts between federal and state law to be resolved in favor of federal law, state constitutions, federal laws, international treaties and unconstitutional laws can be invalidated through this clause

the first US constitution, the government lasted from 1781-1789 under this because it didn't have the power to collect taxes from states and regulate foreign trade to generate revenue from import/export tariffs

preeminent form of U.S. federalism since the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, national and state governments share many powers

the theory that the upper class exercises greater influence over public policy

an untried method by which the Constitution may be amended, two-thirds of all state legislatures must petition the federal government (do not confuse with Constitutional Convention or when the Constitution was written)

section of the Constitution stating that a state may not refuse police protection or access to its courts to U.S. citizens because they live in a different state

political party of the late 1800s that primarily represented farmers and working-class Americans, sough inflationary economic policies to increase farm income

process by which governments return fugitives to the jurisdiction form which they have fled

Constitutionally established body created for the sole purpose of choosing the president and vice president

the power of the government to take away property for public use as long as there is just compensation for property taken

the removal of government rules from industries

process through which voters may propose new laws, one of several Progressive Era reforms that increased voters' power over government

a political ideology that promotes civil liberties, free-market economics, and is skeptical of government

belief that the Constitution should be interpreted loosely when concerning the restrictions it places on federal power, broad constructionists emphasize the importance of the elastic clause, which allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to the performance of its duties

those political issues are specifically directed at the daily concerns of most working-class Americans, such as job security, tax rates, wages, and employee benefits

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1 section 8

term used to describe a court's power to initially try a case. Courts in which cases are first heard are those with original jurisdiction in the case, appellate courts hear challenges to earlier court decisions

the Constitutional power of Congress to supersede a president's veto by a two-thirds majority in both houses

one of Congress's non-legislative task in which it reviews the work of federal agencies

cancellation of criminal punishment, this power is held by presidents and governors

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches and the bureaucracy

court in which criminal trials are heard

presidential agreements made with foreign nations that have the same legal force as treaties but do not require the approval of the Senate

a technique used to force a bill out of either a House or Senate committee to go to the floor for a vote. Generally used for "pigeonholed" bills

the American court system is divided into two administratively separate court systems: federal and state

constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government

spending that government makes choices about

questions the reasoning of the winning side and is written by a justice in the minority

a lengthy speech that halts all legislative action in the Senate

a legal document issued by the Supreme Court to request the court transcripts of a case, indicated that the Court will review a lower court's decision

an office holder seeking reelection

Representative who run for re-election get elected 90% of the time and House incumbents have the greatest advantage

the minimum number of people required for the legislature to act

the chief tax-writing committee of the House of Representatives. The Committee has jurisdiction over taxes, tariffs, and all revenue creating measures, also Social Security, Medicare, and Unemployment benefits.

the Supreme Court during the era in which Earl Warren served as Chief Justice, best remembered for expanding the rights of minorities and the rights of the accused

"friend of the court" briefs that qualified individuals or organizations file in lawsuits to which they are not a party, so the judge may consider their advice in respect to matter s of law that directly affect the cases in question.

term used to describe courts whose role is to hear appeals from lower courts

money that Congress has allocated to be spent

the top aide to the president, usually a longtime associate. Responsible for managing the Executive Office and access to the president

13 Circuit Courts which hear appealed cases from the District Courts or the State Supreme Courts. They involve constitutional cases and decisions are made by a panel of judges, not juries

determines the rules for debate of each bill, including whether the bill may be amended (most powerful committee in the House)

handles taxing aspects of the budget

process by which a president, judge, or other government official can be tried for high crimes and misdemeanors (does not remove from office)

belief that the president has exceeded his constitutional limits and is out of control

when judges simply apply the law of the constitution without interpreting the law and are reluctant to overturn acts of the legislature

second ranking person in the Department of Justice who represents the U.S. at the Supreme Court

meeting of local party members for the purpose of choosing delegates to a national party convention also refers to Democratic members of the House of Representatives meeting

the legal written arguments in a case filed with a court prior to a hearing

a friend of the court opinion offered by Justice Brandeis in Muller v. Oregon, who spoke about the differences between men and women in the workplace

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional

a lobbying event to raise funds for more conservative justices

amendments to bills that are added to bring federal money to a home state (aka pet project or "pork barrel")

Cloture rule

the Supreme Court will hear a case if four justice agree to do so

amendment to a bill proposed by its opponents for the specific purpose of decreasing the bill's chance of passage

one of Congress's most important tasks, the investigation and evaluation of the performance of corresponding executive agencies and departments to check the power of the executive branch

when the president refuses to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress

the Supreme Court opinion that gets the most votes by the justices

one of the original standing committees in the Senate. Considers presidential nominees for federal judgeships and oversight of the Department of Justice

a check placed on the president by which candidates for the federal bureaucracy must first be approved by a vote within the Senate

the president's role as leader of all U.S. military forces

Agency within the Executive Office that advises the president on economic matters

Constitutional powers shared by the federal and state governments

resolution adopted by both Houses, doesn't need signature of President, doesn't have the force of law

when justices vote with the majority, but take issue with the legal reasoning and they want to further explain their views

congressional committee that includes representatives of both house of Congress created to settle differences between the House and Senate versions of bills that have been passed by their respective legislatures

agency of budget experts who assess the feasibility of the president's plan and who help create Congress's version of the deferral budget

third chief justice; served from 1801 to 1835. Increased the federal government's power over the states

a written statement of criminal charges brought against a defendant, guarantee that defendants know the charges against them so they can plan a defense

amendment to a bill proposed in hopes of softening opposition by weakening objectionable elements of the bill

the practice of drawing congressional district lines to benefit one party over the other