AP Government Vocabulary Review

A primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties.

Wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, discrimination based on disability

Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office.

A Supreme Court decision upholding state enforced racial segregation

Process by which background traits influence one's political views.

An interest group whose efforts significantly benefit nonmembers.

The power of a government to effect laws that promote citizens' health, safety, and morals.

Legislation that gave 18-year-olds the right to vote in all U.S. elections

Political authority conferred by law or by state or national constitution.

Sense of satisfaction derived from serving a cause from which one does not benefit personally

Penalties for those who deprive others of equal enjoyment of places of accommodation.

Method of selecting from a population where each person has an equal chance of being selected.

Those who favor  a weaker national government.

Harming another by publishing defamatory statements

The process whereby the Supreme Court applies provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states

Doctrine espoused by Calhoun that states could hold certain national policies invalid.

Funds obtained by political parties spent on party activities, such as get-out-the-vote drives

Explanation of congressional voting emphasizing personal ideology and party identification

A SC decision embodying the principle of implied powers of the national government

Resolution used for settling housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses

Proposal to create a strong national government.

Appointed civil servant control of government, without consulting the public.

British legislation to punish officials who divulge private government business

Those who avoid elections and civic organizations but contact officials about specific problems

Method of presidential staff organization with task forces, committees, and informal groups.

Information leaked to the media to test public reaction to a possible policy

A Supreme Court formula to legitimate the abridgment of the right of free speech.

A way that Senators can extend debate on a bill in order to prevent or delay it consideration

A group with a distinct political interest.

Powers given to the state governments alone.

A court standard for finding the media guilty of libeling officials

A weak constitution that governed America during and immediately after the Revolutionary War.

Committees appointed for a limited time period and pupose

Restricted to lobbying efforts involving direct contacts with members of Congress

Congress can't require local law officials to make criminal background checks for handguns

The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

Document signed by 100 members of Congress complaining of "abuse of judicial power".

Segregation that exists but that was not created by law.

Gender discrimination violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment/reasonableness

Resolution that is essentially the same as a law and used to propose Constitutional Amendments

A law that declares a person, without trial, to be guilty of a crime.

A 1940 Act criminalizing the advocacy of violent revolution

Powers given to the national government alone.

The First Amendment clause prohibiting official religion

Terms set by the natnl gvrnmnt that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.

Republican party faction of the 1890s -1910s composed of reformers who opposed patronage

A Federalist bill of 1789 criminalizing criticism of government

A legal distinction that the Supreme Court scrutinized especially closely

Agencies that perform staff services for the president but are not part of the White House

Case in which the Supreme Court decided to apply the exclusionary rule to state and local law.

Litigation in which a citizen of one state sues a citizen of another state (over $50,000)

A 1950 Act requiring the registration of all communists

Argued the latent causes of faction are sown in the nature of man

Allows 1 company to own up to 8 radio stations in large markets and an unlimited # nationally

Electoral system in which the winner gets the most votes, even if it is not a majority;

View that the government is dominated by capitalists.

Refers to a flow of power and responsibility from the states to local governments

Address the issue of federal civil service employees taking part in political campaigns

Document signed by over 100 members of congress complaining of "abuse of judicial power

Supreme Court judges classifications based on race:  compelling public purpose.

Landmark case which the Court first found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution.

Presidential staff organization where presidential assistants report directly to the president

Proposal to create a weak national government.

A primary  where voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

Law requiring state gvrnmnts to allow voter registration when applying for a drivers license

Commerce clause allows Congress to criminalize marijuana regardless of state laws.

Supreme Court case stating that a college may not use a numerical quota in admitting minorities

An unsigned and typically brief court opinion

Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot.

Presidential staff organization where presidential assistants report  through a hierarchy.

Committee to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

An alliance of factions

1787 rebellion where Revolutionary veterans attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms.

Argues the main effect of federalism since the Civil War has been to perpetuate racism.

Money given by the national government to the states.

A few top leaders, drawn from major sectors, will make all important decisions.

The rule of precedent

Constitutional theory the national and state governments each have defined areas of authority.

Powers shared by the national and state governments.

A system in which sovereignty is wholly in the hands of the national government.

Historian who argued the Founders were motivated by the economic advantage of their class.

Segregation that is created by law.

A name for party professionals as opposed to volunteers

A Senate rule offering a means for stopping a filibuster

Researcher who found differences in political opinion associated with occupation in the 1950s

Legislation that barred the use of federal funds for nearly any abortion 

Increase in the votes congressional candidates get when they first run for re-election

Organization which prepares the federal budget for central clearance of legislative propossals

One is liberal on economic issues, conservative on personal conduct issues

U.S. legislation guaranteeing citizens access to certain government documents

A traditional pejorative name for the United States Senate

Document signed by over 100 members of congress complaining of "abuse of judicial power