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AP US Government
Finals for AP Gov
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1st Amendment | Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition. (Example: Students protesting at school) |
| 2nd Amendment | Protects the right to keep and bear arms. (Example: Owning firearms) |
| 4th Amendment | Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. (Example: Police need a warrant to search your home) |
| 5th Amendment | Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process. (Example: Right to remain silent in court) |
| 6th Amendment | Guarantees the right to a fair, speedy trial and an attorney. (Example: Legal representation in criminal cases) |
| 7th Amendment | Guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases involving more than $20. (Example: Lawsuits over contracts can be decided by a jury) |
| 8th Amendment | Prohibits excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment. (Example: No torture or extreme fines) |
| 9th Amendment | States that rights not listed in the Constitution are still protected. (Example: Right to privacy) |
| 10th Amendment | Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states. (Example: States control education systems) |
| 14th Amendment | Guarantees equal protection and due process for all citizens. (Example: Used to end school segregation) |
| 15th Amendment | Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race. (Example: African American men can vote) |
| 17th Amendment | Established direct election of Senators by the people. (Example: Voters choose senators, not state legislatures) |
| 19th Amendment | Grants women the right to vote. (Example: Women’s suffrage) |
| 24th Amendment | Bans poll taxes in federal elections. (Example: No fee to vote) |
| 26th Amendment | Lowers the voting age to 18. (Example: 18-year-olds can vote in elections) |
| Bill of Rights | First ten amendments protect freedoms. (Example: Freedom of religion in the First Amendment) |
| Enumerated Powers | Powers specifically given to Congress. (Example: Power to declare war) |
| Necessary and Proper Clause | Congress can make laws needed to use its powers. (Example: Creating the IRS to collect taxes) |
| Reserved Powers | Powers kept by the states. (Example: Setting up schools) |
| Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by federal and state governments. (Example: Both tax citizens) |
| Due Process Clause | Government must follow fair procedures. (Example: Right to a fair trial) |
| Commerce Clause | Congress can regulate trade between states. (Example: Regulating trucking across state lines) |
| Equal Protection Clause | Requires states to treat people equally. (Example: Banning segregated schools) |
| Supremacy Clause | Federal law is higher than state law. (Example: National laws override conflicting state laws) |
| Swing State | State that could vote for either party. (Example: Ohio in presidential elections) |
| Primary Debates and Elections | Parties choose their candidates. (Example: Democrats pick their nominee in primaries) |
| Republicans | Major party favoring limited government. (Example: GOP supports lower taxes) |
| Democrats | Major party favoring active government. (Example: Democrats support healthcare reform) |
| Libertarian | Supports minimal government and more freedom. (Example: Legalizing marijuana) |
| Special Interest Group | Tries to influence government policies. (Example: NRA lobbying for gun rights) |
| Political Party | Group working to elect candidates. (Example: Republican and Democratic parties) |
| The Media | News organizations inform the public. (Example: CNN covering elections) |
| Rational Choice Voting | Voting for personal benefit. (Example: Choosing a candidate who will lower your taxes) |
| Prospective Voting | Voting based on future promises. (Example: Voting for someone who promises to improve schools) |
| Retrospective Voting | Voting based on past performance. (Example: Voting for a president who improved the economy) |
| Straight-Ticket Voting | Voting only for one party. (Example: Voting all Democrat on the ballot) |
| The Supreme Court | Highest court; interprets the Constitution. (Example: Deciding if a law is constitutional) |
| Selective Incorporation | Applying Bill of Rights to states case by case. (Example: States must honor free speech) |
| Civil Liberties | Basic freedoms protected from government. (Example: Freedom of religion) |
| Civil Rights | Rights to equal treatment. (Example: No discrimination in public places) |
| Due Process | Fair treatment by the legal system. (Example: Right to a lawyer in court) |
| Habeas Corpus | Right to challenge being held in jail. (Example: Prisoners can ask a judge to review their detention) |
| Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Banned discrimination. (Example: No segregation in restaurants) |
| Voting Rights Act of 1965 | Removed voting barriers for African Americans. (Example: Banned literacy tests) |
| Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 | Banned sex-based discrimination in schools. (Example: Equal sports opportunities for girls) |
| The Senate | Upper house; two senators per state. (Example: California and Wyoming both have two senators) |
| The House of Representatives | Lower house; based on population. (Example: California has more representatives than Alaska) |
| Filibuster | Delaying tactic in the Senate. (Example: Senator speaks for hours to block a bill) |
| Rules Committee | Sets debate rules in the House. (Example: Decides how long a bill can be debated) |
| Mandatory Spending | Required spending by law. (Example: Social Security payments) |
| Discretionary Spending | Congress chooses how much to spend. (Example: Funding for NASA) |
| Pork-Barrel Legislation | Money for local projects. (Example: Funding a bridge in a lawmaker’s district) |
| Logroll Legislation | Lawmakers trade votes. (Example: “You vote for my bill, I’ll vote for yours”) |
| Oversight Committee | Monitors how laws are carried out. (Example: Investigates government agencies for misuse of funds) |
| 3rd Amendment | Prohibits forcing people to house soldiers in their homes during peacetime. (Example: Government cannot make you let soldiers live in your house) |
| McCulloch v. Maryland | Congress created a national bank, and Maryland tried to tax it. The Court ruled Congress could create the bank and states couldn’t tax it. This expanded federal power by confirming implied powers and federal supremacy. |
| United States v. Lopez | Congress used the Commerce Clause to ban guns in school zones. The Court ruled this overstepped federal power, returning some authority to the states. This limited federal power, expanding state authority over local issues. |
| Citizens United v. F.E.C | The Court struck down limits on independent political spending by corporations and unions. This case allows unlimited campaign spending by these groups, increasing the influence of money in elections. |
| Marbury v. Madison | The Court established judicial review, allowing it to declare laws unconstitutional. This increased the Supreme Court’s power by letting it check the other branches. |
| Tinker v. Des Moines | Students wore armbands to protest the Vietnam War and were suspended. The Court ruled that students have free speech rights in school as long as it doesn’t disrupt learning. |
| NY Times v. United States | The government tried to stop the NY Times from publishing the Pentagon Papers. The Court ruled in favor of the press, strengthening freedom of the press against government censorship. |
| Engel v. Vitale | A public school required students to recite a prayer. The Court ruled this unconstitutional, banning state-sponsored prayer in schools and strengthening separation of church and state. |
| Wisconsin v. Yoder | Amish parents refused to send their children to school past 8th grade for religious reasons. The Court ruled in favor of the parents, protecting religious freedom over compulsory education laws. |
| Schenck v. United States | Schenck was convicted for urging resistance to the WWI draft. The Court ruled speech can be limited if it creates a “clear and present danger,” allowing the government to restrict certain speech. |
| Gideon v. Wainwright | Gideon was denied a lawyer in a criminal case. The Court said states must provide attorneys to defendants who can’t afford them, expanding civil liberties for the accused. |
| Brown v. Board of Education | The Court ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. This landmark case ended “separate but equal,” leading to desegregation across America. |
| Baker v. Carr | Citizens challenged unequal legislative districts in Tennessee. The Court ruled federal courts can review redistricting, leading to “one person, one vote” and fairer representation. |
| Shaw v. Reno | North Carolina created oddly-shaped districts to increase minority representation. The Court ruled racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional, requiring districts to be drawn fairly. |
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