AP American Government Semester 1 Review
AP American Government Semester 1 Review
AP American Government Semester 1 Review
Summary
There are two major questions about politics: who governs? To what ends?
Four answers have traditionally been given to the question of who governs
- The Marxist—those who control the economic system will control the political one
- The elitist—a few top leaders, not all of them drawn from business, make the key decisions without
reference to popular desires
- The bureaucratic – appointed civil servants run things
- The pluralist – competition among affected interests shapes public policy
To choose among these theories or to develop new ones requires more than describing governmental institutions
and processes. In addition one must examine the kinds of issues that do get taken up by the political system and
how that system resolves them
The distinction between different types of democracies is important. The Framers of the Constitution intended that
America be a representative democracy in which the power to make decisions is determined by means of a free
and competitive struggle for citizens’ votes.
Key Terms
Power
Authority
Legitimacy
Democracy
Direct or participatory democracy
Representative democracy
Elite
Marxists
Bureaucrats
Pluralist
Key Terms
Unalienable
Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
Shay’s Rebellion
Great Compromise
Republic
Judicial Review
Checks and balances
Federalism
Separation of powers
Faction
Federalists
Antifederalists
Federalist papers
Coalition
Writ of habeas corpus
Bill of attainder
Ex post facto law
Bill of rights
Amendments
Line-item veto
Key Terms
Devolution
Block grants
Federalism
Sovereignty
Unitary system
Confederation or confederal system
Federal system
Federal regime
“necessary and proper” clause
Nullification
Dual federalism
City
Municipal corporation or municipality
Special-act charter
Dillon’s rule
Home-rule charter
Ordinances
Counties
Special-district governments or authorities
School districts
Police power
Initiative
Referendum
Recall
Grants-in-aid
Categorical grants
Revenue sharing
Conditions of aid
Mandates
Second-order devolution
Third-order devolution
Key Terms
Political culture
Political subculture
Political ideology
Civic duty
Civic competence
Work ethic
Class consciousness
Orthodox
Progressive
Political efficacy
Internal efficacy
External efficacy
Key Terms
John Q. Public
Middle America
Silent majority
Social status
Religious tradition
Gender gap
Poll
Random sample
Liberal
Conservative
Political ideology
Sampling error
Libertarians
Populists
Political elite
Norm
Key Terms
Voting-age population
Registered voters
Motor-voter law
Literacy test
Poll tax
Grandfather clause
White primary
Australian ballot
Activists
Key Terms
Political party
Mugwumps or progressives
Critical or realigning periods
Split ticket
Straight ticket
Office-bloc ballot
Party-column ballot
National convention
Congressional campaign committee
National chairman
Superdelegates
Political machine
Ideological party
Solidary incentive
Sponsored party
Personal following
Two-party system
Key Terms
Incumbent
Coattails
Political action committee
Malapportionment
Gerrymandering
Sophomore surge
Position issue
Valence issue
General election
Primary election
Closed primary
Open primary
Blanket primary
Runoff primary
Presidential primary
Independent expenditure
Soft money
Prospective voting
Retrospective voting
Key Terms
Lobby
Lobbyist
Interest group
Incentive
Solidary incentive
Material incentive
Purposive incentive
Ideological interest groups
Public-interest lobby
Social movement
Political cue
Ratings
Key terms
Muckraker
Sound bite
Equal time rule
Right-of-reply rule
Political editorializing rule
Fairness doctrine
Market
Trial balloon
Loaded language
Selective attention
Routine stories
Feature stories
Insider stories
Adversarial press
Background story
Key Terms
Bicameral legislature
Filibuster
Marginal districts
Safe districts
Conservative coalition
Majority leader
Minority leader
Whip
Party polarization
Caucus
Standing committees
Select committees
Joint committees
Conference committee
Public bill
Private bill
Simple resolution
Concurrent resolution
Joint resolution
Multiple referral
Sequential referral
Discharge petition
Closed rule
Open rule
Restrictive rule
Rider
Christmas tree bill
Quorum
Quorum call
Cloture rule
Double-tracking
Voice vote
Division vote
Teller vote
Roll-call vote
Pork-barrel legislation
Franking privilege
Key Terms
Divided government
Unified government
Representative democracy
Direct democracy
Pyramid structure
Circular structure
Ad hoc structure
Perks
Cabinet
Veto message
Pocket veto
Line-item veto
Trustee approach
Delegate approach
Legislative veto
Impeachment
Lame duck
Key Terms
Bureaucracy
Spoils system
Laissez-faire
Discretionary authority
Competitive service
Name-request job
Iron triangle
Issue network
Authorization legislation
Appropriation
Trust funds
Annual authorization
Committee clearance
Legislative veto
Red tape