Ap Government Exam

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Affirmative Action

Back 1

A policy designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement that positive steps be taken for minorities.

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Agenda Setting

Back 2

The process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address.

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Amicus curiae brief

Back 3

Friend of the Court; interested groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting or rejecting argument of the case.

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Anti-Federalists

Back 4

Opposed the US Constitution because it gave too much power to the national government.

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Appelate Jurisdiction

Back 5

Gives the court authority to hear cases on appeal from the lower courts.

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Apportionment

Back 6

Distribution of Representatives among the states based on the population of each state.

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At-large

Back 7

All the voters of a state or country elect their representative.

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Bills of Attainder

Back 8

Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime without trial.

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Blanket Primary

Back 9

Voters may vote for either candidate from either party.

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Block Grant

Back 10

Money with a broad purpose.

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Brief

Back 11

Legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a particular position.

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Brief Orders

Back 12

The returning of a case to a lower court because a similar case was recently denied.

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Bureaucracy

Back 13

A systematic way of organizing a complex and large administrative structure with responsibility for carrying out day-to-day tasks of the government.

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Bureaucratic Theory

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Max Weber--the hiearchial structure and standardized procedures of the government allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy.

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Casework

Back 15

Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors.

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Caucus

Back 16

Locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who will in turn nominate candidates to political offices.

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Certificate

Back 17

A lower court asks the Supreme Court about a rule of law or procedure.

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Closed Primary

Back 18

Only registered party members may vote.

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Cloture Rule

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Prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate by a three-fifths vote.

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Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

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Resolved differences between northern and southern states; congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for 20 years.

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Comparable Worth

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Women should be paid salaries equal to men for equivalent job skills.

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Concurrent Jurisdiction

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The authority to hear cases is shared by the federal and state courts.

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Concurring Opinion

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Justice of justices who agree with the majority's opinion but not with the reason behind the decision.

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Conference Committee

Back 24

A temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the House and Senate in different versions.

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Congressional Districting

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State legislatures draw congressional districts for states with more than one representative.

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Connecticut Compromise

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Settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch.

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Constituency Service

Back 27

Casework, asistance to constituents by congressional members.

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Constituent

Back 28

All residents of the state for Senators, all residents of a district for House members.

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Cooperative Federalism

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Cooperation among federal, state, and local governments; "marble cake federalism"

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Courts of Appeals

Back 30

Federal Courts that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts.

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Deviating Election

Back 31

Minority Party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters.

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Devolution

Back 32

Shifting responsibility of domestic programs from the federal government to the state governments.

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Direct Primary

Back 33

Party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election.

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District Courts

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Lowest level of federal courts, where federal cases begin and trials are held.

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Eminent domain

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Allows the government to take property for public use but also requires the government to provide just compensation for that property.

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Entitlement Program

Back 36

Payments made to people meeting eligibility requirements, such as social security.

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Establishment Clause

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Prohibits the creation of a national religion.

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Exclusionary Rule

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Rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used againts the person from whom it was seized.

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Executive Agreement

Back 39

Agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate.

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Ex Post Facto

Back 40

Laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws are unconstitutional.

Front 41

Affirmative Action

Back 41

A policy designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement that positive steps be taken for minorities.

Front 42

Agenda Setting

Back 42

The process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address.

Front 43

Amicus curiae brief

Back 43

Friend of the Court; interested groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting or rejecting argument of the case.

Front 44

Anti-Federalists

Back 44

Opposed the US Constitution because it gave too much power to the national government.

Front 45

Appelate Jurisdiction

Back 45

Gives the court authority to hear cases on appeal from the lower courts.

Front 46

Apportionment

Back 46

Distribution of Representatives among the states based on the population of each state.

Front 47

At-large

Back 47

All the voters of a state or country elect their representative.

Front 48

Bills of Attainder

Back 48

Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime without trial.

Front 49

Blanket Primary

Back 49

Voters may vote for either candidate from either party.

Front 50

Block Grant

Back 50

Money with a broad purpose.