AP Gov Review questions and answers verified for accuracy

Amendment Process Two Ways: 2/3rds majority in both houses of congress then to States to ratify, or in constitutional conventions (never been used) Articles of Confederation Pre-Constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution. Limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control money Block Grants Money sent to states to fund programs, not specifically allocated Categorical Grants Federal grants for specific purposes, often with strings attached. "Commerce" Clause Inter-State Commerce Clause of the constitution, allows congress to regulate any trade or commercial (non-goods/trade) related activity that occurs over state lines. Concurrent Powers Powers held by both states and federal government- like the ability to collect taxes Cooperative Federalism Cooperation among federal, state, & local governments "marble cake" federalism Delegated Powers Powers specifically given to the federal government by the constitution Devolution Revolution Returning powers to the States that had been given to the federal government, product of Republican party control of gov't Dual Federalism A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. Federalism System of splitting power between state and federal government Federalist Papers Series of essays written by Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution Full Faith and Credit Clause Clause in the Constitution (Article 4, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid. Gibbons v. Ogden A landmark case decided in 1824 in which the Supreme Court interpreted very broadly the clause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, encompassing virtually every form of commercial activity. The Great Compromise Created Bicameral legislature, compromise between New Jersey and Virginia plans Mandate Requirement from the Federal Gov't to states, can be funded or not McCulloch v. Maryland An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments. SCOTUS held that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers found in the Constitution. National Supremacy Federal government decisions are supreme over State Necessary and Proper Clause "Elastic Clause" Gives congress the power to pass any laws "Necessary and Proper" to carrying out it's duties New Jersey Plan Equal representation for all states, seen in the Senate Pluralism A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group. Popular Sovereignty All governmental power is derived from the people, therefore the government is responsible ultimately to the people: rule by the people. Reserved Powers Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people (10th Amendment) Shay's Rebellion Massachusetts Farmers riot and attack a Militia armory, shows weakness of Articles of Confederation because MA Militia can't contain them and no standing army Virginia Plan Representation in congress determined by state population, leads to house of reps Conservative v. Liberal Beliefs Conservatives: Small Gov't, Low Taxes/Liberal: More federal intervention, Gov't economic intervention Exit Polls Polling as people leave voting places to predict winners Jim Crow Laws Southern laws to disenfranchise Black Voters and return to some degree of status quo in post civil war South Motor Voter Laws allows people to register to vote while applying for or renewing a driver's license (National Voter Registration Act) Political Culture An overall set of values widely shared within a society. Political Efficacy A belief that you can take part in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy) Political Participation The citizenry's level of involvement in the political process, through voting, campaigning etc Political Socialization The process by which people develop political attitudes, values, and beliefs. Political Tolerance The willingness of people to reasonably tolerant to the opinions and actions of others that are not in accordance with their own. Random Sample For Polling: with a truly random sample and neutral questions a poll of ~1500 can gauge the feelings of the nation Registered v. Eligible Voters All eligible voters could vote, registered actually will Sampling Error The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time. Solid South Term used to describe the domination of post-Civil War southern politics by the Democratic Party Straw Poll Not particularly accurate form of polling, IE Ames in Iowa Suffrage Right to vote Ticket Splitting Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices Universal Manhood Suffrage Principle that every man had the right to vote, regardless of whether he owned property. Voter Turnout The number of eligible voters who actually vote in an election. 15th Amendment Ratified 1870. One of the "Reconstruction Amendments". Provided that no government in the United States shall prevent a citizen from voting based on the citizen's race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 19th Amendment Womens Suffrage 26th Amendment Allows 18 year olds to vote 527 Group A tax-exempt organization that can engage in election activities based on behalf of causes or interests. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted Campaign Reform Act of 1974 Created FEC; all contributions over $100 disclosed; no foreign contributions; establishment of PACs - $5,000 per candidate; individual contributions - $1,000 per candidate; presidential elections. Class