AP Gov't: Exam Review: This Vs. That

Closed Primary vs Open Primary

Closed Primary- Only declared party members can vote. Open Primary- 23 States use this, any qualified voter can cast a ballot.

Congressional Caucus vs. Nominating Caucus

Congressional-An association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest Nominating-Generally meet at a convention to nominate party choice leader

Delegated Powers vs. Implied Powers

Delegated-Definition: Constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government. Implied-Definition: Powers derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause. These powers are not stated specifically but are considered to be reasonably implied through the exercise of delegated powers.

Delegated Powers vs. Reserved Powers

Delegated-Definition: Constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government. Reserved-Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states that belong to the states and the people

Democrat vs. Republican

Democrat- A member of the Democratic Party Republican- A member of the Republican party.

District Court vs. Supreme Court

District Court- a state of federal trial court. Supreme Court- the highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices and taking judicial precedence over all other courts in the nation.

Dual Federalism vs Cooperative Federalism

Dual- also referred to as divided sovereignty, is a political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government. Cooperative- concept of federalism in which national, state, and local governments interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems, rather than making policies separately but more or less

Enumerated Powers vs. Inherent Powers

Enumerated-Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers" Inherent-Powers that exist for the national government because the government is sovereign

Equal Protection Clause vs. Due Process Clause

Equal Protection- part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause, which took effect in 1868, provides that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws". Due Process- The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution each contain a due process clause. Due process deals with the administration of justice and thus the due process clause acts as a safeguard from arbitrary denial of life, liberty, or property by the Government outside the sanction of law.

Establishment Clause vs. Free Exercise Clause

Establishment- he clause in the First Amendment of the US Constitution that prohibits the establishment of religion by Congress. Free Exercise- the section of the First Amendment italicized here: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise

Formal Amendment vs. Informal Amendment

Formal- formal method of amending the United States Constitution: Article V creates a two-stage process for amending the Constitution: proposal and ratification. An amendment can be proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress Informal- The United States Constitution can be changed informally. Informal amendments mean that the Constitution does not specifically list these processes as forms of amending the Constitution, but because of change in society or judicial review changed the rule of law de facto.

Formal Powers vs. Informal Powers

Formal-specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law Informal-powers of the governor not derived from constitutional or statutory law

Full Faith and Credit vs. Privileges and Immunities

Full Faith and Credit- an obligation under the U.S. Constitution of one state to recognize and give effect to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of her sister states. Privileges and Immunities- prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Impeachment vs. Conviction

Impeachment- A formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official. According to the United States Constitution, the House of Representatives can vote to impeach an official, but the Senate actually tries the case. Conviction- a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.

Judicial Restraint vs. Judicial Activism

Judicial Restraint- a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power. It asserts that judges should hesitate to strike down laws unless they are obviously unconstitutional, though what counts as obviously unconstitutional is itself a matter of some debate. Judicial Activism- refers to judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint.

Majority Leader vs. Majority Whip

Leader-The legislative leader elected by the party members holding the majority of seats in the House of Representatives. The majority leader helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line. Whip-Key member of the minority party who keeps close contact with all of the members of his/her party and takes nose counts on key votes, prepares summaries of bills and in general acts as communications link within a party.

Liberal vs. Conservative

Liberal- Favorable to progress or reform, advocate measures of progressive political reform. Conservative- Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights

Liberties- the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, especially with regard to freedom of action and speech. Rights- the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Major Party vs. Minority Party vs. Third Party

Major Party-The party in Congress holding a majority of the seats in the House or Senate; the majority party also controls top leadership positions. Minority Party-The party in Congress holding a minority of the seats in the House or Senate; the minority party forms an organized opposition to the majority party. Third Party-Typically do not win major elections but often bring more voters into the electorate; often spoil elections for a major party; may bring issues that the major parties will adopt

National Government vs. States Rights

National Gov.- A national government is the government, or political authority, that controls a nation. At minimum, a national government requires a national army, enough power over its states or provinces to set and maintain foreign policy, and the ability to collect taxes. States Rights- he rights and powers held by individual US states rather than by the federal government.

Necessary and Proper Clause vs. Commerce Clause

Necessary and Proper-Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out all powers vested by the Constitution in the national government. Commerce-The clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Nomination vs. General Election

Nomination- The naming of those who will seek office. General Election- A regular election of candidates for office.

Nomination vs. Confirmation

Nomination- the action of nominating or state of being nominated. Confirmation- the action of confirming something or the state of being confirmed.

OMB vs. CBO

OMB-A division of the Executive Office of the President created by executive order in 1970 to replace the Bureau of the Budget. The OMB's main functions are to assist the president in preparing the annual budget, to clear and coordinate all department agency budgets, to help set fiscal policy, and to supervise the administration of the federal budget. CBO-Congressional Budget Office staff agency that advises Congress on the likely economic effects of different spending programs and provides information on the costs of the proposed policies.

Original Intent vs. 'Living' Constitution

Original Intent- a theory in law concerning constitutional and statutory interpretation. 'Living' Constitution- the Living Constitution (or loose constructionism) is the claim that the Constitution has a dynamic meaning or that it has the properties of an animate being in the sense that it changes.

Political Parties vs. Interest Groups

Political Parties- an organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office. Interest Groups- An organized group that tries to influence the government to adopt certain policies or measures.

President of Senate vs. Senate President Pro Tem

President of Senate-Vice President of the United States. Provides oversight to senate and votes incase of tie. Senate President Pro Tem-A president pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer.

Primary vs. Caucus

Primary- A regular election for statewide or national offices. Caucus- A group of like minded people who meet to select the candidate they will support.

Proposing an Amendment vs. Ratification of an Amendment

Proposing- an act of amending; especially : an alteration in wording <amendments to cure the defect in the pleading> Ratification-State ratifying conventions are one of the two methods established by Article V of the United States Constitution for ratifying proposed constitutional amendments.

Realignment vs. Dealignment

Realignment-occurs when a party undergoes a major shift in its electoral base and political agenda. the groups of people composing the party coalition may split up, resulting in a vastly different party. realignments are rare and tend to be signaled by a critical election. the last realignment occurred during the new deal, when many working class and ethnic groups joined together under the democratic party Dealignment-A decline in party loyalties that reduces long-term party commitment

Reapportionment vs. Redistricting

Reapportionment-The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts. Redistricting-The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Separation of Powers vs. Checks and Balances

Separation of Powers- an act of vesting the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government in separate bodies Checks and Balances- counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.

Standing Committee vs. Conference Committee

Standing committee - A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area. ... Conference committee - Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

White House Staff vs. Executive Office of POTUS

White House Staff-Personal assistants to the president, typically a chief of staff. Others include counselors to the president; domestic, foreign, and economic policy strategists; communications staff; White House counsel; and a lobbyist who acts as a liaison between the president and Congress. Executive Office of POTUS-The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units

Congressional Caucus vs. Congressional Committee

Caucuses differ from committees because committees are subsidiary organizations, established for the purpose of considering legislation, conducting hearings and investigations, or carrying out other assignments as instructed by the Senate.

Writ of Certiorari vs. Writ of Habeas Corpus

Certiorari- a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court. Habeas Corpus- a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

Casework vs. Pork Barrel

Casework is when an incumbent Congress member helps an individual constituent in some way. A pork barrel is the lists of funds and projects available to the cities and businesses in the incumbent's district.

Executive Agreement vs. Executive Order

Agreement-A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval. Order-A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Appellate Jurisdiction vs. Original Jurisdiction

Appellate Jurisdiction- the power of a higher court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. Most appellate jurisdiction is legislatively created, and may consist of appeals by leave of the appellate court or by right. Original- A court's power to hear and decide a case before any appellate review. A trial court must necessarily have original jurisdiction over the types of cases it hears.

Block Grants vs. Categorical Grants

Block- a grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services. Categorical- grants, issued by the United States Congress, which may be spent only for narrowly defined purposes. Categorical grants are the main source of federal aid to state and local government, can be used only for specific purposes and for helping education or categories of state and local spending.