AP® United States Government and Politics

Flashcards

193 cards with the terms and ideas you need to know cold. The ones you find hard come back sooner.

Multiple choice practice

148 exam-style questions, timed like the real exam, with every answer explained.

Foundations of American Democracy

9 topics · 57 videos

• Government power comes from the people and has limits
• The Constitution was built out of compromises
• Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagreed over how strong the national government should be
• Separation of powers and checks and balances keep any one branch from taking over
• Federalism splits power between the nation and the states, and the Supreme Court keeps redrawing the line

Interactions Among Branches of Government

15 topics · 81 videos

• The House and Senate were designed to work differently
• Presidents use formal and informal powers, and Congress pushes back
• Judicial review makes the Supreme Court a major player in policy
• Federal agencies carry out laws, watched over by all three branches
• Split power creates many access points but makes quick action hard

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

13 topics · 70 videos

• Civil liberties limit what government can do to you; civil rights guarantee equal treatment
• The Supreme Court decides how far each right reaches
• Individual freedom is constantly balanced against public order and safety
• The Fourteenth Amendment carried most of the Bill of Rights to the states
• Social movements use the Constitution to push for equal protection

American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

10 topics · 47 videos

• Americans share core values but interpret them differently
• Political socialization shapes your beliefs throughout your life
• Good polls depend on random samples and neutral questions
• Liberals, conservatives and libertarians disagree about government's role
• Ideology shapes both economic and social policy

Political Participation

13 topics · 65 videos

• Amendments and laws expanded who can vote
• Turnout depends on state rules, political efficacy and demographics
• Parties, interest groups, elections and media link people to government
• Winner-take-all elections favor two major parties
• Money and media are central to modern campaigns