Unit 1 AP Government
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51 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Bicameral legislature | two-house legislature. |
| Block grant | : money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose ( e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program). |
| Categorical grant | money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose ( e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation). |
| Centralists | who favor greater national authority rather than state authority. |
| Checks and balances | system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law. |
| Commerce clause | gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution. |
| Concurrent powers | those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies. |
| Confederation | : system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation. |
| Decentralists | who favor greater state authority rather than national authority. |
| Direct democracy | system in which the people rule themselves. |
| Elastic clause | states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States. |
| Enumerated powers | those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers. |
| Federalism | constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. |
| Dual federalism | system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere. |
| Cooperative federalism | system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems |
| New Federalism | system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states. |
| Federalist Papers | group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution. |
| Formal amendment | a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states. |
| Implied powers | those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause. |
| Indirect democracy | system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic. |
| Inherent powers | foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government. |
| Informal amendment | a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board. |
| Judicial review | power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
| Mandates | requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding. |
| Marbury v. Madison | 1803: established the power of judicial review |
| McCulloch v. Maryland | 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers. |
| Police powers | powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public. |
| Popular sovereignty | principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people. |
| Reserved powers | powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states. |
| Separation of powers | principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial |
| Shays' Rebellion | 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention. |
| Supermajority | a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3. |
| Unicameral legislature | one-house legislature |
| Bill of Attainder Clause | Congress cannot pass a law that singles out a person for punishment without trial |
| Commerce Clause | Congress can regulate trade between nations, states, and among Indian tribes |
| Contracts Clause | No state can interfere with the execution of contracts. For example a state could not pass a law that declares all debts to be null and void |
| Due Process Clause 5th | The national government must observe fair procedures when it denies a person life liberty or property |
| Due Process Clause 14th | State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person of life liberty or property |
| Elastic Clause | Congress can exercise powers not specifically stated in the Constitution if those powers are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its expressed powers that are specifically stated. |
| Equal Protection Clause | States cannot unresonably discriminate against individuals. They must treat people equally |
| Establishment Clause | Congress cannot establish an official religion |
| Ex Post Facto Clause | Congress cannot pass a law that punishes a person after the fact. |
| Extradition Clause | An accused perdon who flees to another state must be returned to the state in which he or she allegedly committed the crime |
| Free Exercise Clause | Congress cannot pass laws that ban freedom of worship |
| Full Faith and Credit Clause | A state must recognize the validity of the public acts, records, and court decisions of other states. For example a state must recongnize as valid birth certificated issued by antother state |
| Preamble | Into to the Constitution |
| Privileges and Immunities Clause | A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states |
| Reserved Powers Clause | Any power that is not granted to the national government or denied to the statesautomatically reverts to the states |
| Searh and Seizure Clause | This is a protection against unreasonable search and seizure. The authorites dont have a general power to searchand arrest individuals at any time at any place and in any manner |
| Supremacy Clause | Federal law is supreme over state law |
| Takings Clause | Government can take private property for a public purpose but it must provide fair compensation to the owners of that property |
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