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AP Gov Chapter 2

Terms in this set (28)

republican democracy
A form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders
monarchy
A form of government in which power is held by a single person who comes to power through inheritance rather than election
Articles of Confederation
These were the first attempt at a new American government. It was later decided that the Articles restricted national government too much, and they were replaced by the Constitution
limited government
A system in which the powers of the government are restricted to protect against tyranny
republicanism
The belief that a form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders is the best form of government
"consent of the governed"
The idea that government gains its legitimacy through regular elections in which the people living under that government participate to elect their leaders
natural rights
AKA "unalienable rights"-The Declaration of Independence defines them as "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." The Founders belived that upholding these rights should be the government's central purpose
factions
Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the government
Federalists
Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong national government over strong state governments
Antifederalists
Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored strong state governments over a strong national government
pluralism
The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within a government will strengthen the system, ensuring that no group possesses total control
Virginia Plan
A plan propsed by the larger states during the Constitutional Convention in which representation in the national legislature was based on population
New Jersey Plan
In response to the Virginia Plan, smaller states at the Constitutional Convention offered this plan in which each state would receive equal representation in the national legislature, regardless of size
Great Compromise
A compromise between the large and small states, proposed by Connecticut, in which Congress would have 2 houses: a Senate with 2 legislatures per state and a House of Representatives in which each state's representation would be based on population
parliamentary system
A system of government in which legislative and executive power are closely joined
national supremecy clause
Part of Article VI, Section 2, of the Constitution stating that the Constitution is the "supreme Law of the Land," meaning national laws take precedent over state laws if the two conflict
Three-fifths Compromise
The states' decision during the Constitutional Convention to count each slave as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of determining the number of House districts per state based on population
Federalist Papers
A series of 85 articles written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that sought to sway public opinion toward the Federalists' position
Bill of Rights
The first tem ammendments to the Constitution; they protect individual rights and liberties
elastic clause
Part of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass any law that is related to one of its expressed powers
impeachment
A negative or checking power fo Congress over the other branches allowing them to remove the President, VP, or other "officers of the United States"
power of the purse
The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding to punish exectutive agencies
judicial review
The Supreme Court's power to strike down a law or executive branch action that it finds unconstitutional
executive powers clause
Part of Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution that states, "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
commerce clause
Part of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress "the power to regulate Commerce... among the several states."
enumerated powers
Powers explicitely granted to Congress, the president, or the Supreme Court in the first three Articles of the Constitution
implied powers
Powers supported by the Constitution that are not expressly stated in it
constitutional revolution
A significant change in the Constitution that may be accomplished either through amendments of shifts in the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution
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