Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

AP Gov Unit One Review

Terms in this set (42)

Limited Government
A form of government that has limits on its power, in order to not take power away from the people (prevent tyranny and permit popular rule)
Social Contract
People allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society; transfer some rights/liberties are given up in exchange for the benefits of participating in that society
Natural Rights
Individual rights that the government cannot take away
Locke's rights that must be protected by government
Life, liberty, and property
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that the right to have authority over the people or the right to rule comes from the people (citizens)
Republicanism
A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people.
Declaration of Independence
"deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.''
participatory democracy
Theory that widespread participation is essential for democratic government. This includes joining social civil groups such as a bowling league to see diverse beliefs
pluralist democracy
Power is distributed among several groups, branches
elite democracy
Model whereby small group of influential, informal influence/wealth/political capital/tenure of office, leaders influence policy and decision-making on behalf of the larger group.
confederation/confederate system
State governments with primary authority in relation to a select few powers which are delegated to the central/federal government
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
no power to tax, President lacked power, no money to buy ships or pay soldiers
The Great Compromise
1787; This compromise was between the large and small states of the colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of size, would have 2 senators. All tax bills and revenues would originate in the House. This compromise combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their problems.
The Electoral College
Established by the Constitutional Convention (developed to assist with the election of a president and vice president)
Three-Fifths Compromise
Although slaves could not vote, the number of slaves in a population would positively influence the slave states because these states would be allotted more members of Congress
12th Amendment
Pairs POTUS and VPOTUS together on ballot
15th Amendment
right to vote cannot be taken away based on race
17th Amendment
popular election for senate members
19th Suffrage
Women's suffrage
23rd Amendment
Electors granted to D.C.
24th Amendment
Bans poll taxes
26th Amendment
18 yr. olds can vote
Separation of Powers
A way in which the American government is designed, which distributes powers across the different institutions (branches), in order to prevent a single branch from becoming too powerful on its own.
Checks and Balances
A design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy
Federalism
Complex system whereby power of governance is divided between the national, state and local governments.
enumerated powers
Powers granted specifically to the federal government in Article 1 Section 8
Implied Powers
Power of the federal government that go beyond the enumerated powers under the necessary and proper clause in the Constitution
Necessary and Proper Clause
Grants the federal government the authority to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers.
The Vesting Clause
Article 3, Section 1 states that the executive power to the federal government will be vested in the president. This clause gives the president authority and executive power
Reserved Powers
The reserved powers are in the tenth amendment, and state that all powers not listed for the federal government are given to the states.
Concurrent powers
powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution. The power to tax is an example
Dual Federalism
"layer cake" federalism, is the idea that the federal and state governments have their own powers and they do not cooperate much with each other. This was most present immediately following the implementation of the Constitution.
Cooperative Federalism
A form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy - prominent in the early 20th century
Revenue Sharing
A form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy - prominent in the early 20th century
Unfunded Mandate
federal requirement the states must follow without being provided with funding.
Categorical grants
Grants-in-aid provided w/specific provisions on their use.
block grants
A grant-in-aid of a specified amount from the federal government to individual states and governments to help support various broad purpose programs
14th Amendment
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Commerce Clause
This gives Congress the power to regulate trade among the states, so anything that crosses state lines can be touched by the federal government.
Supremacy Clause
Says the constitution is the supreme law of the country in relation to laws/measures through the state governments
McCulloch v. Maryland
The state of Maryland attempted to tax a National bank within Maryland because they believed it did not have power over them.
U.S. v. Lopez (1995)
essened the power and jurisdiction of the federal government. The Supreme Court stated that a gun in a school zone should not be a violation of the commerce clause, because if it was, than almost anything could be tied to the commerce clause. It heightens state police powers and state jurisdiction, and reinforces the ideas of federalism.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...