AMSCO Chapter 1 and 2 Vocab AP GOV

HOUSE of Representatives.

The chamber of Congress that bases representation on population.

Three-Fifths.

Because slave states wanted to count slave population when determining the number of their representatives in the legislature (even thought they were treated as animals), the free states agreed to count slaves as this much of a person.

Declaration of Independence.

Our “breakup letter” with Great Britian. It lists a number of grievances agants the British and declares that all men have “natural rights” such as the “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. It is full of Englightenment ideals. It is afundational document but NOT a law.

FederalistNO.51.

The Federalist Paper that describes checks and balances and separation of powers as an effective guard against tyranny.

Federalist Papers.

Written to encourage the ratification of the constitution. Written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison.

Articles of Confederation.

The first constitution.

Seperation of Powers.

It describes the structure of the federal government that forbids any branch from becoming too powerful by dividing responsibilities.

States.

Had most of the power under the Articles.

Republican.

The form of government that James Madison, in Federalist NO.10, argues is the cure to divisive interest groups.

Bicameral.

The type of legislature that resulted from the Great (Connecticut) Compromise. This was essentially a mix of the VA Plan and the NJ Plan.

Anti-Federalists.

They opposed the ratification of the Constitution.

Factions.

The term used in Federalist NO. 10 describing the divisve interest groups that could tear a country apart. They can never be eliminated, but their negative effects can be lessened with a large republic with checks and balances.

Federal.

Another name for the "central" of "national" government.

Representative Democracy.

The type of democracy that we have in the United States. This word often gets used in interchangeably with REPUBLIC.

Senate.

The chamber of congress that is based representative on equally : 2 per state.

Whiskey.

This rebellion, in contrast to Shays’, demonstrated that the Constitituon was strong enought to stop a domestic revolt.

Federalists.

They favored the ratification of the Constitution.

Shays.

His rebellion showed that the federal government was too weak under the Articles to deal with an insurgency or domestic uprising (this also showed a need for a stronger government).

John Locke.

This englightnement philosipher belived that the government should ensure that all men have the right to "Life, Liberty, and Property" Thomas Jefferson borrowed from him in the Decloration of Independence.

Legislative.

The branch of government that makes the laws.

Judicial.

The branch of government that intercepts the laws. Appointed by the president and confirmed with the “advice and consent” of the Senate.

Bill of Rights.

The first ten ammedments to the Constituion, they were added to ensure ratification by the states. They were favored by the anti-federalists.

The U.S. CONSTITUTION.

Replaced the Articles, gave more powers to the federal government, added a Bill of Rights to placate anti-federalists, ad a necessary and proper clause (which the anti-federalists did not like).

Radification.

Formal aprroval - the states have to “ratify” amendments and the Constitution had to “radified” by 9 of the 13 states.

Executive.

The branch of government that enforced the laws. All of the agencies such as the EPA, NASA, SEC, FBI, CIA, and a zillion others fall under this branch.

BrutusI.

Aka anti-federalist papers, argues against a strong national government and weary of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause. The “I” is a Roman numeral one - not pronounced like the Y sound.