AP UNIT ONE VOCAB FLASHCARDS

0.0(0)
learnLearn
examPractice Test
spaced repetitionSpaced Repetition
heart puzzleMatch
flashcardsFlashcards
Card Sorting

1/74

Study Analytics
Name
Mastery
Learn
Test
Matching
Spaced

No study sessions yet.

75 Terms

1
New cards

politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government.

2
New cards

government

The rules and institutions that make up the system of policy making.

3
New cards

democracy

A form of government in which the governmental power is derived from the people through voting.

4
New cards

natural rights

Permanent rights endowed to every human by their creator, cannot be revoked.

5
New cards

social contract

The theory that individuals surrender power to the government to protect their natural rights.

6
New cards

American political culture

The social ideas and constructs related to how the government should function, emphasizing democracy and individual freedoms/rights.

7
New cards

popular sovereignty

The idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people.

8
New cards

republicanism

A governing style in which people vote for representatives to voice public opinion in government.

9
New cards

inalienable rights

Natural rights specifically named in the Declaration as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

10
New cards

liberty

Freedom to live as one pleases and freedom from oppression that hinders a free and equal existence.

11
New cards

participatory democracy

A government built around the idea that widespread political participation is essential to governance.

12
New cards

civil society groups

Interest groups that citizens join to collectively attempt to influence policy outcomes.

13
New cards

pluralist theory

A theory of democracy emphasizing the role of groups of like-minded people affecting the policy-making process.

14
New cards

elitist theory

A theory proposing that elites have a disproportionate amount of influence on the policy-making process due to wealth.

15
New cards

political institutions

The established rules, organizations, and structures that govern the political landscape of society.

16
New cards

constitutional republic

A type of government in which representatives are elected to make decisions under a constitution framework.

17
New cards

constitution

A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government.

18
New cards

republic

A government ruled by representatives of the people.

19
New cards

Articles of Confederation

A document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states with states as supreme.

20
New cards

unicameral

A one house legislature.

21
New cards

Shays’s Rebellion

A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts.

22
New cards

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation.

23
New cards

writ of habeas corpus

The right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them.

24
New cards

bills of attainder

Legislative acts declaring someone guilty without a trial.

25
New cards

ex post facto laws

Laws intended to punish people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

26
New cards

Virginia Plan

Proposed representation based on state populations, favoring large states.

27
New cards

New Jersey Plan

Created a unicameral legislature giving each state one vote, favoring smaller states.

28
New cards

Grand Committee

A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation.

29
New cards

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature balancing state and population-based representation.

30
New cards

bicameral

A two-house legislature.

31
New cards

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state’s representation.

32
New cards

Compromise on Importation

Decision to delay the end of the slave trade until 1808.

33
New cards

separation of powers

A design of government that distributes powers across institutions to avoid concentration of power.

34
New cards

checks and balances

Each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy.

35
New cards

federalism

The sharing of power between the national government and the states.

36
New cards

legislative branch

Branch intended to make laws and is able to borrow money, tax, and regulate interstate commerce.

37
New cards

expressed or enumerated powers

Authorities specifically granted to a branch of government in the Constitution.

38
New cards

necessary and proper clause

Grants Congress the ability to carry out its enumerated powers.

39
New cards

implied powers

Authority of the federal government that extends beyond its expressed powers.

40
New cards

executive branch

A single executive elected to carry out laws and serve as commander-in-chief.

41
New cards

judicial branch

Interprets laws as the highest court in the land.

42
New cards

supremacy clause

States that the Constitution and all national laws are supreme over state laws.

43
New cards

amendment

The process by which changes may be made to the Constitution.

44
New cards

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed Constitution favoring a strong national government.

45
New cards

Antifederalists

Opponents of the proposed Constitution favoring stronger state governments.

46
New cards

Federalist Papers

A series of essays promoting the theory behind the Constitution written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

47
New cards

Federalist No. 51

Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny.

48
New cards

faction

A group of self-interested people working through government for their own benefit.

49
New cards

Federalist No. 10

Madison argues that dangers of faction can be mitigated in a large republic.

50
New cards

Brutus No. 1

An Antifederalist paper arguing that the country is too large to be governed as a republic.

51
New cards

unitary system

A system where the central government holds all power over subnational units.

52
New cards

confederal system

A system where subnational governments hold most of the power.

53
New cards

federal system

A system where power is divided between national and state governments.

54
New cards

enumerated or expressed powers

Powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution.

55
New cards

exclusive powers

Powers that only the national government may exercise.

56
New cards

commerce clause

Grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.

57
New cards

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people.

58
New cards

reserved powers

Powers not given to the national government, retained by the states and the people.

59
New cards

concurrent powers

Powers granted to both states and the federal government.

60
New cards

full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize public acts and records of other states.

61
New cards

extradition

The requirement that one state return a defendant to another state.

62
New cards

privileges and immunities clause

Prevents states from discriminating against out-of-state citizens.

63
New cards

Thirteenth Amendment

Outlaws slavery.

64
New cards

Fourteenth Amendment

Provides citizenship to those born in the US and prohibits discrimination.

65
New cards

Fifteenth Amendment

Gave African American males the right to vote.

66
New cards

dual federalism

A form of federalism where national and state governments operate independently.

67
New cards

selective incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court applies Bill of Rights to the states case-by-case.

68
New cards

cooperative federalism

A form of federalism in which national and state governments work together.

69
New cards

grants-in-aid

Federal funding provided to states to implement policy objectives.

70
New cards

fiscal federalism

The federal government's use of grants in aid to influence state policies.

71
New cards

categorical grants

Grants-in-aid with specific provisions on their use.

72
New cards

unfunded mandate

Federal requirements for states without accompanying funding.

73
New cards

block grant

A grant-in-aid providing state officials more authority in fund disbursement.

74
New cards

revenue sharing

When the federal government allocates tax money to states without restrictions.

75
New cards

devolution

Returning more authority to state or local governments.