ap gov unit 1

government

rules, institutions, people, and processes used to create public policy

politics

the process of influencing the actions of policies and goverment

democracy

rule by the people

natural rights

rights people are born with (life, liberty, property, Locke)

social contract

giving up your right to government yourself for govt (Hobbes, later Rousseau)

American political culture

limited government, natural rights, social contract, pop sov, republicanism (democratic ideals)

popular sovereignty

gov represents people, states have rights, laws based on majority voting

republicanism

all participate in choosing representatives, limited power, self rule, sovereignty

inalienable rights

life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (declaration)

liberty

personal and political freedoms

participatory democracy

direct participation of most people

civil society groups

interest groups that let citizens influence policy outside gov

pluralist theory

non govt groups try to exert influence on political decision making

elitist theory

small number of elected representatives make decisions

political institutions

legislative, judicial, executive

constitutional republic

representative govt + supreme laws

constitution

laws that outline govt structure, supreme laws of the land

republic

people elect representatives, representative democracy

Articles of Confederation

First constitution, no power to tax, no executive, no natl courts

unicameral

a legislature with one house

Shays’s Rebellion

economic depression after revolution, high taxes, foreclosures on farmers, articles govt couldn’t help (no taxing), led to Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention

in Philly 1787, scrapped AoC for new Constitution

writ of habeas corpus

govt required to say why someone is being detained

bills of attainder

laws that declare a person guilty w/o trial

ex post facto laws

laws that punish people for crimes legal when committed

Virginia Plan

bicameral, rep by state pop, strong exec and judiciary

New Jersey Plan

unicameral, equal rep

Grand Committtee

group of delegates at CC to resolve disputes

Great Compromise

bicameral, house by pop, senate by house

Three Fifths Compromise

slaves count as 3/5ths a person to population

Compromise on Importation

slave trade could not be banned until 1808, 20 yrs later

separation of powers

exec, legislative, judicial

checks and balances

each branch and limit each others powers

federalism

system where power is divided between natl and state govt

legislative branch

branch of govt that makes laws, congress

expressed or enumerated powers

powers of fed govt directly in Constitution, coin money, declare war, regulate interstate commerce, tax, etc

necessary and proper clause

gives Congress powers to make laws needed to carry out expressed powers

implied powers

powers not directly stated but allowed through Necessary and Proper Clause

executive branch

branch of govt that enforces laws

judicial branch

branch of govt that interprets laws and Consitution

supremacy clause

federal law is supreme law, over state

amendment

formal change or addition to Constitution

Federalists

supporters of Constitution, strong central govt, Hamilton, Madison, Jay

Antifederalists

feared too powerful central govt, wanted individual liberties

Federalist Papers

advocated for ratification, 85 essays

faction

group of people united by common interest, can threaten rights of others/common good

unitary system

system where all power is held by natl govt (opposite of federalism)

federal system

govt power is shared between natl and state

exclusive powers

powers that only belong to natl govt

commerce clause

gives Congress power to regulate trade between states, w foreign nations, and tribes

Tenth Amendment

powers not given to fed govt are reserved to the states or people

reserved powers

powers kept by states, not fed govt

full faith and credit clause

requires states to recognize public acts, records, and judicial rulings of other states

extradition

where a state returns a person convicted of crime to state where crime was committed

privileges and immunities clause

states most treat citizens of other states equally to their own

Thirteenth Amendment

abolished slavery

Fourteenth Amendment

citizenship to all born or naturalized in US, guaranteed due process and equal protection of laws

Fifteenth Amendment

gave Af Am men right to vote

dual federalism

layer cake federalism, own spheres

selective incorporation

Supreme Court applies parts of the Bills of Rights to the states using 14th Amendment Due Process Clause

cooperative federalism

marble cake, working together

grants in aid

money given by fed govt to states to fund programs

fiscal federalism

how fed govt uses money to influence state policies

categorical grants

federal money given to states for specific purpose w strict conditions

unfunded mandate

fed govt requires states to follow policy w/o funding it

block grant

fed money gives to states for a broad purpose, fewer restrictions

revenue sharing

fed govt gives states a share of tax revenue w no strings attached

Devolution

transferring power from fed govt back to states