AP Gov Unit 1

democracy

citizens play a significant part in the governmetal process

representative democracy

a government in which the people entrust elected officials to represent their concerns.

participatory democracy

direct participation of many/most people in a society. citizens vote directly for laws.

pluralist democracy

group-based activism by nongovernmental interest groups which work to impact political decision making.

elite democracy

limited participation by a few, well-educated and informed states people who are qualified to direct the nation through law making on behalf of the people.

autocracy

single individual rules

monarchy, dictatorship

theocracy

government subject to religious authority, religious leaders have the most power

communism

single, usually authoritarian, party is in control

state plans and controls economy

oligarchy

a small group controls most of the governing decisions. authority usually based on wealth or power

anarchy

no government, no person makes rules

Federalist argument

a strong national government and the diversity of America’s large population would protect the rights of all citizens from the elite and would protect the units of states from the collective whole

factions

interest groups to dominate political decisions

AntiFederalists argument

a too-strong central government will replicate monarchial rule.

Virginia Plan

Three branches, bicameral legislature, supremacy of national government, separation of powers

New Jersey Plan

Sovereignty of states, limited and defined powers of national legislature

Great Compromise

House membership apportioned by population; each state given 2 senators

3/5 compromise

3 of every 5 enslaved people would be counted to determine representation.

electoral college

states decide how their electors are chosen, with each state having the same number of electors as they have representatives in Congress

federalism

the sharing of powers between the national government and state governments.

exclusive powers

powers that are delegated only to the federal governmemnt

police powers

powers to create and enforce laws on health, safety, and morals

concurrent powers

some powers held by authorities at both the state and federal levels.

categorical grants

grants with particular congressional guidelines or requirements

block grants

federal money given to states for broadly defined reasons

mandates

require states to comply with a federal directive with the reward of funds

unfunded mandate

states required to comply with a federal directive, usign their own funds.

revenue sharing

the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government

grant-in-aid

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government

formula grants

categorical grants awarded to states based on a predetermined formula

project grants

categorical grants that states compete for by submitting project proposals.