Unit 1: APGOV

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights (life, liberty, property) that all people possess by virtue of being human, as argued by John Locke.

Social Contract

An agreement between people and their government; people give up some freedom in exchange for the protection of their rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the power of the government comes from the consent of the governed (the people).

Republicanism

Form of government characterized by separation of political power (Executive, Judicial, Legislative).

Limited Government

A government whose powers are defined and restricted by a constitution to protect individual liberties.

Declaration of Independence

The document formally declaring the colonies' separation from Britain, outlining natural rights and popular sovereignty. Includes unalienable rights and all terms above.

Constitution

Document outlining how powers are going to be separated, people’s voice representation, and all three models of democracy.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation by citizens in the operation of government; as many people involved in the political process as possible.

Elite Democracy (Elite Theory)

Belief that a small number of wealthy or well-educated individuals influence decision-making; as few people involved in the political process as possible.

Pluralist Democracy (Pluralism)

Competition among group-based activism (interest groups) to influence policy; no single group dominates.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large central government would be too powerful and distant from the people's needs; highlights how the necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause can lead to tyranny.

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic is the best way to control the negative effects of "factions" (interest groups) by mitigating their effects through competing interests.

Federalists

Those favoring a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Those favoring less government control and strong state governments to avoid tyranny like during the colonial period.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. governing document; it created a very weak central government with most power residing in the states.

Weaknesses of the Articles

No executive/judicial branch; congress couldn’t raise taxes; required unanimous vote (13 states) to change; no national army.

Shays’ Rebellion (1786-87)

An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts that exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation because there was no national army to stop it.

The Great Compromise

The agreement at the Constitutional Convention to create a bicameral legislature (House based on population, Senate with equal representation).

Electoral College Compromise

Each state is given electors based on representatives; electors elect the president.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for both taxation and representation, giving southern states political power until the Civil War.

Article 5 of the Constitution

Outlines the amendment process; proposal by Congress or states, then ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures.

Federalist No. 51

An essay by Madison explaining how separation of powers and checks and balances prevent any one branch from becoming tyrannical.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into three distinct branches

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.

Federalism

A system of shared power divided between a national government and state government.

Exclusive Powers

Powers delegated by the Constitution specifically to the federal government (e.g., minting currency, declaring war).

Reserved Powers

Powers belonging exclusively to states via the 10th Amendment (e.g., police powers, education, elections).

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared between state and federal government.

Fiscal Federalism

The sharing of power between national and state governments through dollars and funding.

Categorical Grants

Money given to states by the federal government as long as they comply with specific federal standards (with strings attached).

Block Grants

Money given for a broad purpose for the state to use as it fits (few strings attached).

Mandate

Federal law or requirement that states must comply with, often regardless of federal funding or state capacity.

10th Amendment

States that any powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states.

14th Amendment

Used to apply federal laws and protections to the states.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Article I, Section 8, giving Congress the power to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution (also called expressed powers).

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established that Congress has implied powers (via the Elastic Clause) and that federal law is supreme over state law.

US v. Lopez

Declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional under the commerce clause; a win for state power.