AP Gov - Unit 1 Vocab/Terms

Natural/Unalienable Rights

Given from nature, history, and God (inspired by philosophers); life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Grievances

Formal issues and complaints that American colonist had against British rule

Popular Sovereignty

government is created by and subject to the will and consent of the people

people source of political power (limited government) 

Republicanism

belief that citizens should choose their representative and leaders through free elections

Social contract

limited power to government to protect their natural rights, their job to impartially decide if their rights were violated, not allowed to interfere with citizens beliefs

Participatory democracy

Citizens have the power to make policy decisions, but politicians are responsible for implementing them. 

• Emphasizes broad participation of people in politics, not direct democracy (individual)

Pluralist Democracy

No group dominates politics, and organized groups compete to influence policy. 

• Group-based activism by nongovernmental interests in which citizens can pool their resources (groups) 

• Ex: interest groups, political parties

Elite Democracy

A small number of people, usually wealthy and well-educated influence political decision making.  

• Creates limited role for the people and distrusts citizens in decision making 

• Ex: Electoral College

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

• Combination of VA and NJ plans to solve how people will be represented in the legislature 

• Created bicameral system: two houses (H.O.R is population, and Senate represents each state equally) 

Electoral College

• Compromise between citizens voting directly and Congress voting for president 

• Article II + 12 amendment 

Three-Fifths Compromise

• Determined 3/5^th of Southern slaves would count towards the population for both representation and taxation 

• Result: South being over-represented until 1861 

Importation of Slaves

Agreed that if North returns fugitive slaves, south will likely ban slave trade 20 years later (1808) 

Article V

• Created a process to amend the Constitution 

• 2/3^rd of both houses proposes an amendment --> ¾ sates vote to ratify 

• 2/3^rd of states votes in national convention --> ¾ states pass it in state conventions 

Stakeholders

anyone interested in policy making outcomes such as votes, interest groups, officials, NPOS, or businesses

Access Points

How citizens get involved. We have the means to influence governance 

Federalism

System of government in the U.S which power is shared between the national and state government

Full Faith and Credit Clauses

Article IV of the Constitution states that documents, licenses, and certificates from one state are valid in all states

Extradition

requires states to deliver fugitives back to the state in which the crime was committed 

Exclusive/Delegated Powers

delegated by the Constitution to the federal government (enumerated and implied powers) 

• Voting age, drinking age, immigration, declaring war, printing money, foreign policy, admitting new states, president age requirement 

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the STATES that are NOT delegated or enumerated to the national government (10^th Amendment) 

• Ex: Abortion, closing hours, driving age, education, elections, marijuana, speed limit 

Concurrent Powers

Shared by both national and state governments 

• Ex: taxes, public welfare, establish courts, taxes, prison system 

Fiscal Federalism

financial duties and resources divided among government, financial federalism

Revenue Sharing

National funding to lower levels of government w/ little restrictions

Categorial Grants

Federal money given to states only to be spent for narrowly defined purposes. Money with strings attached (90% of grants) 

• Ex: Civil Rights Act (1964), drinking age to 21 

Block Grants

Federal money given to states for a wider range of uses. There are fewer strings attached, it is broader and returns some power to states. 

• Ex: Community development grants 

Funded Mandates

federal orders or regulations issued on lower levels of government that come with the proper amount of funding to carry out the required actions. 

• assist states and local governments in accomplishing the mandate's objectives by covering all costs needed to do so 

Unfunded Mandates

a law or regulation that requires a specific action but does not provide the funds to fulfill that action.  

• can be imposed on state or local governments, private organizations, or individuals 

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

found in Article 1, Section 8, explains that the federal government has other powers not specifically listed.  

• Enumerated powers are expressly granted 

• implied powers are “assumed” but not specifically listed.  

• Laws can be made related to carrying out enumerated powers. 

• Federal government can carry anything out that they deem necessary 

Supremacy Clause

Article 6 makes federal laws superior to all others

10th Amendment

powers not delegated by the Constitution or prohibited are reserved to the states 

14^th Amendment and Equal Protection Clause

give national government the power to enforce protections for any person against the states (includes Due Process) 

Bill of Rights

(strongly supported by Anti-Federalists); safeguarded individual liberties