AP Government – Unit 2 Study Guide (Ch. 1 & 2)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from AP Government Unit 2 Study Guide (Chapters 1 & 2).

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government.

Government

The rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

Natural rights

The right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away.

Social contract theory

The theory that people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.

American political culture

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share.

Popular sovereignty

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

Republicanism

A system in which the government's authority comes from the people through their representatives.

Inalienable rights

Rights the government cannot take away.

Liberty

Social, political, and economic freedoms.

Participatory democracy

A theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.

Civil society groups

Independent associations outside the government's control.

Pluralist theory

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process.

Elitist theory

A theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

Political institutions

The structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

Constitutional republic

A democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law.

Republic

A government ruled by representatives of the people.

Unicameral

A one-house legislature.

Bicameral

A two-house legislature.

Writ of habeas corpus

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

Bills of attainder

When the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial.

Ex post facto laws

Laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Compromise on Importation

An agreement that Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808.

Federalism

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

Amendment

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

Expressed powers

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

Implied powers

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

Direct democracy

A system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Indirect democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives who make decisions for them.

Declaration of Independence

A document explaining why the colonies were separating from Britain, consisting of natural rights, grievances against King George III, and the declaration of separation.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising by indebted Massachusetts farmers in 1786–87 that exposed the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger federal government.

Virginia Plan

A plan presented at the Constitutional Convention proposing representation based on population, which favored large states.

New Jersey Plan

A plan presented at the Constitutional Convention proposing equal representation for each state, which favored small states.

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

A compromise combining the Virginia and New Jersey plans to create a bicameral Congress with House representation based on population and equal representation (2 senators per state) in the Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement for representation and direct taxation where enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person.

The Federalist Papers

Essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay arguing for ratification of the Constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents or skeptics of the Constitution who feared the national government would become too powerful and pushed for a Bill of Rights.

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional principle that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land when federal and state laws conflict.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare government actions unconstitutional, established by Marbury v. Madison.

Separation of Powers

The division of government power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches so no single branch controls all government power.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government has powers that can limit or check the other branches, preventing one from becoming too powerful.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also called the Elastic Clause, it allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers, creating implied powers.