Ap Us Goverment Vocabulary

Democracy

A system of government where power belongs to the people.

Limited government

A political system where the power of the state is restricted by law, usually through a written constitution.

Direct democracy

When citizens directly vote on laws instead of elected representatives making choices for you.

Representative democracy

A system of government where citizens vote to leaders.

Republicanism

A political philosophy or supreme power arrest with the citizens, who govern through elective representatives under the rule of law.

Natural rights

Universal liberty that belong inherently to every human being from birth, independent of any government, law, or society.

Popular sovereignty

The political principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the source of all political power.

Social contract

The political and philosophical concept that individuals mutually agree to surrender some of their absolute freedom to government authority and exchange for the protection of the remaining rights and social order.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who believed all men and women are equal in have unalienable rights to life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness.(influenced the Declaration of Independence)

Baron de Montesquieu

Had the ideas of separation powers which influence checks and balance’s and the three branches of government. (Influenced the constitution)

Declaration of Independence

Adopted on July 4,1776, the declaration of independence was the formed document announcing that the 13 American colonies were selling off political type to become a sovereign nation. Also included that all people possess universal natural rights to life liberty in the president of happiness.

US Constitution

The supreme law of the United States, Drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1788 to establish America’s national government, fundamental laws, and basic rights for citizens.

Participatory democracy

Is a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to directly decide on policy and participate in political decision , rather than relying solely on elected representatives.

Elite democracy

A model of democracy, and which a smaller number of wealthy, highly educated, or politically powerful individuals handle the actual decision – making and governance for society.

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy, in which political powers distributed among a wide variety of non-– governmental groups, rather than sitting with a single league class or the raw mass of individual citizens.

Federalist

A person who supports a system of government or power is constitutionally divided between central national authority and individual state governments.

Anti-Federalist

A person who was opposed the ratification of the 1787 US Constitution because they feel it created a central government that was too powerful.

Federalist papers

A collection of 85 essays written in between 1787 and 1788 to convince the people of New York to ratify the newly drafted United States constitution.

Federalist No. 10

Argues that a large, representative republic is the best defense against the danger of political factions.

Brutus No. 1

The most famous anti-federalist essay written to convince citizens to reject the ratification of the US constitution.

Federalist No. 39

Are these that the proposed US Constitution creates a unique,”hybrid” Government that is nearly purely national, nor purely Federal, but a composition of both.

Gettysburg address

A 272 – word speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the soldiers national Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Seen as one of the most powerful and influential speeches in American history.

Articles of confederation

The first constitution of the United States, adopted by the continental Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781. two intentionally create a week central government because the states had just escaped the tyrannical British monarchy, scared to repeat it.

Northwest ordinance of 1787

Establish a structured system for governing the northwest territory animating new states to the union.

Shays rebellion

In armed uprising of debt ridden farmers in Western Massachusetts between 1786 and 1787. The buy revolutionary war veteran Daniel Shay’s.

Electoral college

Is the official constitutional system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president every four years.

Three-fifths compromise

An agreement reach during the 1787 constitutional convention establishing at three-fifths of states enslaved population would be counted when determining a state’s total population for taxation and representation in Congress.

Great compromise

in agreement reached during the 1787 constitutional convention that defined the structure of the US Congress and method of legislative representation for each state.

Constitutional convention

A historic meeting held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787.

Full face and credit clause

A critical constitutional role found in article IV, section one of the US Constitution that requires every state to recognize and respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Interstate commerce clause

Is a foundational constitutional power located in article I, section 8, clause 3 Of the US Constitution that grains, Congress, the explicit authority” to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among several states, and with Indian tribes.”

Supremacy clause

Is a foundational role located in article VI, clause 2 of The US Constitution established the constitution, federal laws, and treaties as the supreme law of the landthe.

Necessary and proper clause

Is a critical constitutional power located in article I, section 8, clause 18 of Do US constitution that grant Congress authority to pass all laws that are “necessary and proper” for executing its explicitly stated powers.

Federal No. 51

Written by James Madison published in February 1788, explains and defense, the system of separation of powers and checks and balances built into the US Constitution.

Separation of powers

The constitutional doctrine that divides the responsibilities and authorities of the government into distinct branches to limit any single branch from exercising core functions of another.

Checks and balances

A foundational, political principal built into the US Constitution, that Clancy branch of government specific powers to limit, block, or alter the actions of the other two branches.

Mandate

A official authority, command, or requirement given to a governing body or official to carry out a specific policy, action, or course of government.

Federalism

A system of government in which sovereign power is constitutionally divided and shared between a central national authority and individual regional governments ( such as states or provinces).

Block grants

Large sums of money provided by federal government to state or local governments to find broad policy areas, such as healthcare, education, or law-enforcement.

Categorical grants

Specific sums of money provided by the federal government to state or local government that can only be spent for narrowly defined, highly specific purposes.

United States vs. Lopez

(1995) The US Supreme Court will that Congress overstepped his power under the commerce clause by declaring the federal gun – free school zones act of 1990 unconstitutional, marking a key limit on federal authority of your local gun possession.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

(1819) supreme Court ruled that Congress has implied powers under the necessary, improper claws to create a national bank, and that states cannot tax federal institutions, establishing the supremacy of the federal law of state law.