AP US Gov + Pol Ch 2 Vocab

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson (with help from Adams and Franklin), restates the philosophy of natural rights, and provides a foundation for popular sovereignty

Natural Rights

All people have certain rights that cannot be taken away

Consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority from the people

Limited government

A government’s power cannot be absolute; the ideal of limited government is ensured by the interaction of these principles: i. Separation of powers ii. Checks and balances iii. Federalism iv. Republicanism

Articles of Confederation

Specific incidents and legal challenges that highlighted key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are represented by the: i. Lack of centralized military power to address Shay’s Rebellion ii. Lack of an executive branch to enforce laws, including taxation iii. Lack of a national court system iv. Lack of power to regulate interstate commerce v. Lack of power to coin money

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in western Massachusetts in opposition to high taxation and insufficient economic policies that exposed concern over the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation

US Constitution

An example of a social contract and establishes a system of limited government; provides the blueprint for a unique form of democratic government in the US

Faction

A party or group that is often contentious or self-seeking

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Congressional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the size of the state’s population

Virginia Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress to be proportional to its population

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Created a dual (bicameral) system of congressional representation with the House of Representatives based on each state’s population and the Senate representing each state equally

Writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring authorities to explain to a judge what lawful reason they have for holding a prisoner in custody

Separation of Powers

Specific and separate powers delegated to Congress, the president, and the courts allow each branch to check and balance the power of the other branches, ensuring no one branch becomes too powerful; creates multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy

Checks and balances

Allow legal actions to be taken against public officials deemed to have abused their power

Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government

Anti Federalists

Opposed the ratification of the Constitution and wanted more power reserved to state governments rather than a strong central government

Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers are a set of 85 essays that advocate ratification of the Constitution and provide insightful commentary on the nature of the new system of government

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, which define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and the press, and they guarantee defendant's rights

Equal Rights Amendment

A constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state legislatures

Marbury v Madison

The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its power to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the Court’s power of judicial review over acts of Congress

3/5s Compromise

Provided a formula for calculating a state’s enslaved population for purposes of representation in the House and for taxation

Brutus No 1

Adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government

Federalist 10

Focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government

Bicameral legislature

A legislature divided into two houses. The US Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska’s are bicameral

Ratification

The act of consenting to the US Constitution through state ratification conventions, requiring 9 of the 13 states to ratify per Article VII of the US Constitution

Delegated / expressed / enumerated powers

Written in the Constitution

Reserved powers

Those not delegated or enumerated to the national government but are reserved to the states, as stated in the Tenth Amendment

Concurrent powers

Shared between both levels of government such as the power to collect taxes, the power to make and enforce laws and the power to build roads

Implied powers

Not specifically written in the Constitution but are inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause

Electoral college

Created a system for electing the president by electors from each state rather than by popular vote or by congressional vote

Constitutional convention

A meeting of delegates from the several states in 1787 intended to revise the Articles of Confederation and ultimately drafted the US Constitution in establishing a stronger central government

Federalist 51

Explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control potential abuses by majorities

Impeachment

The House formally charges an official with abuse of power or misconduct

Removal (impeachment process)

If the official is convicted in a Senate impeachment trial