APUSG UNIT 1

Democracy

Government where power is held by the people, directly or through elected representatives.

Popular Sovereignty

Government authority comes from the consent of the people.

Republicanism

Political ideology focused on citizenship in a republic, emphasizing individual rights and elected representatives.

Social Contract

Agreement among individuals to form a society and abide by its rules, justifying state authority.

Natural Rights

Inherent rights like life, liberty, and property, under natural law.

Federalism

Power divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Separation of Powers

Dividing government responsibilities among branches to prevent over-concentration of power.

Checks and Balances

Mechanisms allowing branches to limit each other's power, preventing any one from becoming too strong.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution; created a weak central government, eventually replaced.

Shays’ Rebellion

1786-1787 farmer uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting to address Articles' weaknesses, resulting in the U.S. Constitution.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Agreement for a bicameral legislature (House by population, Senate by equal state representation).

3/5 Compromise

Agreement to count three-fifths of enslaved people for representation and taxation.

Electoral College

Body established to elect the President and Vice President.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Debate over a strong national government (Federalists) vs. more state power (Anti-Federalists).

Federalist Papers

Essays advocating for a strong central government and ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Brutus No. 1

Essay opposing the Constitution, fearing a powerful national government.

Federalist No. 10

Essay arguing a large republic better controls factions and prevents tyranny.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8).

Implied Powers / Necessary and Proper Clause

Powers not explicitly stated but inferred from enumerated powers, allowing Congress to enact necessary laws.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate commerce among states, with foreign nations, and Indian tribes.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law takes precedence over state laws (Article VI).

Block Grants vs. Categorical Grants

Block grants are federal funds for broad purposes with flexibility; categorical grants are for specific programs with strict rules.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Affirmed implied powers for Congress and federal law supremacy over state laws.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress's Commerce Clause power, emphasizing state rights in non-economic activities.

How do popular sovereignty, limited government, natural rights, social contract, and republicanism show up in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution?

These are foundational: Popular Sovereignty (consent of governed, 'We the People'), Limited Government (grievances against king, enumerated powers, checks/balances, Bill of Rights), Natural Rights ('Life, Liberty, pursuit of Happiness,' Bill of Rights), Social Contract (right to revolt, ratification as agreement), Republicanism (rejecting monarchy, representative democracy).

Why were the Articles of Confederation considered weak? Give at least two examples.

Weak due to limited central authority: couldn't levy taxes, lacked national army, couldn't regulate interstate commerce, difficulty enforcing laws.

How did Shays’ Rebellion influence the Constitutional Convention?

Exposed Articles' weaknesses, particularly inability to maintain order, creating urgency for a stronger federal government.

What was the Great Compromise and why was it necessary?

Established bicameral legislature (House by population, Senate by equal representation). Necessary to balance large vs. small state interests and prevent convention collapse.

How did the 3/5 Compromise and Electoral College address conflicts between states?

3/5 Compromise: Resolved North-South conflict over counting enslaved people for representation/taxation. Electoral College: Compromise for presidential election, balancing large/small state influence.

What is the difference between enumerated, implied, and reserved powers?

Enumerated: Explicit federal powers (e.g., declare war). Implied: Inferred federal powers from enumerated ones (e.g., national bank). Reserved: Powers for states/people (Tenth Amendment) not given to federal gov't, nor prohibited to states (e.g., local gov't).

Explain the difference between categorical grants and block grants.

Categorical grants are specific federal funds with strict rules (e.g., Medicaid); block grants are broad federal funds with more state flexibility (e.g., TANF).

How do mandates limit state authority? Give one modern example.

Federal mandates impose requirements on states, often unfunded, directing state policy/spending. Example: Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required states to make accessibility modifications without full federal funding.

Compare the Court’s rulings in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) and U.S. v. Lopez (1995). How do these cases illustrate shifts in federal vs. state power?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Expanded federal power, affirming implied powers and federal supremacy. U.S. v. Lopez (1995): Limited federal power, restricting Commerce Clause, reasserting state rights. Shows a shift from expanding to limiting federal authority.

What were the main arguments of the Federalists vs. the Anti-Federalists?

Federalists (Madison, Hamilton): Advocated strong national government for stability, feared disunity; argued Bill of Rights unnecessary. Anti-Federalists (Henry, Mason): Feared tyrannical national government, infringing state/individual liberties; strongly advocated for Bill of Rights.

How does Federalist 10 directly respond to the fears expressed in Brutus 1?

Brutus 1 feared a large republic would lead to tyranny due to factions. Federalist 10 (Madison) countered that a large republic's multiplicity of factions makes it safer, preventing any single faction from dominating and promoting compromise.

Why did Madison argue that a large republic is safer than a small one?

In Federalist No. 10, Madison argued a large republic controls factions better by having more factions (preventing majority tyranny), leading to wiser representatives, and its geographic scope making it harder for corrupt groups to organize.

Give an example of a check and balance between branches in today’s government.

Presidential veto of legislation (Executive checking Legislative) and Congress's power to override that veto with a $2/3$ majority (Legislative checking Executive).

How does federalism create tensions between the national and state governments today (ex: education, healthcare, marijuana policy)?

Federalism causes tensions when national and state laws diverge. Example: Marijuana policy - states legalize, but it's federally illegal, creating conflicts in banking and commerce, and limiting state autonomy.

If you were at the Constitutional Convention, which compromise would you have supported and why?

I would support the Great (Connecticut) Compromise. It was vital for unifying states by balancing proportional (House) and equal (Senate) representation, ensuring both large and small states felt heard, and prevented the convention's collapse.