AP U.S. Government – Unit 1 Glossary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Unit 01 of AP U.S. Government.

Amend

To change some of the words—and often the meaning—of a law, document, etc.

Anti-Federalist

Opponent of the Constitution who favored strong state and local governments and a weak federal government.

Article

A separate part of a legal document that deals with a single subject.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States; replaced because it created a weak national government.

Authoritarian

Favoring or exercising concentrated power by a leader or elite not constitutionally responsible to the people.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Constitutional compromise that set a 20-year limit on the slave trade and allowed Congress to regulate commerce.

Common law

Law developed from English court decisions and customs that forms the basis of U.S. law.

Concurrent powers

Powers held simultaneously by the federal government and the states.

Confederation

An alliance of people, countries, or organizations joined together for a common purpose.

Constitutional republic

Government in which a constitution defines structure, but power comes from the people who elect representatives.

Convention

An agreement between states for regulating matters affecting all of them.

Direct democracy

Form of government in which people vote directly on issues.

Divine right of kings

Belief that monarchs derive their right to rule directly from God.

Electoral College

Body of electors that formally chooses the U.S. President and Vice President; 270 votes are needed to win.

Elitism

Theory that elites hold the primary power in society and government.

Enlightenment

18th-century movement emphasizing science and reason over tradition and religion.

Enumerated (expressed) powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states by the Constitution.

Federal

Relating to a system in which power is shared between a central government and constituent units.

Federalism

Distribution of power between a central authority and the constituent units (states).

Federalist

Supporter of the Constitution who favored a strong national government and weaker state governments.

Great Compromise

Agreement creating a bicameral Congress with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House.

Hyper-Pluralism

Theory that so many competing groups exist that government is unable to act effectively.

Impeach

To charge a public official with wrongdoing committed while in office.

Implied powers

Powers not specifically listed but necessary to carry out enumerated powers, derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Judeo-Christian

Relating to both Judaism and Christianity.

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819 Supreme Court case affirming federal supremacy and upholding the Bank of the United States against state taxation.

Monarchy

A form of government in which a state is ruled by a monarch.

Natural rights

Rights believed to be granted by natural law.

Pardon

Official act freeing someone from punishment for a crime.

Parliamentary system

Government in which executive power is vested in a cabinet drawn from and responsible to the legislature.

Pluralism

Theory that political power is divided among many competing groups in society.

Preamble

Introductory statement in a document explaining its purpose and underlying philosophy.

Presidential system

System in which the president is constitutionally independent of the legislature.

Ratification

Formal approval of a treaty, agreement, or constitutional amendment.

Republic

Government in which citizens elect representatives and a leader instead of being ruled by a monarch.

Reserved powers

Powers not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states and therefore left to the states (10th Amendment).

Social contract

Agreement among members of society and their government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each.

Socialism

System in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than individuals.

Theocracy

Government ruled by religious leaders.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement in which three-fifths of enslaved persons counted for both representation and taxation purposes.

Tribal

Relating to a tribe or tribes.

Unitary

Form of government in which all powers are held by a single, central agency.

United States v. Lopez

1995 Supreme Court case limiting federal power under the Commerce Clause by striking down the Gun-Free School Zones Act.

Veto

Power of an executive to reject legislation passed by a legislature.