Unit 1 - AP Government

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government for the states or the people.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S., ensured equal protection, and applied the Bill of Rights to the states.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification of the Constitution; feared a strong central government.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states for broad purposes, with fewer restrictions.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds for specific purposes with strict conditions.

Checks & Balances

System where each branch limits the powers of the others.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate interstate and foreign trade.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by federal and state governments (e.g., taxing).

Confederation

Loose alliance of states with a weak central government.

Cooperative Federalism

National and state governments share powers and responsibilities.

Dual Federalism

Clear separation between federal and state powers ("layer cake").

Electoral College

System for electing the president using state electors.

Elite Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation and influence by wealthy, educated elites.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution.

Equality

Principle that all people have the same rights under the law.

Factions

Groups with distinct political interests; warned about in Federalist #10.

Federalism

System where power is divided between national and state governments.

Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution; favored a strong central government.

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature: House (population) + Senate (equal).

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Limited Government

Government restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.

Mandate

Federal requirement that states must follow, sometimes unfunded.

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property (or pursuit of happiness); rights inherent to all people.

Necessary & Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers.

Participatory Democracy

Broad participation in politics by most citizens.

Pluralist Democracy

Power distributed among many groups, preventing dominance by one.

Popular Sovereignty

Government power comes from the consent of the governed.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

Reserved Powers

Powers not given to the federal government, kept by the states.

Right to Vote Compromise

Left voter qualifications largely to the states; federal protections came later.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Shays’ Rebellion

Farmer uprising in Massachusetts; exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Slavery Compromises

Included the Three-Fifths Compromise and continuation of the slave trade until 1808.

Social Contract

Agreement where people give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution and federal laws are the "supreme law of the land."

Three-Fifths Compromise

Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document asserting independence from Britain, based on natural rights.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution; weak central government with limited powers.

Brutus 1

Anti-Federalist essay warning against a large republic and strong national government.

Federalist #10

Argues a large republic best controls factions.

Federalist #51

Explains separation of powers and checks and balances.

Constitution

1787 document establishing the U.S. government framework, still in use today.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established national supremacy and implied powers; states cannot tax federal institutions.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Limited Congress’s commerce clause power; struck down Gun-Free School Zones Act.