AP Government- Unit 1 Test

Enlightenment

18th-century European intellectual movement influencing democracy.

Famous Enlightenment Thinkers

John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu

Why was the Enlightenment pivotal to the development of American Democracy?

Framers of the Constitution borrowed the ideas of the Enlightenment and used these principles of government to develop the Constitution.

Natural Rights

The idea that people are born with rights from their Creator and therefore cannot be taken away by their ruler or government; come from John Locke and include life, liberty, and property.

State of Nature

Theoretical society without government or laws; humans were free and needed their rights protected; comes from Thomas Hobbes.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that government power comes from the people.

Social Contract

Agreement sacrificing some freedoms for protection from the government.

According to the theory of social contract, how should citizens respond to a tyrannical government?

The theory of social contract states that whenever a government becomes tyrannical and no longer protects the rights of the people, the people have a duty to overthrow the government and start again.

Republicanism

A form of democracy where citizens elect representatives.

Separation of Powers

Horizontal delegation of government power into branches; comes from Montesquieu

How does separation of powers keep a government from becoming tyrannical?

Separation of powers ensures that power is separated into many parts, so that not one person/body can get or use too much power.

Where do we see the concept of separation of powers in the United States government?

3 branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Limited Government

States effective government has power distributed among many members; government's powers are restricted to protect freedoms; prevents tyranny.

Enlightenment ideas found in Declaration of Independence

Popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural rights.

Participatory Democracy

Democratic model emphasizing broad citizen participation in politics.

Elite Democracy

Democratic model where a limited number of educated individuals make policy decisions.

Pluralist Democracy

Citizens join interest groups to influence policy.

Electoral College

System where electors vote for the president; compromise for Presidential Election

First Amendment

Protects freedoms of speech, assembly, and press.

Hyperpluralism

Excessive group power hindering government effectiveness.

Brutus I

Advocates for participatory democracy, fears liberty loss in a larger republic like the U.S.

Federalist 10

James Madison argues for a pluralist model; defense of factions in large republics.

Describe the main issues between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

The ratification of the Constitution by the states, especially on the issue of majority rule versus minority rights (from Jean-Jacques Rousseau).

Factions

Groups with shared interests that may conflict; they believe their interests are more important than any other interest.

In Federalist 10, how does James Madison explan the role of factions in a large republic?

He stated that in a large republic there would be many factions that would cancel out each other, taking away their power.

What were the two ways of dealing with the problem of factions?

Take away the causes and control the effects.

What were the two problems of taking away the causes of the factions?

It would give all people the same opinions and interests, and it would destroy freedom that creates factions.

Federalists

Supporters of a strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of a strong national government.

17th Amendment

Allowed direct election of senators by citizens.

Montesquieu

Philosopher who proposed separation of powers.

John Locke

Philosopher known for natural rights theory.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher who discussed the state of nature.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher advocating for social contract theory.

Interest Groups

Organizations advocating for specific political interests.

Majority Rule

Governance principle favoring the majority's decisions.

Minority Rights

Protections for smaller or less powerful groups.

In Brutus I, what are the author's main concerns about a large and diverse republic?

Brutus I fears the immense amount of power that is invested in the federal government under the new Constitution because it took away many aspects of local control and participatory government.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws for executing powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes federal law as the highest law.

Why did the Anti-Federalists dislike the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause specifically?

They felt that these clauses allowed too much power to flow to the federal government.

Articles of Confederation

First governing document of the United States.

What was the main problem with the Articles of Confederation and why was it created that way?

The U.S. government was. very weak and the state governments were strong; in reaction to living under the tyranny of a Monarchy for so long.

What were some of the problems with the Articles of Confederation?

Only one branch of government (Legislative), no President (Executive), no federal court system, no power to tax, no way to enforce state participation, no power to raise an army, and no money to pay an army.

How did the colonies realize that the Articles of Confederation needed revision?

The inability of Congress to pay its bills, and the inability to put down a local insurrection (Shays's Rebellion).

Shays's Rebellion

Armed uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles.

What was the connection between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention?

The Constitutional Convention was originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately an entirely new Constitution was drafted.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation among states.

Great Compromise

Established bicameral legislature balancing state representation.

3/5 Compromise

Counted 3/5 of enslaved people for representation.

Slave Import Clause

20 years after the Constitution was ratified, the slave trade would end; slave importation compromise

Article V

Article detailing the amendment process of the Constitution.

Amendment Proposal

Requires 2/3 vote from both Congressional houses.

Amendment Ratification

Needs approval from 3/4 of state legislatures and state conventions.

Legislative Branch

Responsible for proposing and making laws.

Executive Branch

Enforces and executes laws passed by Congress.

Judicial Branch

Determines the constitutionality of laws.

Veto Power

President's ability to reject Congressional legislation.

Veto Override

Congress has a 2/3 vote to override a veto from the President.

Advice and Consent

Congress's power to approve presidential appointments to the cabinet or Supreme Court.

Stakeholders

People engaging with law through communication.

Local Control

Authority retained by state or local governments.

Federal Government Power

Authority granted to the national government.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting to address issues with the Articles.

Monarchy

Form of government with a single ruler.

Insurrection

An uprising against authority or government.