U1 AP USGAP

Power

The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with their intentions.

Authority

The right to use power.

Legitimacy

Political authority conferred by law or by a state/national constitution.

Conservative

Political ideology that promotes limited government intervention in the economy, traditional values, and a strong national defense.

Culture Wars

Conflicts between groups with different cultural values, often involving moral or religious issues.

Democracy

A system of government in which the people rule, either directly or through elected representatives.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens vote on all laws and policies directly.

Dissolution

The closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body.

Elite Theory on Democracy

Theory that a small group of wealthy or influential people dominate policy decisions.

Equality

The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Formal Authority

Authority granted through a constitution or legal means.

Latent Public Opinion

Opinions that exist but are not yet expressed publicly.

Legislature

A governmental body primarily responsible for the making of laws.

Liberty

Freedom from governmental control.

Majoritarian Theory

Theory that government should do what the majority of the people want.

Plural Democracy

A democracy in which interest groups influence public policy through organized efforts.

Political Culture

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to government and one another.

Political Socialization

The process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and values.

Politics

The process by which we select our government leaders and what policies they pursue.

Representative Democracy (Republic)

A government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions.

Political Ideology vs. Political Culture

Ideology refers to a set of specific beliefs about politics, while culture refers to the shared overall values and norms.

Conservative vs. Liberal

Conservatives favor tradition and limited government; liberals support social equality and active government.

Libertarian

Ideology advocating for minimal government intervention in both economic and personal matters.

Populist / Authoritarian

Advocates for strong government control in economic and social matters, often appealing to the interests of the common people.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution, which created a weak national government.

Bicameral Legislature

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts.

Bill of Attainder

A law that punishes a person without a trial.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights.

Checks and Balances

System where each branch of government can limit the powers of the others.

Coalition

An alliance of groups for a common purpose.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting in 1787 that produced a new Constitution.

Electoral College

A body of electors who formally elect the U.S. president.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that punishes someone for an act that was not illegal when committed.

Executive Agreement

An agreement between the U.S. president and another country without Senate approval.

Faction

A group with a distinct political interest.

Federal System

A system of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments.

Federalist Papers

Essays written to defend and promote ratification of the Constitution.

Great Compromise

Agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation.

Habeas Corpus

A legal order requiring someone under arrest to be brought before a judge.

Importance of Private Property

Seen by the Framers as a key element of liberty and independence.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all humans, such as life, liberty, and property.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal that called for equal representation of each state in Congress.

Pluralism

A theory that politics is a competition among diverse interest groups.

Republic

A government in which elected representatives make the laws.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.

Shays' Rebellion

Armed uprising that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Slavery and the Constitution

The Constitution protected slavery through compromises such as the Three-Fifths Compromise.

Unalienable

Rights that cannot be taken away or denied.

Virginia Plan

A proposal that called for representation based on population.

10th Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government are reserved to the states.

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all born in the U.S. and applied due process to the states.

Unitary, Confederate, Federal Systems

all power centralized; states hold power; shared power.

Block Grants

Federal money given to states for broad purposes with fewer restrictions.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose, often with conditions.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments.

Coercive Federalism

Federal government pressures states to change policies through mandates or regulations.

Cooperative Federalism

Federal, state, and local governments work together to solve problems.

Devolution Revolution

Movement to transfer functions from federal to state governments.

Dual Federalism

The belief that having separate and equally powerful levels of government is the best arrangement.

Enumerated / Delegated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants by the federal government to the states.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

States must recognize the laws and legal documents of other states.

Intergovernmental Lobby

Interest group made up of mayors, governors, and other state officials who lobby for federal funds.

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

Grants Congress the power to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Nullification

The idea that states can invalidate federal laws deemed unconstitutional.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes the Constitution and federal laws as the supreme law of the land.

Reserved Powers

Powers not given to the federal government nor denied to the states are reserved to the states.

Revenue Sharing

Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states.