APGOV - Unit 1 Vocabulary

Limited Government

Political system where the powers of government are restricted by law, like a written constitution. It prevents the government from becoming too powerful and protects individual rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental human rights that every individual is born with and cannot be taken away. They include life, liberty, and property.

Republicanism

Political ideology centered on citizenship in a state organized as a republic. It involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Free Rider Problem

The incentive to benefit from others' work without making a contribution which leads individuals in a collective action situation to refuse to work together.

Participatory Democracy

Type of democracy where citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policies.

Pluralist Democracy

Type of democracy where no single group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy.

Elite Democracy

A theory suggesting that a small number of wealthy, influential people make the important decisions in society rather than the majority population.

Direct Democracy

Form of government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Representative Democracy

Type of democracy where citizens elect representatives who make decisions about laws for all people.

Parliamentary Democracy

A democratic form of government where the party with greatest representation in parliament forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor.

Presidential Democracy

Type of democratic government where the president is both the head of state and the head of government, separate from the legislative branch.

Federal Democracy

Form of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Federalist No. 10

One of three essays written by James Madison that argues for a large republic as being most effective at controlling factions and preserving public good.

Brutus No. 1

Series of essays written by Robert Yates who was opposed to the new Constitution. These essays argued that the proposed constitution would lead to an overly powerful central government.

Shays' Rebellion

Armed uprising in MA during 1786 and 1787. Daniel Shays led a protest against perceived economic and civil rights injustices. It is credited with highlighting the issues of the Articles of Confederation

Great Compromise

It established the current bicameral legislature with a different method of representation in each house.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Determined how enslaved people would be counted for representation and taxation purposes. Said that each slave would be considered as 3/5 of a person for these statistics.

Federalist No. 51

Written by James Madison; it discusses the structure of government proposed by the Constitution, emphasizing the need for checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Federalism

System of government where power is divided between a central government and various regional or state governments.

Exclusive Powers

Powers specifically reserved for either state governments or the federal government alone. They cannot be exercised by any other level of government.

Concurrent Powers

Authorities that are shared by both the federal and state governments in the US. These can include things like the power to tax, build roads, and create lower courts.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Provision in the Constitution requiring states to recognize public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Marbury v. Madison

SCOTUS case that established Judicial Review, allowing courts to strike down laws they deemed unconstitutional.

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the US" including former slaves, and guarantees all citizens "equal protection of laws"

Block Grants

National funding with minimal restrictions to the states on its use and is preferred by the states.

Categorical Grants

National funding that is restricted to specific categories of expenditures, is preferred by the national government, and is the most commonly used form of funding.

Mandates

Requirements by the national government for the states, often without funding from the national government.

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819 SCOTUS case establishing two key constitutional principles: the Constitution grants Congress implied powers and state action may not impede constitutional federal exercises of power.

US v. Lopez

1995 SCOTUS case ruling Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in school zones.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are inferred as necessary to fulfill the duties of the federal government.

Enumerated Powers

Specific authorities granted to Congress as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress exclusive power over trade activities among the states and with foreign countries and Indian tribes.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws that are necessary for carrying out its other powers.

Faction

A group of individuals who share a common interest and act in their shared self-interest, potentially conflicting with the interest of the larger community.