apgov unit 1

key terms, vocab, and names for lessons 1.1-1.8 by me! i didn't include 1.9 because it's mainly just acts but feel free to study them on your own **i highly encourage that you study the f. docs and scotus cases outside of these fcs to fully understand them**

Thomas Hobbes

Thomas Hobbes

known for writing The Leviathan, argues that the people should give up some of their rights to live in peace (absolute sovereign that honored a social contract)

John Locke

wrote the Second Treatise of Civil Government, known for his ideas that natural law is the law of God, people are born free and equal, consent of the governed, and obliged people to rebel if their king did not respect consent of the governed

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

wrote The Social Contract, heavily influenced by Locke, disliked divine right, envisioned popular sovereignty

Baron de Montesquieu

wrote The Spirit of the Laws, laid out the foundation of separation of power in the republican form of government, comprised of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

republicanism

the political ideology that men are entitled to “life, liberty, and property” and these cannot be taken away except under laws created through the consent of the governed

limited government

government that is kept under control by law, checks and balances, and separation of powers

FD: Declaration of Independence

created by a committee of 5 men to summarize to the colonists’ views, gave moral and legal justification for why they were rebelling against Great Britain

representative democracy

a government in which the people entrust elected officials to represent their concerns

participatory democracy

dependent on all, if not most people in a society to participate in government and social life, citizens vote directly for laws, seen in initiatives and referendums

representative republic

a collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense

pluralist democracy

people with widely varying interests find others who share their interests and organize and unite into nongovernmental groups to exert influence on political decision making, also known as interest groups

elite democracy

elected representatives make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them. despite the inequality of power, some people argue that they are more better equipped to secure rights for the people

federalists

those who supported the proposed constitutional structure, a strong federal government, and full ratification of the Constitution (ex. Alexander Hamilton)

anti-federalists

those who opposed the consolidation of the states under a federal government, believed the constituents couldn’t be represented in a large republic (ex. Robert Yates/Brutus)

FD: Federalist No. 10

this document addressed the concerns about special interest groups (factions). Madison promotes a representative and pluralist republic that considers interests from a variety of people because there are so many factions that they can cancel each other out in the fight for power.

FD: Brutus No. 1

a response to the proposed Constitution, this document addressed concerns about the strength of the central government (it would be too expansive and override states’ rights), specifically the necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause.

FD: Articles of Confederation

the document that was the first attempt to create a government after the Revolutionary War. it had many flaws and weaknesses, including a lack of national unity and power. it stated that “each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.” these weaknesses were exposed during Shays’ Rebellion.

Shays’ Rebellion

the event where angry farmers led violent protests due to the loss of their farms. it revealed the weaknesses of the AOC because they were unable to raise a militia and only was able to stop the rebellion using private funds.

FD: US Constitution

the document that was created at the Constitutional Convention that rules the United States, has 7 articles that explain how the government is laid out

The Great Compromise

also known as the Connecticut Compromise, mixed the Virginia and New Jersey Plans together to create the House of Representatives (population) and Senate (disregards size of state)

Three-Fifths Compromise

used to determine how slaves were counted during distribution of votes for the House of Representatives, as implied by the name, they only considered 3 of every 5 slaves when it came to population count

Electoral College

states decide how their electors are chosen, with each state having the same number of electors as they have representatives in Congress

Bill of Rights

a list of all the rights the federal government couldn’t take from the states.

legislative branch

comprised of 435 members in the house, 100 members in the senate. together, they make the nation’s laws, determine how to fund government, and shape the nation’s foreign policy.

stakeholders

people/groups that are affected by policies who use interest groups to exert influence on lawmakers

executive branch

comprised of 1 president, 1 vice president, 20 members in the cabinet, and over 2.7 million employees to carry out laws. people have access to their government through this branch because of its countless agencies.

judicial branch

comprised of 7 justices on the SCOTUS, lower appeals courts, and even lower trial courts. they have the authority to use judicial review to protect liberties and to properly initiate policy.

FD: Federalist No. 51

the document that promotes separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, known famously for the quote “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” he argues that separation of powers guards against tyranny, and it also supports minority rights.

checks and balances

the limitations that each branch has on the others, especially prevalent in the lawmaking process

veto

a check the executive branch has on the legislative branch, allows the president to reject a bill

pocket veto

when a bill is received at the end of a legislative session but the president refuses to sign, it will kill the bill

two-thirds override

a check the legislative branch has on the executive branch, allows Congress to overcome the veto with a super majority in both houses

advice and consent

a check the legislative branch has on the executive branch, allows the Senate to suggest appointees and must formally approve most presidential appointments

impeachment

a check the legislative branch has on the executive and judicial branches. allows the House to accuse a federal official of wrongdoing, then the Senate will hold a trial. there needs to be a 2/3 majority to be found guilty and have the official removed from office.

federalism

the key concept that explains the sharing of powers between the national and state government. it is constantly developing and evolving.

exclusive powers

powers delegated only to the federal government

police powers

powers given to the states to create and enforce laws on health, safety, and morals

concurrent powers

shared powers between the federal and state governments (ex. levying taxes, enforcing laws)

federal grants

a way the government funds your ideas and projects to provide public services and stimulate the economy

revenue sharing/fiscal federalism

the process in which Congress collects federal tax revenues and distributes the funds to the states so they can address national issues.

block grants

federal funds for broadly defined reasons

categorical grants

federal funds for very specific things, usually come with strings (conditions of aid)

strings

also known as conditions of aid, they are attached to categorical grants so that states are coerced to do something in order to get the money

federal mandates

mandatory, require states to comply (sometimes funded and sometimes not). they often address civil rights, environmental concerns, and other societal needs

devolution

when Ronald Reagan returned power to states by giving them block grants (more state discretion in spending)

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (1996)

an act that returned authority and distribution of welfare dollars to the states

enumerated powers

a limited list of powers of Congress, including the power to tax, borrow money, raise an army, etc.

commerce clause

a specific clause that enables Congress to regulate commerce with other nations and the states

necessary and proper/elastic clause

the final clause in Section 8 states that “The Congress shall have power . . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers”. since this goes beyond the enumerated powers, it’s said to grant implicit powers

tenth amendment

the amendment that distinguishes the two governing spheres. the delegated/expressed powers are the federal ones. the reserved are not specifically listed, so they all go to the states. concurrent powers are held at both levels

fourteenth amendment

the amendment that was created after the Civil War with the intention to protect freed slaves. it promises US citizenship to anyone born/naturalized in the US, and holds the Equal Protection Clause

SCOTUS: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

the case that unanimously ruled that the federal government has implied powers and supremacy under the necessary and proper clause

dual federalism

when the national and state governments are both equally supreme in their own spheres

selective exclusiveness

the doctrine asserting that Congress may regulate only when it requires a national uniform rule

SCOTUS: United States v. Lopez (1995)

the case that ruled that Congress does not have the authority to outlaw guns near schools under the commerce clause. guns in schools do not have a significant impact on interstate commerce, so it’s not covered. this decision gave states some power