AP gov ch 1/2

democracy

the rule of the many

direct/participatory democracy

a government in which all or most citizens participate directly

representative democracy

a government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote

elite

persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource like money or power

class view

view that the government is dominated by capitalists

power elite view

view that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of government

bureaucratic view

view that the government is dominated by appointed officials

pluralist view

the belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy (group based policy making)

unalienable

a human right based on nature or god

articles of confederation

a weak constitution that governs America during the Revolutionary War

• emphasized state power; not unified

• no executive/judicial

• cannot raise taxes or army

• amendments required all 13 states approval

• equal representation (1 vote/state)

• states had own currency

constitutional convention

a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

Shay’s Rebellion

a 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Virginia Plan

proposal to create a strong national government

New Jersey Plan

proposal to create a weak national government

Great Compromise

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state

republicanism

a government in which elected representatives make the decisions

judicial review

the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

federalism

government authority shared by national and local governments

enumerated powers

powers given to the national government alone

reserved powers

powers given to the state government alone

concurrent powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

checks and balances

authority shared by three branches of government

separation of powers

constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government

faction

a group with a distinct political interest

federalists

those who favor a stronger national government

antifederalists

those who favor a weaker national government

coalition

as alliance of factions

bill of rights

first ten amendments to the constitution

habeas corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge

bill of attainder

a law that declares a person without a trial to be guilty of a crime

ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed (constitution protects against it)

amendment

a new provision in the constitution that has been ratified by the states

line-item veto/presidential veto

an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

natural rights

life, liberty, property; fundamental rights and liberties that belong to all people and can’t be taken away

social contract

people establish government to protect rights but give up some freedom to maintain that social order

popular sovereignty

the people are the source of governmental power; “consent of the governed”

limited government

government cannot do whatever they want. the constitution limits our government

declaration of independence

why colonies should break apart from britain

• emphasized popular sovereignty, natural rights, social contract, limited gov., taxation w/o representations; power to the states

federalist 10

by james madison

• pure democracy —> majority will always win, no protection for minority views

• dangers of FACTIONS (group of citizens that dominate gov. to impose their interests on society, threatening ppls liberties)

  • two solutions: destroy causes or effects

    • causes - destroying freedom to create faction or making everyone have same opinion (bad, not possible)

    • effects - a large republic —> less probable that a majority/FACTION will form and take over gov

      • multiple factions = all in competition w. one another —> creates compromises NOT in the interests of a group, but for the GOOD of society

• advocates for federalism (so representatives aren’t always focused on local issues)

federalist papers

john jay, james madison, alexander hamilton (federalists) write essays to support the ratification of the constitution and convince the public; addressed several concerns

federalist 51

james Madison

• if people were “angels” we wouldn't need a gov. —> ppl r inherrently selfish

• create a gov powerful, but doesn't violate liberties —>

  • SEPARATION OF POWERS + CHECKS AND BALANCES!! (lim. gov)

    • dividing legislature (strongest branch) into two houses

  • federalism (states + fed gov get powers)

  • large Republic

brutus 1

antifederalist (DID NOT support constitution); anti strong fed gov

• SMALLER republic: can tend better to interests of ppl

• Elastic clause —> gov. will abuse its power and weaken power of states!!

• Supremacy Clause —> will weaken power of states; fed, gov will overrule state laws!!

commerce clause

• An enumerated/expressed power written in the Constitution 

• Allows Congress to regulate trade between states (interstate commerce, not INTRAstate) and between USA and other countries

necessary and proper clause/elastic clause

• Congress may make new laws to carry out expressed powers and responsibilities

  • resulted in expanded fed. gov power/role

  • threat to anti-federalists

first amendment

freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition

fifth ammendment

protection from self-incrimination (right to remain silent, protection against self-incrimination), double jeopardy (being tried twice for same crime), due process (fair treatment under law/fair trial)

tenth amendment

federal gov only has powers listed in constitution; all others are given to states/citizens

fourteenth amendment

citizenship to all people born in US, equal protection of laws for all ppl, states cannot infringe of citizens rights

seventeenth amendment

direct election of senators

three-fifths compromise

slaves count as 3/5 of a person to state pop.

full faith and credit clause

States must recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Citizens of one state must be treated equally to citizens of another state when in that state

Establishment Clause

Federal government cannot establish official religion or favor a religion 

Free Exercise Clause:

Federal government can’t interfere with your ability to practice a religion (pending obvious exceptions)

supremacy clause

federal laws override any state laws about the same thing

amendment process

article V

amendment process;

• propose an amendment: ⅔ vote by congress or ⅔ of state legislatures request congress to call a convention (latter option has never happened) 

• ratify and amendment: ¾ by state legislatures or ¾ approval by state conventions (latter option only happened with 21st amendment) 

baron de Montesquieu

separation of powers —> no risk of another tyrant

• assoc. w/ declaration of independence, constitution

james madison

federalist, large Republic, checks and balances, strong central gov., federalism

john locke

social contract, natural rights, consent of the governed, limited gov.

thomas hobbes

people are inherently selfish and driven by self-interest —> we must have a strong gov., social contract

hyper-pluralist

in a pluralist democracy, groups have a big impact on government (ex: interest groups). A hyper-puralist democracy means groups continuously clash, leading to a lack of legislation from the government