AP GOV EXAM

direct democracy

citizens meet and vote directly on government decisions

representative democracy

citizens choose officals who make decisions on government policy

magna carta

first ever attempt to limit the power of a british king; guaranteed all people certain rights

social contract

principle that people enter into a social contract with the government and allow to be ruled

consent of the governed

principle that there are no supreme rulers all rulers depend on the approval of the people, when governments fail to protect rights the people have the right to change the government

natural rights

principle that all people are born with certain rights: life liberty and property

declaration of independence

TJ’s document built on principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, consent of the governed, and social contract theory. it justified american revolution against england

common good

belief in doing what’s best for the nation overall

popular sovereignty

belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people

majority rule

belief that government is run based on the will of the majority

Articles of Confederation

America’s first form of government; weak national gov, can’t tax, or have means to raise an army. with no strong central government supervision, states could get away with taxing and printing money and making foreign treaties

shays rebellion

farmer rebellion in Mass. protesting mortgage foreclosures and a terrible economy. rebellion represented how weak the Articles were

3/5 compromise

counted slaves as 3/5 of a person to give the south more representatives

great comprimise

established two equal bodies in congress; one based on population, one giving states equal representation. (bicameralism)

Virginia plan

big states plan of proportional representation in congress

New jersey plan

small states plan of equal representation in congress

federalists

Hamilton, Madison- supported constitution, favor large central government

anti federalists

Jefferson- opposed constitution, states powers, bill of rights

federalists papers

articles written by madison, hamilton, and jay arguing for the constituion

federalist 10

written by Madison- discusses the importance and danger of factions. Factions are inevitable but are best handled by a large republic

federalist 51

written by madison- discusses importance of checks and balances and the separation of powers

interstate commerce clause

gives congress interstate regulatory power

Article 1

Legislative branch

article II

executive branch

Article III

judical branch

Article IV

interstate relations

Article V

amendment process

Marbury v Madison

established judical review- Adams Midnight judges

federalism

separation between powers of the federal,state,and local govs

fiscal federalism

government’s patterns of spending, taxing, and providing grants to influence state and local governments

categorical grants

federal grants for a specific purpose

block grants

broad grants from the federal government that give state governments a lot of freedom to spend money as they please

welfare reform act of 1996

began transferring more authority back to the states through block grants

revenue sharing

federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states

mandates

terms set by the federal gov that states must meet if they accept federal grants (funded or unfunded)

devolution

process of returning power to the states- this began during new federalism under Nixon, Regan, and Bush

unitary system

A system of government where power is centralized in one national government and local governments only have authority granted to them by the national government.

confederacy

system of government in which the central governement is very weak, and most of the true power lies with individual states

dual federalism

layer cake- belief that state and national governments are supreme within their own sphere of influence

cooperative federalism

marble cake- sharing powers between state and federal governments

enumerated powers

powers listed in the constitution (go to war, raise an army, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, establish post offices)

implied powers

based on necessary and proper clause- gives congress flexibility to make laws necessary and proper to carry out express powers

inherent powers

powers dealing with foreign policy not in constituiton but given to federal government

denied powers

powers explicitly denied to government

writ of habeas corpus

being imprisioned without formal accusation

bills of atainder

A legislative act that punishes a person without a trial. It violates the Constitution's prohibition against ex post facto laws and the guarantee of due process.

ex post facto laws

Laws that criminalize an act that was legal when committed or increase the punishment for an act after it was committed. These laws are prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.

concurrent powers

shared by federal and state govs (tax, establish courts, make laws)

10th amendment

any power not denied nor given to federal government is reserved for the states

supremacy clause

This clause establishes that federal law prevails over state law when there is a conflict between the two.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Supreme Court case that established the principle of federal supremacy over state laws. It upheld the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States and prevented states from taxing federal institutions.

take care clause

A provision in the US Constitution that requires the president to faithfully execute the laws and take care that they are being properly enforced

full faith and credit

A constitutional provision that requires each state to recognize the legal acts and judicial decisions of other states, ensuring that legal rights established in one state are respected in all states.

privileges and immunities

Rights that are fundamental to being a citizen of the United States, such as the right to travel, work, and vote. These rights are protected by the Constitution and cannot be denied by state or federal laws.

bill of rights

A legal document that outlines the fundamental rights of citizens, protecting them from government infringement. It includes freedom of speech, religion, and press, the right to bear arms, and protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

1st amendment

freedom of speech, assembly, petition, religion, press

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

3rd amendment

Prohibits quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.

4th amendment

no unreasonable searches and seizures

5th amendment

right to trial, no double jeopardy, indivuduals are not required to testify agaisnt themselfves

6th amendment

right to a speedy, public, and impartial trial with lawyer

7th amendment

This amendment guarantees the right to a trial by jury in civil cases with a value over $20.

8th amendment

no excessive bails or fines, no cruel and unusual punishments

9th amendment

"Unenumerated rights retained by the people. Protects individual rights not specifically listed in the Constitution."

amending the constitution

2/3 of congress propose amendments, 3/4 states ratify--state convention called by 2/3 of states propose amendments, 3/4 of states ratify

political socialization

manner in which people develop their political views

liberal

large federal government involvement needed to provide for the people (welfare, new deal, great society)

socialist

belief in an extremely powerful state to protect people

conservative

belief that limited government is necessary to grow strong economy, very pro business anti regulation

libertarianism

belief in very small government and extreme focus on individual and business rights, no regulation of industry

demographics

characteristics of population on income, education, race, gender

demographic trends

changes in the way people of a certain socio-economic background vote

the census

every 10 years a count of the total population, different ethnic groups, religions, and how people vote

redistricting

after every census the congressional districts are redrawn based on population

reapportionment

state legislatures reapportion state congressional districts after every census

gerrymandering

the practice of redistricting in order to benefit a specific party by drawing districts based on the demo of their residents

voting behavior

since 1960 voting turnout has greatly decreased because of the very difficult process of voter registration. people vote because of the party of the candidate, on basis of candidate, and on basis of issues

party identification

when people identify with a political party based on issues

political efficacy

belief that you can participate in politics, or that government will respond (my vote counts)

civic duty

belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs

general elections

held every 4 years in which president is elected

primary elections

a political party’s elections to determine nominee for general election

caucuses

candidate nomination process in which party members meet to discuss and decide on candidate

referendum

people vote on whether or not to accept a law passed by state legislature or a proposed amendment to the state constitution

initiative

people vote on laws and constitutional amendments within state

recall

voters remove elected officals

linkage institution

organizations that link people with the government

third parties

represent specific ideological positions, sometimes can serve as spoilers but rarely make much of an impact

divided government

one party controls white house, other controls congress

party realignment

major change in the core members/beliefs of a political party. either one major party is replaced by another, or the two major parties completely change viewpoints

party dealignment

when people abandon parties and become independents

electoral college

A system in which presidential candidates compete for electoral votes, not popular votes. Each state is assigned a number of electors equal to its congressional representation, and the candidate who wins the most votes in a state receives all of its electoral votes. The candidate who wins a majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) wins the presidency.

15th amendment

elimination of race requirement for voting

17th amendment

direct election of senators

19th amendment

women allowed to vote

voting rights act

elimination of laws that discriminated against blacks from various civil rights acts (grandfather clause, literacy tests, white primaries)

23rd amendment

allowing DC residents to vote

24th amendment

elimination of poll tax

26th amendment

lowering voting age to 18

interest group

a collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government. These groups use fundraising and lobbying to influence the political process. (unions, government groups, businesses, think-tanks, or ideological groups)