AP GOPO Unit 1 Terms: Constitutional Foundations

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from AP Government Unit 1: Constitutional Foundations. Each card lists a term and a concise definition.

block grant

A federal grant given to states or localities for a general purpose, offering significant freedom in how the money is spent to meet broad policy goals. It provides more local control compared to categorical grants.

categorical grant

A federal grant given to states or localities for a very specific program or project. These grants have strict rules, detailed requirements, and often need states to contribute their own funds, ensuring close federal control over how the money is used to achieve precise national goals.

checks and balances (and examples)

A fundamental constitutional principle that divides governmental powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This system gives each branch the ability to limit or oversee the actions of the others, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful and ensuring shared accountability. - Examples: - The President (executive) can veto laws passed by Congress (legislative). - Congress (legislative) can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers. - The Supreme Court (judicial) can declare laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the President unconstitutional (judicial review). - Congress can impeach and remove federal judges or the President from office.

concurrent powers (and examples)

Powers that can be exercised by both the national (federal) government and the state governments at the same time. These powers are shared, meaning neither level of government has exclusive control over them, allowing both to act in these areas. - Examples: - The power to levy and collect taxes. - The authority to make and enforce laws. - The ability to borrow money. - Establishing courts. - Building and maintaining roads.

cooperative federalism

A form of federalism where the national, state, and local governments work together to solve common problems, often through grants-in-aid. It is often described as a 'marble cake' federalism due to intertwined responsibilities.

devolution

The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to state and local governments.

direct democracy

A form of democracy where citizens directly vote on laws and policies, rather than electing representatives to do so.

dual federalism

A system of government where the federal and state governments operate in distinctly separate spheres, with clear divisions of power. It's often likened to a 'layer cake' federalism.

elitism

A theory that refers to the idea that a small, influential group of wealthy and powerful individuals or organizations hold most of the power and influence in society, regardless of formal governmental structures.

enumerated powers (Article 1, Section 8… & examples)

Specific powers granted to the federal government, primarily Congress, explicitly listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. - Examples: - The power to declare war. - The power to coin money. - The power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. - The power to raise and support armies.

ex post facto law

A law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions that were committed before the enactment of the law. The U.S. Constitution prohibits Congress and the states from passing such laws.

federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and several local (state) governments.

Federalist Papers

A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym 'Publius' to persuade New York and other states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

fiscal federalism

The system of distributing federal money to state and local governments through various grants, often with conditions or requirements attached, influencing state and local policies.

Full faith & credit clause (Article 4)

Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Gibbons v. Ogden (& commerce clause)

A landmark 1824 Supreme Court case that broadly interpreted the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) of the Constitution, establishing that Congress has the power to regulate virtually all aspects of interstate commerce.

Great Compromise

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature: the House of Representatives (representation based on state population) and the Senate (equal representation for each state).

implied powers (and examples)

Powers not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution but are inferred as necessary and proper to carry out the enumerated powers, granted to Congress by the 'Necessary and Proper' (Elastic) Clause. - Examples: - Establishing a national bank. - Regulating air traffic. - Establishing a minimum wage. - Creating federal highways.

judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court and lower courts to determine whether a law, an action by an executive branch official, or a state's action violates the U.S. Constitution. Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).

limited government

A principle of constitutional government that states that the power of the government is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution, to protect individual rights and freedoms.

McCulloch v. Maryland (& the Necessary & Proper clause)

A landmark 1819 Supreme Court case that affirmed the implied powers of Congress under the 'Necessary and Proper' (Elastic) Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) and the supremacy of federal law over state laws.

natural rights

Rights that are inherent to all human beings, not dependent on government, and which cannot be legitimately taken away. John Locke identified them as life, liberty, and property.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.

pluralism

A theory of democracy that suggests that political power is distributed among a wide array of diverse and competing interest groups, none of which can dominate the political process.

popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives, who are the source of all political power.

privileges & immunities clause (Article 4)

Article IV, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which generally prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner, granting them the same 'privileges and immunities' as its own citizens.

republicanism

A political ideology centered on citizenship in a state as a republic, emphasizing civic virtue, the rule of law, and the belief that the government should be based on the consent of the governed, with citizens electing representatives.

reserved powers (10th Amendment… examples)

Powers not specifically delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, which are therefore reserved to the states respectively, or to the people, as stated in the 10th Amendment. - Examples: - Establishing local governments. - Regulating intrastate commerce. - Providing for public health and safety (e.g., police and fire protection). - Establishing public education systems.

separation of powers

A foundational principle of American government that divides the powers of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent any single branch from becoming too powerful.

Shays’ Rebellion

An armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers in 1786-1787, led by Daniel Shays, protesting high taxes and debt collection. It highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.

social contract

A theory, often associated with philosophers like Locke and Rousseau, that suggests individuals voluntarily give up some of their freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their natural rights and maintenance of social order.

Supremacy Clause (Article 6)

Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the supreme law of the land.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that allowed three out of every five enslaved persons to be counted for purposes of taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.

unfunded mandate

A federal requirement or regulation that imposes a duty or costs on state and local governments or private entities without providing federal funds to cover those costs.

US v. Lopez

A 1995 Supreme Court case that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause, ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 exceeded Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Virginia Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, where representation in both houses would be based on state population, favoring larger states.