Unit 1 Foundation of U.S Gov/Democracy - AP Gov

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people: they are the source of political power

• Expressed through voting & electing representatives

Individualism

A core political value emphasizing the moral worth, freedom, self-reliance, and fundamental rights of an independent person over collective control

Natural rights

Fundamental rights inherent to all individuals, including life, liberty, and property, which the government cannot infringe upon. Derived from the Creator to ALL of humanity

Social Contract

An implicit agreement between the government & the people where the people surrender their rights to self-preservation & security + to enter a commonwealth to protect their natural rights

Commonwealth

A political community, state, or association of nations organized for the common good & general welfare of its people

Republicanism

A political ideology centered on a state where the people hold ultimate authority & elect representatives to exercise power on their behalf → consent of the governed expressed via regular elections

Enumerated powers

Specific legislative authorities explicitly written and granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution

• Enumerated → to name & to list things separately

Implied powers

Authorities of the federal government not explicitly detailed in the Constitution, but reasonably assumed to exist to carry out responsibilities

• Due to Necessary and Proper Clause

Necessary & Proper Clause

The final clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, giving Congress the power to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" for executing its listed (enumerated) powers & any other powers the Constitution vests in the U.S. government

• Also known as the Elastic Clause

Supremacy Clause

Found in Article VI of the Constitution. It establishes that the Constitution & federal laws are the "supreme Law of the Land," meaning they override any conflicting state laws, court decisions, or state constitutions

Commerce Clause

An Article I, Section 8 provision empowering Congress to regulate trade with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Indian tribes

• Raised skeptical questions → What is the meaning of “commerce,” “among several states,” & “to regulate”?

• Federalists argued for its expansive meaning

• Anti-Federalists claimed meaning was limited

Participatory Democracy

Policymaking institutions are influenced by citizens directly (less filtered, more personal)

• Ex) Voting, jury duty, attending local meetings (individuals representing themselves)

Pluralist Democracy

Policymaking institutions are influenced by non-governmental groups (a bit more filtered, a bit less personal)

• Ex) Joining civic group, volunteering in church, joining special interest groups → behaviors become collective

Elitist Democracy

Policymaking institutions are influenced by the wealthy & powerful (more filtered, less personal)

• Ex) Meeting w/policymakers, presenting ideas for bills to lawmakers

• More personal access to members of Congress & the weight of their wants are more valuable

Separation of Powers

A constitutional doctrine that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches (legislative, executive, & judicial) to prevent the concentration of power & protecting individual liberty

• Legislative → make laws, coin money, declare war, regulate commerce, collect taxes

• Executive → enforce the laws, commander in chief, chief of Armed forces, grant reprieves & pardons, commission officers, & fill vacancies during Senate recess

• Judicial → Interpret/adjudicate of all cases in law & equity arising under the Constitution (interpret constitutionality)

Checks & Balances

A system of government where each branch has specific powers to limit or block the actions of the other branches, preventing any single group from gaining total power

• Legislative on Executive:

  • Congress can override Pres. veto w/ 2/3 (majority) vote in both houses

  • House → the sole power of impeachment

  • Senate → power to try (trial) any impeachment (inter-branch check)

  • Senate → may approve/disapprove President’s nominations for Fed offices & judges + justices for SCOTUS + fed courts, & treaties that Pres. negotiated

• Executive on Legislative:

  • Can veto legislation passed by both houses

  • As Commander in Chief, exercises supreme control in operation of armed forces to counter Congress’s power to declare war

• Judicial on Legislative & Executive

  • Can determine that laws of Congress are unconstitutional & actions of President are unconstitutional

Access Points

Opportunities or places where stakeholders & institutions can interact w/ parts of gov

• Ex) For Congress → meet w/ members, elect members, donate money, protest for attention

• Ex) For Federal Courts → submit amicus curiae, stage protest for attention

Stakeholders & Institutions

Voters, interest groups, state & local officials, businesses, non-profit organizations that have interest in gov policies

Amicus curiae

It refers to a person, organization, or government agency that is not a direct party to a lawsuit, but is permitted by the court to offer information, expertise, or perspective on a legal issue

• Latin phrase meaning → “friend of the court”

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a central national government and individual state governments. Look to the Constitution to find those exclusive powers (powers clearly defined as belonging to national or state gov)

Police powers

Powers that belong exclusively to the states to handle issues regarding education, health, marriage, & “morality”

• Ex) Legal age to consume alcohol, gambling

Concurrent powers

Powers shared & exercised by both national & state governments

• Ex) Levying taxes, maintaining roads, creating courts, borrowing money

Extradition

The legal process by which a U.S. state is required to surrender a fugitive accused of a crime to another state to face criminal prosecution or serve a sentence (where the crime occurred)

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to state or local gov w/ strings attached (specific congressional guidelines)

• Spending often connect to areas of need → state healthcare, road construction, elder care

Block grants

Federal money awarded to state & local gov for larger purposes (like education & community development) w/o strings attached

• The state/local gov have discretion

Mandates

An official order or requirement issued by the federal government that state and local governments must follow

• Compliance leads to “reward” of funding

• Unfunded mandates require states to comply but w/o any funding

  • Ex) American Disabilities Act

Dual federalism

A governmental arrangement where the national & state governments operate in strictly distinct, separate spheres of sovereign authority

• Lasted until the New Deal programs under FDR (1788-1937)

• Also known as “layer-cake” federalism

• Stronger state gov than federal

Cooperative federalism

A governing arrangement where national, state, & local levels collaborate + share responsibilities

• Expanded federal gov

• Began with New Deal programs

• Also known as “marble-cake” federalism

New federalism

A political philosophy of devolution that transfers power from federal government back to state & local governments

• Devolution → transfer of power from national to state gov

• Began with Nixon’s idea to push back against LBJ’s Great Society (1969)

  • More block grants

14th Amendment

Establishes birthright citizenship and prohibiting states from denying due process or equal protection of the laws