Unit test 1 for AP GOV

AFDC/TANF

Aid to Families with Dependent Children, replaced by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in 1996; shifted welfare control to states.

Antifederalists

Opposed ratifying the Constitution; wanted stronger state governments and protections for individual rights.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution; created a weak national government and strong state sovereignty.

Authority

The legitimate right to exercise power or make decisions.

Bicameral legislature

A lawmaking body with two chambers, like Congress (House and Senate).

Bill of Attainder

A law that punishes someone without a trial; unconstitutional.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution protecting individual liberties.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states for broad purposes with few restrictions.

Brutus I

Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large republic would threaten liberty and favor elites.

Bureaucratic Theory

Argues that appointed officials and bureaucrats hold real power in government policy.

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to states for a specific purpose with strict rules.

Checks and Balances

System in which each branch of government limits the powers of the others.

Client Politics

A policy in which a small group benefits and almost everyone else pays the costs.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate trade among states and with foreign nations.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments.

Conditions of Aid

Rules that states must follow to receive federal grants.

Confederation

System where states have most of the power and the national government is weak.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting in Philadelphia to draft a new U.S. Constitution.

Constitutional Reform

Changes or improvements made to the Constitution or its interpretation.

Cooperative Federalism

System in which the federal and state governments share responsibilities; "marble cake" federalism.

Creative Federalism

1960s model emphasizing national control and direct aid to local governments.

Creedal Passion View

The idea that morally impassioned elites drive political change.

Democracy

System of government in which power rests with the people.

Devolution

Transferring responsibilities from the federal government to the states.

Direct democracy

System where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Dual Federalism

System where state and federal governments remain supreme in their own spheres; "layer cake" federalism.

Due Process Clause

Part of the 5th and 14th Amendments guaranteeing fair legal procedures and protections.

Elbridge Gerry

Delegate who proposed the Great Compromise; later became Vice President; namesake of "gerrymandering."

Elite Theory

Belief that a small group of wealthy, powerful people dominate politics.

Eminent domain

Power of government to take private property for public use with just compensation.

Entitlement Grants

Federal programs that provide benefits to individuals who meet eligibility requirements (e.g., Social Security).

Entrepreneurial Politics

A policy in which a large group benefits and a small group bears the cost.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8).

Ex Post Facto Law

Law that punishes actions that were legal when committed; unconstitutional.

Factions

Groups with shared interests that may oppose the common good; discussed in Federalist No. 10.

Federalism

System of shared power between national and state governments.

Federalist Papers, esp 10 & 51

Essays by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay defending the Constitution; No. 10 on factions, No. 51 on checks and balances.

Federalists

Supported ratifying the Constitution and a stronger national government.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to recognize other states' public acts, records, and judicial decisions.

Grants-in-Aid

Federal money given to state and local governments for specific projects or programs.

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress with equal Senate representation and House based on population.

Hyperpluralist Theory

Belief that too many competing groups weaken government effectiveness.

Inherent Powers

Powers naturally belonging to any national government, like foreign affairs.

Interest Group Politics

Policy where a small group benefits and another small group pays the cost.

Intergovernmental Lobby

State and local officials seeking to influence federal grant policies.

Impeachment

Process by which a president or federal official is formally accused of wrongdoing.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Initiative

Allows voters to propose and vote on laws directly.

Interstate vs. Intrastate

Interstate involves more than one state; intrastate occurs within one state.

Judicial Review/ John Marshall

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional; established by Marbury v. Madison under Chief Justice Marshall.

Legitimacy

The general belief that government actions are right and proper.

Liberty

Freedom from government interference in personal choices and actions.

Locke vs Hobbes

Locke favored natural rights and limited government; Hobbes believed in strong authority to prevent chaos.

Log-Rolling

When legislators trade votes to support each other's bills.

Majoritarian Politics (aka Participatory)

Policy in which a majority benefits and a majority pays.

Majority rule

System where the side with more than half the votes makes decisions.

Mandates/Unfunded Mandates

Requirements the federal government imposes on states, sometimes without funding.

Marble Cake Federalism

Mixed authority between national and state governments; cooperative federalism.

Montesquieu

French philosopher who advocated separation of powers.

"Necessary and Proper" /Elastic Clause

Gives Congress power to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

New Federalism

1980s effort to return power to the states through devolution and block grants.

New Jersey Plan

Plan at Constitutional Convention for equal representation of states in Congress.

Nullification

Doctrine that states could void federal laws they deem unconstitutional.

Pluralist Theory

Belief that politics is a competition among many groups, each pressing for its own policy.

Policy Entrepreneurs

Individuals who invest time and energy to promote a particular policy idea.

Political Agenda

Issues that people believe require government action.

Popular sovereignty

Principle that government authority comes from the consent of the governed.

Pork-barrel legislation

Government spending for localized projects to bring money to a representative's district.

Power

The ability of one person or institution to influence others and achieve goals.

Preamble/General Welfare Clause

Introduction to the Constitution; states goals like justice, liberty, and promoting the general welfare.

Ratification

Formal approval of the Constitution or amendments by states.

Recall

Process allowing voters to remove elected officials from office before their term ends.

Referendum

Direct vote by citizens on a proposed law or policy.

Representative democracy

System in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf.

Republic

System of government in which citizens elect representatives and leaders are accountable under law.

Reserved Powers

Powers not delegated to the federal government; retained by the states (10th Amendment).

Revenue Sharing

Federal aid distributed with few restrictions; now largely replaced by block grants.

Separation of Powers

Division of government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Shays' Rebellion

1786-87 uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting debt and taxes; showed weakness of Articles.

Sovereignty

Supreme or ultimate political authority within a territory.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal law is the supreme law of the land.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states or people.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes.

Trunk Decisions

Key or central judicial or political decisions that influence many others.

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Universal suffrage

The right of all adult citizens to vote.

Unitary System

System where all power rests in a central government.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on population; favored large states.

Waiver

Administrative grant allowing a state to bypass certain federal rules.

Writ of Habeas corpus

Court order requiring government to explain why a person is being held in custody.