AMSCO APGOPO VOCAB - ALL CHAPTERS

Factions

Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Thomas Hobbs

1651 Leviathan. People are selfish, self-serving, and brutal. Without control, society would be chaotic

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Montesquieu

French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)

natural rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

popular sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

representative republic

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions based on the law and/or constitution.

Republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

Rousseau

believed people in their natural state were basically good but that they were corrupted by the evils of society, especially the uneven distribution of property. The Social Contract

John Adams

America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained."

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Benjamin Franklin

American intellectual, inventor, and politician He helped to negotiate French support for the American Revolution.

Alexander Hamilton

1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt. One author of the Federalist Papers

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd president

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

U.S. Constitution

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)

elite democracy

A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

participatory democracy

a system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf

pluralist democracy

a model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interests in a free society

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that granted most power to the states

Federalists

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption. Supported a strong centralized government

Initiative

process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot

Referendum

a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision.

Federalist 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

Brutus No. 1

This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. In particular, he pointed to the necessary-and-proper clause and the supremacy clause. In addition, he objected to Congress's power to tax and raise a standing army and to the vast size of the proposed republic. He felt this powerful new government would supplant the states.

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution; major source of civil liberties; applies to states via selective incorporation doctrine; promised to Anti-Federalists to secure ratification of Constitution

Constitutional Convention

The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.

Constitutional Compromises

1. Bill of Rights: first 10 amendments to the constitution

2. Great (Connecticut) Compromise: combined Virginia plan and New Jersey plan creating two chambers in Congress: the Senate (based on equal representation) and the House of Representatives (based on population)

3. 3/5 Compromise: every 5 slaves would be counted as 3 people in terms of voting

4. Slave Trade Compromise: agreement to wait until 1808 before Congress would be able to ban the slave trade in the US.

5. Commerce Compromise: Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any state

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president, created at the Constitutional Convention

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

1787

*Called for a bicameral legislative system in which the House of Representatives would be based on population and the Senate would have equal representation in Congress

*Combined pieces of the New Jersey Plan, the Virginia Plan, and other proposals

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

Ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

3/5 Compromise

-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Article 5 of the Constitution

Outlines the process for amending or changing the Constitution

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

given greater latitude to individual states for decision making regarding content area standards, assessment techniques, and corrective actions for low performing schools.

No Child Left Behind Act

A U.S. law enacted in 2001 that was intended to increase accountability in education by requiring states to qualify for federal educational funding by administering standardized tests to measure school achievement.

USA Patriot Act (2001)

Strengthens the federal government's power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, and detain individuals in order to combat terrorism.

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Federalist 51 (Madison)

"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature." If men were angels.... checks and balances. Give the constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of the others. People are the primary check.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Stakeholders

the people whose interests are affected by an organization's activities

advice and consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

two-thirds override

To pass a bill over the President's objections requires a ____ vote in each Chamber

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

conccurent powers

powers shared by the national and state government

exclusive powers

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

Extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Police powers (reserved powers)

states' power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Part of Article IV of the Constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

Dual Federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Devolution

Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.

federal grants

sums of money given from the national government to state or local governments to be spent for a variety of specific purposes

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments.

grants-in-aid program

grants of federal money or other resources to States, cities, counties, and other local units

mandate

require states to comply with a federal directive - sometimes with funds and sometimes without

revenue sharing

the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.

strings attached

traditional control that tells the state government what it must do if it wants to receive federal grant money

Commerce Clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

selective exclusiveness

Legal doctrine that states that when the commerce at issue requires national, uniform regulation, only Congress may regulate it

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce.

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Senate

the upper house of Congress, consisting of two representatives from each state

Seventeeth Amendment (1913)

Direct election of senators (instead of state legislators selecting them)

coalition

a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends

Power of the Purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding.

Caucus

A meeting of members of a political party

War Powers Act

1973. A resolution of Congress that stated the President can only send troops into action abroad by authorization of Congress or if America is already under attack or serious threat.

cloture rule

Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

germane amendments

an amendment to a bill must be strictly relevant to the bill

Hold in the Senate

An informal practice by which a senator informs his or her floor leader that he or she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration. The majority leader need not follow the senator's wishes, but is on notice that the opposing senator may filibuster any motion to proceed to consider the measure.

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

Omnibus Bill

A single document that is accepted in a single vote by a legislature but contains amendments to a number of other laws or even many entirely new laws.

pork barrel spending

The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents, such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.

rider bill

an attached legislation to a major bill, because it is not likely to pass on its own

unanimous consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Committee of the Whole

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body; used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself.

conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate