AP Gov & Pol Unit One Vocab

Politics

The activity by which an issue is agitated or settled

Participatory Model of Democracy

Broad, but not necessarily universal, participation. The average people are participating in creating/changing policy.

Pluralist Model of Democracy

Group-based activism by non-governmental interests striving for impact on political decision making.

Elite Model of Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil involvement to those who are considered among the elite.

Class View

View that the government is dominated by capitalists.

Power Elite View

View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of the government.

Bureaucratic View

View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.

Pluralist View

View that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

Creedal Passion View

View that morally impassioned elites drive important political changes.

Elite

Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.

Logrolling

A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers.

Shay’s Rebellion

A 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes.

Articles of Confederation

Articles originally written to hash out a government: had many flaws and few strengths. Heavily focused on state powers and a weak centralized government.

Declaration of Independence

Document which in fact declared independence from Britain

Social Contract

Idea which the government officials and the populous are in an agreement that the government exists under the consent of the governed

Great Compromise

Most resembles our government structure today; a compromise between the Virginia and New-Jersey plans

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the national government alone.

Reserved Powers

Powers given to the state government alone.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by the national and state governments.

Federalists

Those who favor a stronger national government

Anti-Federalists

Those who favor a weaker national government.

Federalism

Government authority shared by national and local governments.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Section of the constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it by the Constitution.

Dual Federalism

Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate.

Unitary System

Power centralized. State or regional governments derive authority from central government.

Federal System

Power divided between central and state/local governments. Both the government and constituent governments act directly upon the citizens. Both must agree to constitutional change.

Confederal System

Power held by independent states. Central government is a creature of the constituent governments.