AP Gov Unit 1 Terms & Topics

Hobbes

Author of “Leviathan”, writing that man has natural savage/war-like instincts which should be negated by govt

John Locke

British philosopher who created the “life, liberty, pursuit of property” ideal; inspired Framers

Payne

Author of “Common Sense", influencing Americans with anti-Britain views

natural rights

Life, liberty & pursuit of property (property changed to happiness in Declaration of Independence)

social contract

Obligation that the govt has to protect its people’s natural rights

Locke v. Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence writer was inspired by this philosopher’s ideals, such as

• “it is the people’s duty to overthrow a tyrannic govt”

• “all men are equal, men help to govern”

• “mutual, unalienable rights”

elite theory

Theory that a small, cohesive group of rich people actually make all of the important decisions rather than the people

pluralist theory

Theory that there are many different factions which are protected by representative democracies

direct democracy

Form of govt without representatives, people directly vote for laws

democratic theory

Theory where the concept of power is placed in the hands of the people

authoritarian

Form of govt where rulers are in full control, limiting political freedoms

majoritarian

Form of govt which is ruled by the majority

aristocracy

Form of govt where a small elite group of people hold power and rule

republic

Form of govt where people vote on representatives who make laws and vote for a ruler

democratic republic

Form of govt where complete power comes from citizens; combines a democracy & a representative govt; America’s ideology

socialism

Form of govt that strives for social and economic equality, combines democratic & communist ideals

conservatism

Ideology which embraces tradition and limited govt involvement

liberalism

Ideology which prioritizes equality over law & heavier govt involvement

representative democracy

Form of govt where people indirectly elect representatives to make laws and policies

autocracy

Form of govt where one person holds absolute power

oligarchy

Form of govt run by a small group of wealthy authorities

unitary

Government where all power resides in the central govt, who regulate any states

federal

Government with multiple levels (national & state) which share power over the same territory

confederate

Government with strong states and a weak federal govt

democracy

Form of govt where people vote for who they want to rule or make laws

bureaucratic theory

Theory that government workers make key governing decisions, making elected officials useless in affecting policy

pluralism

System where multiple factions coexist

hyperpluralism

Event which occurs when the influence of factions becomes too much: one faction dominates, or multiple fight to a point that causes govt to stop functioning

Articles of Confederation

The first “constitution”; made by 2nd Constitutional Congress and established:

• a confederate government

• a unicameral legislature

• lack of executive/judicial branches and commerce regulation

Shays’ Rebellion

• The response of farmers being threatened by foreclosure on their farms due to the bad post-revolution economy

• Exposed the Articles of Confed. weaknesses, helping the US realize that a stronger federal govt was needed

weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• No executive branch = no enforcing law

• No judicial branch = no crime punishment across state lines

• No power for Congress to tax, regulate commerce, or raise a military

• Only one vote per state regardless of their size (unicameral legislature)

• 9/13 states had to agree to pass federal laws

• All states had to agree to amend the Articles of Confed.

bicameral

Legislature with two chambers, one house and one senate

unicameral

Legislature with only one chamber

1st Continental Congress

Pre-revolution group who discussed America’s future and how it should react to British oppression

2nd Continental Congress

Group who governed the US during and right after the revolution, wrote the Articles of Confed. & Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

Document which let the world know that:

• The 13 colonies are united

• The colonies sought to protect the equal & unalienable rights of man

• People should overthrow tyrannical governments, such as what the colonies did with the British King

Constitutional Convention

Group which initially wanted to fix the Articles of Confed. but ended up having to replace it with the Constitution

Virginia Plan

Plan advocating for a bicameral legislature and state representation that was proportional to population

New Jersey Plan

Plan advocating for a unicameral legislature and equal state representation

Connecticut Compromise

Compromise which combined the Virginia & New Jersey plans, establishing both the Senate and House of Reps. for them

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise which counted a certain proportion of a state’s slaves when determining its population for the # of representatives it would get; gave more representation to the South (North v. South) and was replaced by the census

Slave Trade Compromise

Compromise which banned slaves from being imported to the US after 1808, but also stopped Congress from prohibiting it at all before that year

Federalists

Those who supported the new govt made by the Constitution

Anti-federalists

Those who were opposed to the new govt made by the Constitution

Federalism v. Anti-federalism

• The strength of the central govt (should be stronger v. is too strong)

• Focus of govt (federal or unitary v. confederacy)

• **Ultimately compromised to form the Bill of Rights**

Federalist 10

Paper which explains how factions are bad and how they can be controlled:

• “The public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties”

• “Measures are too often decided by the majority rather than the minority”

• Factions are “cured” by removing its causes (impossible) or controlling their effects

• However, without factions, there would be no liberty

• A functioning legislature/republic will mitigate a majority and therefore control factions’ effects

• Factions are weaker in larger republics, so larger republics = better

Federalist 51

Paper which describes how power should be balanced between the proposed branches

• Minimal influence over selecting other branches’ members (& their pay)

• “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition” (checks & balances)

• Government is the reflection of human nature, and it much both control its people and itself

• “If men were angels, no govt would be necessary”

Federalist 70

Paper which argues why a single executive is important

• An energetic executive is optimal to maximize unity & responsibility, which would be diminished w/ more execs.

• Congress takes their time to debate on issues with their reps., but POTUS must act fact

• A plurality in exec. branch “conceals faults & destroys responsibility”

Federalist 78

Paper which elaborates on the power of the judicial branch

• The lifetime tenure of justices are crucial to be independent from popular will (elections)

• Judiciary’s job is to declare acts of other branches unconstitutional (judicial review)

• The courts are the “intermediate body” between the people & legislature

Brutus 1

Paper which argues against a centralized republican government

• Argues a confederacy is better

• The Necessary & Proper and Supremacy Clauses make Congress and federal govt too powerful, respectively

• “All power reserved to the states will soon be annihilated”

• “Republics should only have small territory”

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution

Bill of Rights

The first 10 Amendments of the Constitution, result of a compromise between federalists & anti-federalists

Six Basic Principles of Constitution

Separation of powers, limited govt, judicial review, popular sovereignty, federalism, checks & balances

Separation of Powers

System which keeps the powers of the three branches independent of each other, so one can’t take control of the others

Checks & Balances

Legislature

• can impeach POTUS, override his veto, and approve his nominations

• confirms justice nominations and impeaches judges

• The House and Senate must compromise/agree on each other’s bills

Executive

• Can veto bills

• Nominates judges & enforces judicial opinion

Judicial

• Can declare acts from the other branches unconstitutional

Formal Amendment Process

• Amendments are proposed by 2/3rds of Congress or 2/3rds of a national convention

• Amendments are ratified by 3/4ths of state legislatures or 3/4ths of a state convention

informal amendments

Constitutional changes which don’t change the document itself, including:

• judicial interpretation

• technological advances

• political practice

• increased demand for new policies

federalism

The division of a govt’s power into national and state governments

enumerated powers

Powers specifically expressed or delegated to Congress in the Constitution (article I sect 8)

implied powers

Powers given to Congress through the Necessary and Proper Clause, which are any powers necessary to carry out delegated powers

inherent powers

Powers naturally held by sovereign govts

concurrent powers

Powers shared by national & state govts

reserved powers

Powers given to the states through the 10th Amendment, which are all powers not already delegated to the national govt or prohibited to states

prohibited powers

Powers specifically denied to the govt

Necessary & Proper Clause

Clause of Article I Sect. 8 which gives Congress implied powers

vertical checks & balances

Checks between national & state govts (such as thru the Supremacy Clause)

horizontal checks & balances

Checks within the same level of govt

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Clause in Article 4 requiring states to recognize the validity of laws, court decisions, and public records of every state

Privileges & Immunities Clause

Clause in Article 4 prohibiting states from discriminating from citizens of other states

extradition

Process of returning a criminal fugitive to the state where the crime was allegedly committed in order to face punishment in that state

interstate compacts

An agreement between multiple states

Supremacy Clause

Clause in Article 6 stating that federal law is superior & takes priority over state law

Commerce Clause

Clause giving Congress the power to regulate foreign & interstate trade

nullification

The illegal act of a state refusing to follow federal law because it claims the law to be unconstitutional

preemption

the legal act of federal govt invalidating state law, claiming that the law is unconstitutional

Gibbons v. Ogden

Case defining what exactly “commerce” covers in the Commerce Clause, ultimately defined it as all forms of commercial activity

Marbury v. Madison

• An appointed judge ended up not receiving his commission, and tried to petition SCOTUS to grant a writ of mandamus to the Secretary of State

• However, SCOTUS found that Article 3 of the Constitution (which never mentioned writs of mandamus) was in conflict with an article of the Judiciary Act of 1789 (which allowed SCOTUS to write those writs in original jurisdiction cases)

• This case did not have original jurisdiction, so the article of the Judiciary Act was voided

• **Established Judicial Review**

McCulloch v. Maryland

• Congress’ bank, a federal facility, could not be taxed by the state it was established in

• The Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause were reinforced, giving the Constitution and Congress’ federal laws superiority over state law

Dual Federalism

Type of federalism where national & state govts dominate in their own “spheres” & have their own policies

Cooperative Federalism

Type of federalism where national & state govts share power

New Federalism/Devolution

The transfer of federal powers to the states

Fiscal Federalism

System where the federal govt distributes funds, or grants-in-aids, to states & localities

Picket-fence Federalism

Type of federalism where national, state, & local govts work together to promote/develop various policies

grants-in-aid programs

Federal taxes sent by national govt to aid state/local govts and influence them to invest in various policies

categorical grants

Grants to states for specific policies, preferred by federal govt

block grants

Grants to states for broad policies, preferred by states

revenue sharing

The distribution of revenue to stakeholders & contributors

mandates

Laws or policies that the federal govt forces the states to follow, often with funds (otherwise “unfunded”)

electoral college

Body of electors which represent votes for POTUS in a winner-take-all process for each state; made by Framers who didn’t trust the people directly voting for the president