AP gov unit 1

Natural rights

life, health, liberty, and possessions

popular sovereignty

the fundamental principle that all political authority stems from the people

republicanism

Supports individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, encourages civic participation

social contract

Some freedoms sacrificed (respecting government) in exchange for government protection

Participatory democracy

Broad participation in politics/society by people at various statuses

pluralist democracy

Group-based activism by citizens with common interests who seek the same goals

Elite democracy

Power to the educated/wealthy, discourages participation by the majority of people

federalism

The way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power

checks and balances

Each branch checks the other; designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant, requires different branches to work together and share power

separation of powers

Assigns different tasks to each branch of government Legislative makes laws Executive enforces laws Judicial interprets laws

limited government

The government is restricted by laws, or, in the case of America, the Constitution.

fed 10 issues with the supremacy clause

it could have let federal laws override state laws

fed 10 issues with congress taxing power

could drain resources from states, and could give more money to the rich by lowering their taxes. It would make a stronger national government and a weaker state government.

fed 10 issues with raising an army

could cause problems because it could threaten liberty, and it could use it to police the people and threaten the states

fed 10 issues with the supreme court

Brutus did not like that the Supreme Court justices had lifetime appointments, and it said that the court could interpret the Constitution in whatever way it wanted, which could lessen state powers and make their decisions inconsequential.

fed 10 issues with the necessary and proper clause

could allow Congress to stretch its powers, and the clause could get rid of a limited constitution

fed 10 issues with Congress regulating interstate commerce.

it could control most economic activity, which would lessen the states' authority over their own economy

why are large republics a threat to liberty?

the people will not have enough control over the government.

it is too distant from the people, they could abuse their power,

there would not be good representation for all the people,

factions could become dangerous because elites could exploit the system to benefit them.

faction

A group of citizens, that can be a majority or minority, who are united by a common passion or interest.

What are the sources of factions?

Unequal distribution of property. People who own property make up one part of society, and people who do not own property make up the other part.

How are factions controlled?

by removing the causes of faction or by controlling the effects of faction

What are the reasons that large republics are the best way to control factions?

there are more factions, so more opinions, so there is less of a chance that one group will dominate.

What should be the ideal number of representatives and voters in a republic?

a balance between the size of the constituency and the number of representatives, this offered a wider selection of candidates and made it harder for the ambitious or rich to control elections.

Why were the Anti-Federalists reluctant to sign the new Constitution?

The constitution advocated for a large centralized government and it advocated for more national power and it left less power to the states. They feared that it would jeopardize people’s liberty

Identify the problems in the Articles of Confederation and explain how they were corrected in the Constitution.

a weak central government, the inability to tax or regulate commerce, a lack of an executive or judicial branch, and difficulty in making laws or amendments

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and Senate (equal representation)

electoral college

Composed of elected officials from each state based on population (each given 2 votes + 1 vote per member of House of Representatives) with a total of 538 electors

Three-fifths compromise

Enslaved people would be counted as 3/5 of a person when deciding seats in the House of Representatives

Compromise on the importation of slaves

The deal prevented Congress from banning the transatlantic slave trade for 20 years, until 1808.

Federalism

The way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power

Enumerated powers

Powers that belong to the national government

Implied powers

powers inferred as necesary to carry out the powers that are expressly granted to a government.

Reserved powers

powers retained by the states, as they are not explicitly granted to the national government by the Constitution nor prohibited to the states.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

that each state must recognize and enforce the "public Acts, Records, and Judicial Proceedings" of every other state, promoting national unity by ensuring legal consistency across state lines.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states, ensuring that out-of-state citizens are treated like residents with regard to fundamental rights and protections

Extradition

where one jurisdiction surrenders an individual accused or convicted of a crime in its territory to another jurisdiction where the offense occurred or is being prosecuted

Explain the ideas represented in Federalist No. 51

government power would be divided and distributed, with each department controlling the others, checks and balances

the two ways an amendment can be proposed and how the amendment can be ratified into law

by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures

ERA (provision/how and why it failed)

a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee legal rights regardless of sex. It failed to be ratified by the 1982 deadline due to a highly effective conservative opposition campaign that raised fears about the amendment's impact on traditional gender roles.

What is policy agenda?

set of issues and problems that government officials and policymakers prioritize for discussion and action.

Who determines the policy agenda and how?

the media, the states, national issues (9/11, hurricanes), interest groups putting pressure on the government, the Supreme Court, Congress, shared values.

What is the difference between power, authority, and legitimacy?

making someone do what you want them to do

the right to use power

what makes authority (law, system of government) right in the eyes of the people.

majoritarian politics

almost everyone pays and almost everyone benefits

interest group politics

a policy that benefits a small group and will impose costs on another small group. 60-day notice for layoffs

Client politics

a policy in which one small group benefits and almost everyone pays. tariff laws, pork, subsidies.

Entrepreneurial politics

a policy in which almost everybody benefits, and a small group pays. anti-pollution laws, laws to make autos safer.

tea/stamp act

caused boycotts and riots, the first one led to the boston tea party.

House v. Senate

The House has population-based representation and initiates revenue bills, while the Senate provides equal state representation

powers of congress

the ability to tax, regulate commerce, declare war, raise armies, establish post offices

Necessary and proper clause

granting Congress the power to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers and other constitutional duties

List of what Congress cannot do

ex post facto laws, prohibit the free exercise of religion, abridge freedom of speech, establish a religion, ban the right to peaceably assemble or petition the government

direct democracy

decisions are made by the people

indirect democracy

the people vote for representatives, then they make decisions for the people

qualifications of being president

must be a natural born citizen, must be at least 35 years old, must be a resident of the US for at least 14 years.