AP U.S. Government Vocabulary - Foundations of Democracy and Beyond

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts necessary for understanding U.S. government foundations and structures.

Limited government

A government’s power cannot be absolute; ensured by the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism.

Natural rights

Rights that all people have which cannot be taken away.

Popular sovereignty

The concept that all government power comes from the consent of the governed.

Social contract

An implicit agreement among the members of a society to give up certain freedoms for the protection of overall societal order.

Representative democracy

A system where eligible citizens vote for representatives to make public policy.

Participatory democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society.

Pluralist democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests.

Elite democracy

A model that emphasizes limited participation in politics by the broader citizenry.

Declaration of Independence

A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson asserting the philosophy of natural rights and popular sovereignty.

U.S. Constitution

A social contract that establishes the system of limited government in the United States.

Federalist 10

An essay that discusses the advantages of a large republic in controlling factions and spreading power.

Brutus 1

An Anti-Federalist essay that argues for a small, decentralized government.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the U.S. that was ultimately replaced due to weaknesses.

Anti-Federalist

A person who opposed the ratification of the Constitution, favoring stronger state governments.

Federalist

A supporter of the ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government.

Judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws.

Civil rights

The rights protecting individuals from discrimination based on characteristics such as race and gender.

Civil liberties

Constitutionally established guarantees that protect citizens' freedoms from government interference.

Impeachment

The act of charging a government official with misconduct.

Electoral College

The body that elects the President of the United States through electors from each state.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is shared between the national and state governments.

Checks and balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Tenth Amendment

Part of the Bill of Rights that defines the balance of power between federal and state governments.

Fourteenth Amendment

Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and includes due process and equal protection clauses.

Fifteenth Amendment

Prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race.

Nineteenth Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

Miranda rule

The requirement that individuals in custody be informed of their rights prior to interrogation.

Due process

The principle that the government must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices.

Brown v. Board of Education

Supreme Court case that declared race-based school segregation unconstitutional.

Roe v. Wade

Supreme Court ruling that established a woman's legal right to have an abortion.

The Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in one house and equal representation in the other.

Gerrymandering

The deliberate manipulation of district boundaries to advantage a political party.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values.

Interest group

An organization that seeks to influence public policy on specific issues.