AP US Government - Unit 1

Enlightenment

A philosophical movement that began in Western Europe, emphasizing the use of reason over tradition when solving social problems.

Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher who believed that people could not govern themselves and that a monarch with absolute power would best protect life, developed the idea of the “social contract”

Social Contract

An agreement where people sacrifice some freedoms to respect the government in exchange for government protection— if government failed to protect these rights, the people had a “right to revolution”

John Locke

A philosopher who argued that natural rights must be protected by the government.

Empiricism

The belief that people are born with a tabula rasa (blank slate) on equal footing and everything they do is shaped by experience.

Natural Rights

The rights to life, liberty, and property that are granted by God, which the government must protect.

Charles de Montesquieu

A French philosopher who advocated for the separation of power into three branches of government.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A philosopher who believed people are born good but corrupted by society, and should act for the greater good rather than self-interest.

Voltaire

An advocate of rationality, freedom of thought, speech, religion, and politics.

Denis Diderot

The producer and editor of the first encyclopedia who advocated for freedom of expression and universal education access.

Participatory Democracy

Broad participation in politics and society by people of various statuses.

Pluralist Democracy

Group-based activism by citizens with common interests who seek the same goals, such as political parties.

Elitisit Democracy

A system where power belongs to the educated or wealthy, discouraging participation by the majority.

Republicanism

A style of government that supports individualism, natural rights, popular sovereignty, and encourages civic participation.

Representative Democracy

A system characterizing American Republicanism where elected officials represent a group of people.

Popular Sovereignty

The concept that government power derives from the consent of the governed.

The Declaration of Independence

A document written by Thomas Jefferson to secede from Great Britain, where natural rights, social contract and popular sovereignty are prevalent themes.

Articles of Confederation

Outlined the first government of the United States and served as the predecessor to the Constitution.

United States Constitution

built on the principle of limited government

limited government

federal government has limited powers granted to it by the constitution

Northwest Ordinance

A success of the Articles of Confederation that created methods through which new states would enter the US.

Shay’s Rebellion

An event that highlighted the federal government's inability to suppress revolts under the weak Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention

A meeting of the framers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to address divisions over the powers and structure of the government.

Unicameral

A legislative branch that has a single house.

Bicameral

A legislative branch that has two houses.

Virginia Plan

James Madison’s proposal of a bicameral legislature where representation was based on a state's population size.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature where every state got one vote.

The Great Compromise

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

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement stating enslaved people would be counted as 3/5 of a person when deciding seats in the House of Representatives.

Electoral College

A body composed of 538 elected officials from each state that elects the president.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who preferred smaller state governments and feared it would threaten personal liberties.

Bill of Rights

10 amendments written by James Madison that protect the rights of citizens from the government.

The Federalist Papers

A collection of articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting the Constitution.

Brutus No. 1

An anonymous Anti-Federalist essay arguing that the national government had too much power and that representatives might not truly represent the people.

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic keeps any single faction from taking control.

Federalist No. 51

An essay by James Madison arguing that the separation of powers would make the government efficient by dividing responsibilities.

Federalist No. 70

An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing that the executive branch should only have one member: the president.

Federalist No. 78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing that the judicial branch would have the least amount of power but would hold the power of judicial review.

Article I

Sets up Congress and gives it the legislative power to make laws.

Article II

Sets up the presidency and gives it the executive power to enforce laws.

Article III

Sets up the court system and gives it the judicial power to interpret laws.

Separation of Powers

Assigned different tasks to each branch of government, preventing one sector of government from overpowering the others

Checks and Balances

A system designed to promote interactions between branches of government and hold each branch accountable to one another

Veto

The power of the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Veto Override

Congress can bypass a presidential veto by passing a law with a 2/3 majority in both houses.

Advice and Consent

The power of the Senate to review and approve presidential appointments and treaties.

Executive Orders

Orders issued by the president that have the same effect as law and bypass Congress in policy-making.

Executive Agreements

Agreements made between country leaders that are similar to treaties but bypass the ratification power of the Senate.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn unconstitutional laws passed by the legislature or unconstitutional acts of the executive branch

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that gave the court the power of judicial review.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to pass all laws necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes the supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

Commerce Clause

Allows Congress to regulate commerce among states.

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically outlined in the Constitution but that are necessary for Congress to perform its duties.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Ruled that states could not tax the national bank, reinforcing the supremacy clause and the necessary and proper clause, set forth the idea of “implied powers”

United States v. Lopez

Held that the commerce clause didn't regulate the carrying of guns in school zones, emphasizing state sovereignty and local control.

Federalism

A system of government under which the national and state governments share powers.

Confederation

A system in which decisions are made by an external member-state legislation.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that belong solely to the national government, specifically delegated by the Constitution.

Reserved Powers

Powers that belong to the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by both federal and state governments, like levying taxes.

Fiscal Federalism

The chief manifestation of federalism inside the United States government, primarily handled through funding and grants.

Categorical Grants

Funds given to states as long as the states comply with specific federal standards and heavy restrictions.

Block Grants

Funds given for broad purposes that can be used as seen fit by the state.

Mandates

Requirements that the federal government sets for states, usually providing money to help them comply with said requirements.

Unfunded Mandates

Mandates issued by the federal government with no money provided to state governments.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Denied Congress the power to give unfunded mandates.

10th Amendment

Lays down the basis for reserved powers, meaning powers kept by the states.

14th Amendment

Applies the Bill of Rights at the state level and empowers the federal government to ensure states uphold citizens liberties.

Article V

Outlines the two-stage process to amend the Constitution: proposal and ratification.

Ratify

To formally approve an amendment, which usually requires 3/4 of state legislatures.

21st Amendment

Ended prohibition, the only constitutional amendment passed through a ratifying convention

Governor

The leader of the executive branch at the state government level.

Pardons and Reprieves

The governor's power to grant forgiveness for a crime or delay a punishment.

Line-Item Veto

A governor's ability to reject specific parts of bills (a power denied to the U.S. President).

Gubernatorial Veto Override

A state legislature's ability to override a governor's veto.

Alternate Processes for Article V

constitutional convention and ratifying convention