AP VOCAB - Unit 1

Republicanism

A system of government where power is held by the people and their elected representatives.

Limited Government

A government whose power is restricted by law, usually a written constitution.

Natural Law

Moral principles believed to be inherent in human nature from God.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of the people.

Unalienable rights

Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness

Assent to Laws

Agreement to laws.

End of Revolutionary War

George Washington‘s Army finally won against British forces in Yorktown 1781, treaty of Paris closed off win

Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention was a meeting in 1787 where delegates gathered to create and adopt the U.S. Constitution.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution” - Wrote FEDERALIST PAPERS, helped create bill of rights

Alexander Hamilton

Authored FEDERALIST PAPERS

Social contract

an agreement to form a society for protection

Representative Republic

Representative republic: elected officials represent the people.

Representative Democracy

elected reps make decisions.

Participatory Democracy

Elected officials represent the people and make decisions on their behalf.

Pluralist Democracy

Groups compete for influence, ensuring diverse interests are represented.

Elite Democracy

A small group of elites makes decisions, often sidelining the general population.

Central Question in making Constitution

How to balance power between the federal government and states while protecting rights?

balance reflected in constitution

Citizen participation, and strong central government of representatives

leading federalist leaders:

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

federalist

Supported the constitution

anti-federalist

adapt or reject constitution, needed bill of rights to be added

democracy

democracy = power to the people!

Federalist Views on Government:

need for strong central Government

anti-federalist views on government

A larger government leaves to secrecy, may be too powerful and take away personal liberties

Shay’s Rebellion:

armed uprising in 1786 by farmers in massachusetts against taxes.

Bicameral Legislature

2 Houses - House of Representatives + Senate

Virginia Plan

strong national government with a bicameral legislature based on population.

New jersey plan

unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Great compromise

bicameral legislature: House by population, Senate equal.

Why is Bill of Rights needed?

Secure the rights of the people

Bill of Rights

securities liberties earned through past Revolution, essential rights given to people and state

Legislative Branch

Makes Laws

executive branch

Enforces laws

Judicial branch

Interprets the laws

Veto

refusal to sign Bill by president

pocket veto

Kills the bill - CANNOT be overridden

Veto override

Majority vote in each house, acting separately to overcome Veto

Advice and consent

presidential appointments and treaties require Senate approval.

Federalism

Sharing of powers between national governments and state governments

Exclusive Powers

Only delegated to federal gov

Concurrent

Powers held by state and federal authorities

Exclusive Federal powers:

Declare war, regulate commerce, define immigration and naturalization laws

State powers:

operate schools, regulate health, and safety, incorporate, cities, and companies

concurrent Powers:

Levy taxes, enforce laws

Federal grant

Congress dedicated itself to addressing national issues with federal dollars

fiscal federalism/revenue sharing

Congress, collecting federal tax revenues, and distributing funds to state

Grants in aid

Federal funds to states that qualify for financial aid

Categorical grants

Grants with particular congressional guidelines

mandates

States revenue federal money for following guidelines (strings attached)

Devolution

Ronald Reagan, philosophy that new federalism is driven by return of power to state

implied powers

Power is not specifically listed in constitution, deriving from elastic clause

Dual federalism

National government is supreme in its sphere and states equally supreme in their own sphere