AP US Government Fundamentals

Vocabulary and key concepts regarding the structure of the US Federal Government, the Articles of Confederation, and constitutional foundations.

Federal Government

Also known as the National Government or Government of the United States, it was created by the US Constitution and consists of $3$ branches that make and enforce federal laws.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for enforcing national laws; the current leaders are President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance of the Republican party.

Legislative Branch

Known as Congress, it’s made up of 2 chambers that make national laws; its members include the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House of Representatives

Part of the Legislative Branch. Its 435 voting members proportionally represent the population of the 50 states, sharing the power to make federal laws.

Senate

A chamber of the Legislative Branch; California's current representatives include Adam Schiff (Democrat) and Alex Padilla (Democrat). A senate is an official law-making group.

Majority party

The political party that holds the most members in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

District

A specific area assigned to an elected leader to represent the people living within those boundaries.

Judicial Branch

The branch consisting of the US Supreme Court and lower federal courts that interprets laws and decides on the constitutionality of state and national laws.

Roberts Court

The current name for the US Supreme Court, titled after Chief Justice John Roberts.

Articles of Confederation

The first system of government after the Revolution which failed because the national government was unicameral, lacked a president and federal courts, and could not tax.

Unicameral

A term describing a legislative branch with only one chamber, which was a feature of the Articles of Confederation.

Shays Rebellion

An event that occurred after $15$ years under the Articles of Confederation, leading states to realize the system was too decentralized. Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, a group of about 4,000 frustrated farmers and veterans rebelled against heavy state taxes, crushing debts, and the seizure of their properties. The insurrection shocked the young nation and directly led to the creation of the United States Constitution

Constitutional Convention

A meeting called by the states to amend the Articles of Confederation where delegates ultimately began writing a new constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first $10$ amendments to the Constitution, which are considered part of the Constitution itself.

$$1789$$

The year until which the Articles of Confederation lasted before being replaced by the new system of government.

Donald Trump

Republican 1

Joe biden

Democrate 1

Barack Obama

Democrat 2

George W Bush

Republican 2

Bill Clinton

Democrat 3

George HW Bush

Republican 3

Ronald Reagan

Republican 4

Articles of Confederation

The first attempt at a system of government after the revolution

Articles of Confederation Weakness Branches

The national government was made up of only a legislative branch and was unicameral (one chamber)

Articles of Confederation Weakness Congress setup

States had all the power, and the national government (Congress) has very little power

Articles of Confederation Weakness President

No President

Articles of Confederation Federal courts

No Federal Court system

Articles of Confederation Weakness Amend Articles

A unanimous vote was reqired to amend the Articles

Articles of Confederation Weakness money

Every state had its own moeny

Articles of Confederation Weakness national laws

No national laws

Articles of Confederation Pass legislation

¾ of all states had to approve legislation

Articles of Confederation trade

States regulated trade

Articles of Confederation Taxes

Congress could NOT tax

Which presidents were Republican?

Donald Trump, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan

Which presidents were Democrats

Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton