AP Gov ALL vocab

Representative Democracy

People elect representatives to make laws and conduct government business

Direct Democracy

People govern themselves by voting individually as citizens

Unitary Government

Only one central government has authority over a nation

Confederation

An association of states with some authority delegated to a national government

Federal Government

The federal system of government decentralizes power, power is shared between the states and the national government

Articles of Confederation

Established a government dominated by the states

Shay’s Rebellion

Daniel Shay led hundreds of angry farmers to threaten to attack Boston if the states didn’t pass laws to help them

Participatory Theory

Emphasizes the participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems of democracy

Pluralist Theory

People with common interests form organized groups to promote their causes and COMPETE to influence the government

Elite and Class Theory

Government favors only a narrow percentage of the public, primarily the wealthy

Hyperpluralism

Power is decentralized and policies become muddled and less effective because there are too many interests vying for political influence

Popular Sovereignty

The authority of the government comes from the people

Limited Government

The government can only do what the Constitution says it can

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare the constitutionality of a law or other government action

Checks and Balances

Gives each branch the authority to check the powers of the other two branches

Separation of Powers

Designed the Constitution to divide the duties of government among three branches

The Constitutional Convention

Meeting of high-class American men to revise the Articles of Confederation

Constitution

Nation’s basic law

Madisonian Model

Factions could pose a threat to the stability of a government

The Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature

Three-Fifths Compromise

3/5ths of slaves counted as population in determining representation to the House of Representatives AND in determining taxation

Interstate Commerce

Trade that crosses state lines, controlled by the federal government

Intrastate Commerce

Trade that occurs within the state, controlled by the states

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments of the Constitution

Expressed (Enumerated) Powers

Powers directly expressed or stated in the Constitution by the Founders

Implied Powers

Powers not expressly defined in the Constitution

Reserved Powers

Powers that belong strictly to the states under the 10th amendment

Concurrent Powers

Powers that the national government and states have together

First Amendment

Freedom of religion, press, petition, speech and assembly

Second Amendment

Right to bear arms

Third Amendment

Prohibits government from forcing people to provide shelter for soldiers

Fourth Amendment

Protects the right to privacy by limiting searches

Fifth Amendment

A person cannot be tried for the same crime twice, Miranda rights

Sixth Amendment

Right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury

Seventh Amendment

Right to jury trial in federal court

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits excessive fines and bans “cruel and unusual punishment”

Ninth Amendment

Powers reserved to the people

Tenth Amendment

Powers reserved to the states

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolition of slavery

Fourteenth Amendment

Prohibits a state from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without “due process of law”

Fifteenth Amendment

People of color cannot be denied the right to vote based on race

Sixteenth Amendment

Congress can levy an income tax

Seventeenth Amendment

People elect U.S. Senators

Nineteenth Amendment

Guaranteed women the right to vote

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits President to two terms

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Prohibits poll taxes in federal elections

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Vice President takes over when President is disabled or dead

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Lowered the voting age to 18

Federalist Paper #10

FACTIONS are inevitable but need to be controlled

Federalist Paper #51

CHECKS AND BALANCES, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary”, defends separate branches of government and concept of bicameral legislature

Federalist Paper #70

Argued for a unitary executive office (one president)

Brutus Papers

Three-fifths compromise, no term limits, addition of Bill of Rights to Constitution was critical

Devolution

Devolving grants to give power back to the states

Fiscal Federalism

The power of the national government to influence state policies through grants

Federal Grants

Federal funds allocated to states and local governments for state needs

Categorical Grants

Grants for specific programs and funds matched by states

Formula Grant

Awarded based on whether you fit into the formula (income, unemployment, FAFSA)

Project Grant

Awarded on the basis of competitive application

Block Grant

Large grant of money that can be used for a general purpose, such as public health or crime control

Mandates

Formal order given by a higher authority telling state and local governments what programs to implement

Pork-barrel spending

Using federal money for state and local projects

Dual Federalism

Each level of government has distinct responsibilities that do not overlap

Cooperative Federalism

Levels of government share responsibilities

Bicameral Legislature

Two houses: Senate and House of Representatives

House Rules Committee

Reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to Full House

Incumbent

Someone currently in office

Filibuster

Permits unlimited debate on a bill unless 60 members vote for cloture on debate

Delegate Representation

Representing their constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics

Trustee Representation

Representing the interests of groups

Congressional Caucus

Group of members of Congress that share some interest or characteristic

Casework

Social work directly concerned with individuals

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries in such a way as to favor its own candidates

Party Influence

Parties are most cohesive when electing its official leaders

Legislative Branch

Makes the laws

Executive Branch

Carries out the laws

Judicial Branch

Interprets the law

Legislative Committees

Consider bills, maintain oversight of the executive, and conduct investigations

Subcommittees

Further study, research, hold hearings of a bill

Standing Committee

Permanent panel with full legislative functions

Select or Special Committees

Groups appointed for a limited purpose