AP Gov: Unit 1

unalienable

a human right based on nature or god that cannot be taken away or denied

Articles of Confederation

a weak constitution that governed America during the revolutionary war

Constitutional Convention

a meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution to replace the weak Articles of Confederation

Shay’s Rebellion

a 1787 rebellion in which ex-revolutionary war soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates & taxes

Virginia Plan

proposal to create a strong national gov., favored big states

New Jersey Plan

proposal to create a weak national gov., favored small states

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population & a state-selected senate, w/ 2 members per state

republic

a gov. in which elected reps. make decisions

judicial review

the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional, established in Marbury v. Madison

federalism

gov. authority shared by national & local govs.

enumerated powers

powers given to the national gov. alone

reserved powers

powers given to the state gov. only

concurrent powers

powers shared by the national & state govs.

Separation of Powers

sharing of constitutional authority by multiple branches of gov.

Checks & Balances

constitutional ability of multiple branches of gov. to limit each other’s power

faction

a group w/ a distinct political interest

federalist

those who favor a strong national gov.

anti-federalists

those who favor a weaker national gov.

coalition

an alliance of groups

Habeas Corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge

Bill of Attainder

a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime

ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal even tho the act was legal when it was committed

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments to the constitution

line-item veto

an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislative

Sovereignty

the ultimate political author in a system

Unitary System

a system of gov. where sovereignty is fully vested in the national gov., not the states

confederation (confederal system)

a system of gov. where state govs. are sovereign, & the national gov. can do only what the states permit

federal system

a system of gov. where the national & state govs. share sovereignty

nullification

the doctrine that a state can declare null & void a fed. law that, in the state’s opinion, violates the constitution

Dual Federalism

doctrine holding that the national gov. is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, & the 2 spheres should be kept separate

cooperative federalism

idea that the fed. & state govs. share power in many policy areas

laboratories of democracy

idea that diff. states can impleement diff. policies, & the successful ones will spread

initiative

process hat permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot

referendum

procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature

recall

procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office

grants in aid

money given by the national gov. to the states

categorical grants

federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

conditions of aid

terms set by the national gov. that states must meet if they are to receive certain fed. funds

mandates

terms set by the national gov. that states must meet whether or not they accept fed. grants

waiver

a decision by an administrative agency granting some other permission to violate a law or rule that would otherwise apply to it

devolution

the transfer of power frm the national gov. to state & local govs.

majoritarian politics

advocates for tax reform who believed in a simplified system; fewer income brackets, credits, & deductions, argued everyone shld pay taxes bcs everyone benefits from the fed. govs. activities

client politics

benefits are concentrated on a specific group while costs are widely distributed

entrepreneurial politics

more progressive —> wealthy pay higher % of income tax, top percent of corners shld contribute more thru taxes to help vast majority who cant contribute as much, ppl w/ less income cld recieve certain benefits & services

interest group politics

both costs & benefits are concentrated on specific groups

10th Amendment

powers not delegated to the U.S or denied to states are reserved to the states

9th Amendment

unlisted rights are not necessarily denied

8th Amendment

no excessive bail or fines, no cruel & unjust punishments

7th Amendment

jury trials in civil suits where value exceeds $20.00

6th Amendment

right to speedy, public, impartial w/ defense counsel & right to cross-examine witnesses

5th Amendment

grand jury indictment required to prosecute a person for a serious crime; no “double jeoporady” (being tried twice for the same offense), prohibition on forced self-incrimination no loss of lie, liberty, or property w/ out due process

4th Amendment

no unreasonable searches or seizures

3rd Amendment

troops may not be quartered in homes in peacetime

2nd Amendment

right to bear arms

1st Amendment

freedom of religion, speech, press, & assembly, the right to petition the gov.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

constitution’s “necessary & proper” clauses permits congress to take actions (in this case, to create national bank) when it is essential to a power that congress has (in this case, managing the currency)

Marbury v. Madison

establishes judicial review, dealt with Adams midnight appts.

U.S vs. Lopez (1995)

the national govs. power under the commerce clause does not permit it to regulate matters not directly related to interstate commerce (in this case, banning firearms in a school zone)