Ap Gov Unit 1 Vocab

Consent of the governed

people consent to the governments power

democracy

power comes from the people

elite democracy

elected representatives act for the best interests of the elite

elitism

small minority holds the most power

governments

institutions that creates laws to guide the conduct of the nation and its citizens

majority rule

• idea in democracy only policies with greater than 50% at least votes are enacted,

• and only candidates with greater than 50% more are elected

minority rights

things that protect the majority from oppressing the minority

represenative democracy/ republic

government that gets its power from the people, citizens elect government officials to represent them

Amendment

change or addition to the constitution

anti-federalists

people opposed to the constitution because they were afraid of a national government with too much power

federalists

people who supported the constitution

bicameral

legislature with 2 parts called chambers

bill of rights

• first 10 amendments of the constitution that say the liberties that cannot be taken away by the government

• protected freedoms and helped anti-federalists fears

commerce clause

constitution says congress can regulate interstate and foreign trade

confederation

independent sovereign states union, the states can give matters to the central government

continental congress

meeting of delegates from all colonies, first one to tell the king that what he’s doing is bad, second one to prepare for war with Britain

decentralization of power

power away from the national government - given to state and local

devolution

national governments give policy responsibilities to state or local

enumerated powers

powers of the national government in the constitution

faction

group of citizens that are united by a common interest that is against the rights of other citizens or against the community

federalism

dividing power between the national and state governments

dual federalism

national and state only take care of their given powers

cooperative federalism

the national government helps the states achieve what they want in their state

fiscal federalism

national government gives money to the state and local governments, which might influence them

federalist papers

essays by James Madison, alexander Hamilton, john jay that argued for the constitution to be ratified

implied powers

powers not listed in the constitution, but congress uses the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause) in the constitution to have them

intrastate

within one state (trade)

interstate

crosses state lines (trade) , congress controls it by the power given to them in the constitution

shays rebellion and what did it show

• Daniel Shays led people with debt to Massachutes court houses closing them and burning debt records

• confederation was weak

tenth amendment

states and people get all the rights not strictly for the federal and not forbidden to the states

3/5th compromise

agreement to count each slave as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes

the great (Ct) compromise (3)

• bicameral (2 chambers) legislature

• house of reps based on population

• senate with 2 delegates per state

new jersey plan (3)

• unicameral legislature with one vote per state (small states favor)

• executive chosen by congress

• supreme court chosen by executive

virginia plan

• congress representation by population bicameral (2 chambers)

• executive chosen by congress

• lower house elected by the people, upper house elected by the lower house (2 chambers) both based on population

• favors bigger states

writ of habeas corpus

authorities have to bring a detained person in front of a judge to determine if their imprisonment is legal or illegal

Participatory vs Elite vs Pluralist Democracy

Participatory = citizens are heavily involved; Elite = a small group of powerful people has the most influence; Pluralist = many competing groups influence government.

Legitimacy, popular sovereignty, and representative democracy

Legitimacy means people believe government has the right to rule; popular sovereignty means the people are the ultimate source of power; representative democracy means people elect officials to govern for them.

Social Contract Theory

People agree to create government and give it power in exchange for protection, order, and protection of their rights. This is strongly connected to John Locke.

Limited Government + Constitutionalism

Government power must be limited by the Constitution and laws so government cannot simply do whatever it wants.

Politics + Pluralism

Politics is the process of deciding who gets benefits and resources; pluralism says many groups compete to influence those decisions.

Locke: Why do people need government?

People need government for peace, safety, fair laws, protection of life, liberty, and property, and an impartial way to settle conflicts.

Locke: What happens if government violates the social contract?

If government stops protecting rights or acts without legitimate authority, the people have the right to replace it.

Locke → Declaration → U.S. Government

Locke's natural rights and consent ideas influenced the Declaration, which justified independence, and those ideas later influenced the constitutional system.

Declaration of Independence: Big Ideas

The Declaration argues for natural rights, liberty, equality, consent of the governed, self-government, and the right to reject an abusive government.

Declaration of Independence: Key Facts

Written mainly by Thomas Jefferson and adopted July 4, 1776. It explains political principles, lists grievances against Britain, and declares independence.

Declaration: Why are the grievances important?

They give specific examples of British abuses and show why the colonists believed independence was necessary.

American Revolution: Main Goals

Independence from Britain, protection of rights and liberty, self-government, consent of the governed, and freedom from unjust rule.

Articles of Confederation: Why was it a problem?

The national government was too weak to effectively raise money, enforce decisions, control trade, or respond to serious national problems.

How did the Constitution fix the Articles?

It gave Congress stronger taxing and commerce powers, created an executive to enforce laws, created a national judiciary, and created a stronger federal government.

Constitutional Convention: Why was it held?

It was called to address the weaknesses of the Articles, but the delegates ultimately created an entirely new Constitution.

Importation of Slaves Compromise

Congress could not ban the importation of enslaved people before 1808. It was a compromise involving slavery and constitutional ratification.

How did the Constitution handle major debates?

It used compromises to balance large vs small states, national vs state power, economic interests, and other major disagreements, but some inequalities such as slavery remained.

Five Constitutional Principles

Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.

Separation of Powers + Checks and Balances

Separation of powers divides government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches; checks and balances allow each branch to limit the others.

Why did the Federalists win ratification?

They argued the Articles were too weak, defended the Constitution through the Federalist Papers, and helped gain support by promising a Bill of Rights.

Federalist 10: Main Idea

Madison argues that a large republic is the best way to control the harmful effects of factions without destroying liberty.

Federalist 10: Factions

Factions are groups united by a common interest that may threaten the rights of others or the public good.

Federalist 10: Why a large republic?

A large republic creates many competing interests and factions, making it harder for one faction or majority to dominate everyone else.

Federalist 51: Main Idea

Madison argues that separation of powers and checks and balances are needed because people and government officials naturally seek power.

Federalist 51: Madisonian Model connection

The Madisonian Model divides power and makes government institutions check one another so no person, branch, or faction can easily become too powerful.

Brutus No. 1: Main Argument

Brutus argued against ratification because the Constitution created a national government that was too powerful and could threaten liberty and the states.

Brutus No. 1: Specific Fears

Brutus worried about the broad federal powers, powerful federal courts, the growth of national power, and the difficulty of keeping a large republic truly representative.

Federalist 10 vs Brutus 1

Madison believed a large republic would control factions; Brutus believed a large republic would make government too distant and powerful.

Federalist 51 vs Brutus 1

Federalist 51 says constitutional checks can control government power; Brutus feared the national government would still become too powerful.

Objectives/Purpose of Government

Maintain order, provide security, protect rights, resolve conflicts, provide public goods, and promote the general welfare.

Constitution: Articles 1-7

Article I = Congress; II = President; III = Judiciary; IV = states and their relationships; V = amendments; VI = federal supremacy and constitutional obligations; VII = ratification.

Major powers in the unamended Constitution

Congress gets powers such as taxing, spending, regulating commerce, declaring war, and making necessary laws; the president enforces laws and leads the executive branch; federal courts interpret federal law and the Constitution.

Constitutional Language/Interpretation

The Constitution uses some broad language, so courts and government officials must interpret what its words and powers mean in specific situations.

Necessary and Proper + Commerce + Supremacy Clauses

Necessary and Proper = implied powers for Congress; Commerce = Congress regulates interstate and foreign commerce; Supremacy = valid federal law takes priority over conflicting state law.

Judicial Review + Marbury v. Madison

Judicial review is the power of courts to declare government actions unconstitutional; Marbury v. Madison established this principle in 1803.

Formal vs Informal Constitutional Change

Formal change happens through the Article V amendment process; informal change happens through court decisions, laws, executive actions, political practices, and changing interpretation.

Amending the Constitution: Formal Process

An amendment is proposed by two-thirds of Congress or through a convention requested by two-thirds of the states, then ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Strengths of the Constitution

It created a stronger national government, protects liberty through limits and checks, provides stability, and can adapt through amendments and interpretation.

Weaknesses of the Constitution

It can be slow and difficult to change, separation of powers can create gridlock, and the original Constitution included major compromises over slavery and did not originally contain the Bill of Rights.

Charles Beard: View of the Framers

Beard argued that economic and property interests strongly influenced the framers and that the Constitution helped protect the interests of economically powerful groups.

Constitution: Main Balance

The Constitution tries to balance order with liberty, majority rule with minority rights, national power with state power, and effective government with limited government.

Founding Timeline

Colonial rule → growing conflict with Britain → Declaration of Independence (1776) → Articles of Confederation → weaknesses of the Confederation → Shays' Rebellion → Constitutional Convention (1787) → Constitution → ratification (1788) → new government (1789) → Bill of Rights (1791) → Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Big Picture: What is the central idea of the whole unit?

The American system tries to create an effective government without allowing government power to become unlimited or tyrannical.

Constitution: Equality, Economic, and Individual Rights

The Constitution used compromises to address conflicts over representation and equality, protected economic interests through powers like taxation and commerce, and protected individual rights through constitutional limits and later the Bill of Rights.

Obstacles to Ratification

Anti-Federalists feared the national government would become too powerful, threaten liberty, and weaken the states.

Declaration of Independence: Components

1) statement of political principles and natural rights, 2) list of grievances against Britain, 3) declaration of independence.

Articles of Confederation: Powers

Congress could declare war, make treaties, conduct foreign affairs, coin money, and manage western territories, but it lacked strong taxing and enforcement powers.

Federalism as a Compromise

Federalism created a stronger national government while preserving important powers for the states

Madisonian Model: Why was it chosen?

The framers wanted an effective government but feared tyranny, so they divided power among branches, levels of government, and competing interests.

Pure Democracy

Direct democracy where citizens participate in government themselves rather than electing representatives; Madison argued it cannot control factions effectively.