AP Gov Unit 1 Terms

block grant

money given by the federal government to states for broad purposes, with few restrictions. (ex. community development or education)

categorical grant

federal funds given to states for a specific purpose, often with strings attached (ex. funds for building highways that require seat belt laws)

checks and balances

system where each branch of government can limit the power of the other two (ex. presidential veto, congress overriding a veto, supreme court declaring a law unconstitutional)

concurrent powers

powers shared by both the federal and state governments (ex. taxation, building roads)

cooperative federalism

federal and state governments work together to solve problems; often called “marble cake” federalism (ex. joint programs like medicaid)

devolution

the transfer of power from the federal government to the states (ex. welfare reform in the 1990s gave more control to states)

direct democracy

a system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies (ex. state referendums or ballot initiatives)

dual federalism

a system where federal and state governments operate independently in their own areas of responsibility; “layer cake”

elitism

theory that a small group of wealthy or powerful individuals influence government more than the general population

enumerated powers (article I, section 8)

powers specifically given to Congress in the constitution (ex. coining money, declaring war, regulating interstate commerce)

ex post facto law

a law that makes an act illegal after it was committed; prohibited by the constitution

federalism

a system of government where power is divided between national and state governments

federalist papers

a series of essays written to support ratification of the constitution, mainly by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

fiscal federalism

how the federal government uses money to influence state policies (grants, funding)

full faith and credit clause (article IV)

states must recognize the public acts, records, and judicial rulings of other states (ex. marriage or driver’s license is valid in all states)

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

supreme court case that expanded federal power by interpreting the commerce clause to mean Congress can regulate interstate commerce

Great Compromise

agreement at the contsitutional convention to create a bicameral legislature: house (by population) and Senate (equal per state)

implied powers

powers not directly stated in the constitution but inferred through the necessary and proper clause (ex. creating a national bank, regulating air travel)

judicial review

the power of courts to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional; established in marbury v madison (1803)

limited government

a principle that government power is restricted by the constitution and rule of law (ex. bill of rights limits government actions)

mccolloch v Maryland (1819)

supreme court case that upheld the federal government’s power to create a national bank using the necessary and proper clause, and denied the state’s power to tax it

natural rights

rights all people are born with, such as life, liberty, and property (John Locke); referenced in the declaration of independence

new jersey plan

proposal at the constitutional convention for equal representation for each state in Congress, regardless of size; favored small states

pluralism

theory that many groups compete for power in a democracy, ensuring no one group dominates

popular sovereignty

the idea that government derives its power from the people; expressed through voting and elections

privileges and immunities clause (article IV)

prevents states from discriminating against citizens from other states (ex. a state can’t deny someone from another state police protection or access to courts)

republicanism

a government in which representatives are elected by the people to make laws and govern on their behalf

reseved powers (10th amendment)

powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states (ex. education, licensing, local elections)

separation of powers

the division of government power into three branches: executive, judicial, and legislative- each with distinct powers

shay’s rebellion

uprising of massachusetts farmers protesting debt and taxes; showed the weaknesses of the articles of confederation and led to calls for a stronger national government

social contract

the idea that people give up some freedom to a government in exchange for protection of their rights

supremacy clause (article VI)

states that the constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land; federal law overrides state laws

three-fifths compromise

agreement that 3 out of every 5 enslaved people would count for representation and taxation purposes

unfunded mandate

a federal requirement that states must follow without receiving funding to do so (ex. Americans with disabilities act)

US v Lopez (1995)

Case where the supreme court limited congress’s use of the commerce clause; ruled that bringing a gun to school is not an economic activity Congress can regulate

virginia plan

proposal at the constitutional convention for representation in Congress based on population; favored big states