Ap Government Unit 1

Elite-Class Theory

A belief that certain groups hold disproportionate power in a political system

Pluralist Theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. Because many groups compete, there is not an elite group that dominates. Compromise is common.

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) Each state retained sovereignty, the ability to act independently of the Confederation. Each state had equal representation in a unicameral (single house) legislature.

Shays' rebellion

Rebellion led by farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Separation of powers

A way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch to prevent tyranny.

Popular sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses with separate rules

Federalists

Those who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments. Supported the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalist

Those who favored strong state governments and a weaker national government. Advocated for a bill of rights to formally address individual and state rights. Concerned about the concentration of power in a central government under the Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which power and responsibilty is divided between the federal and state governments

Supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
(ex. McCulloch v. Maryland)

Virginia Plan

Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.

Connecticut or Great Compromise

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Republican Democracy

Format chosen by Founding Fathers. People vote for representatives who then make laws. People do not vote directly on legislation.

Three fifths clause

slave counted as 3/5 of a person for population counts to determine how many representatives.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Bill of Rights

A formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution as Amendments 1-10. Satisfied Anti-federalist concerns.

Tyranny of the majority

Madison was most concerned with this aspect of the new government

hyperpluralism

A state in which many groups or factions are so strong that a government is unable to function

Federalist Paper #10

Written by James Madison to convince people to support the ratification of the Constitution. Argued that factions were inevitable but were best controlled by a large republic that employed a Federalist structure. Argued that competition among factions would limit their negative impacts.

Brutus 1 - Anti-federalists

Before the constitution was ratified; too much power in national government; won't be able to survive bc it's too big

Federalist #51 (1788)

An essay from the Federalist Papers that was written by James Madison. The essay explains the virtues of separation of powers and checks and balances in the proposed new Constitution.