AP Gov vocab #1

Direct Democracy

-Ruled by the ppl/citizens create & vote laws(ancient rome)
-Problems: Impractical for reasons of time, expertise; Ppl making decisions based on emotions(hitler elected)

Founders distrust of D. Democracy

-Impracticalities
-Fleeting passions of the ppl: concern that they would be swayed by demagogues

Indirect(representative) democracy

-Ruled by elected
-Same as republic

Republic

-Same appointed officials dominate the govt through unelected jobs in indirect Democracy
-Solves problems of Direct democracy
-Principles for democracy to exist: 1) universal suffrage) political equality 3) majority rule 4) govt responds to public oppinion

Democratic Theories

Majoritarian Theory
Elitist theory
Marxist Theory

Majoritarian Theory

- leaders are influenced by will of ppl

Elitist theory

-minorities dominate policy making:
C. Wright Mills- influence of power elite: corporate,military, political
Max Weber- influence of bureaucracy

Marxist Theory

influence of economic elites

Bureaucratic theory

appointed officials dominate the govt through unelected jobs

Pluralist theory

-Political reasons are so scattered that no single elite has a monopoly on them
-Many Institutions where power is exercised: no single elite can control all
-Policy is the outcome of political hagglings, compromises, and shifting alliances in groups
-Pluralism argues that many groups compete with each other over policy control

Pluralism

argues that many groups compete with each other over policy control

Fundamental democratic values (SAQ question)

Popular sovereignty
Respect for the individual
Liberty
Equality

Popular sovereignty

the consent of the gov to govern and the gov right to govern by the people; the gov is free from outside interference(from other countries)

Respect for the individual

-respecting natural rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happ.
-State serves individual, not vice versa: the govt does stuff for the good of the people

Liberty

freedom from gov't interference( freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly, Petition)

Equality

everyone has a fair chance/ fair opportunity

Fundamental democratic processes

-Free and fair elections
-Majority rule with minority rights: fear of "tyranny of the majority" led to protection of property rights
-Freedom of expression
-Right To assemble and protest
-Basic protestant work ethic: community effort/moving forward as a group notas an individual; work hard, take care of family, vote

Fundamental democratic structures of the US constitution

-Popular sovereignty
-Separations of powers
-Checks and balances
-Limited gov: govt is only as powerful as it needs to be
-Federalism

Sources Of the constitution

-British customs and traditions: magna carta, english bill of rights
-European philosophers: locke, hobbes, montesquieu, rousseau
-Colonial experiences: power of elected assembly
-State constitutions written after the DOI: massachusetts constitution

Constitutional convention

1787

Saq: what were the tenants of the articles of confed.?

AOC did not give any power to chief executive or gave legislative to tax, no national currency or judiciary

List and explain the weaknesses of AOC (SAQ question)

-Gov't has no control
-Unicameral congress(1 house w/ 1 vote per state)
-Supermajority(9/13) to pass laws and (13/13) to amend
-No executive(pres.), no central authority
-No federal judiciary( supreme court),no central law
-No control of taxation, commerce between states
1785= Jon Hancock as pres. (never showed up bc the position had no real power)

Constitutional Convention

May 25th- sept 17th, 1787
Philadelphia, pa
Pres.: G. washington
Goal: revise the AOC
55 delegates attended(no rhode island)
33 lawyer
age: 26-81
No t.j. or patrick henry
Secret meetings
No press coverage

Hyperpluralist theory

Groups wield so much power that government is ineffective/weak

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Separations of Powers

The division of the federal government into three branches each with its own powers

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

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens (govt is only as powerful as it needs to be)

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Magna Carta

(1215) a charter of liberties (freedoms) that King John "Lackland" of Englad was forced to sign; it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom

English Bill of Rights

document that gave England a government based on a system of laws and a freely elected parliament

Shays' Rebellion

1786= uprising in western mass. And showed need of stronger gov and weak AOC

Confederate System

A system of government with a very weak central government and strong states.

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)

New Jersey Plan

william paterson: equal representatives for all states and supported by small states

Virginia Plan

james madison: representatives based on population and supported by larger states

unicameral legislature

One-house legislature

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Great Compromise

(N+V)"Connecticut compromise"- roger sherman: upper house→senate 2 votes per state

Amendment

A change to the Constitution

Bill of attainder

legislation imposing the death penalty without a judicial trial

dissolution

the closing down or dismissal of an assembly, partnership, or official body.

legitimacy

lawfulness by virtue of being authorized or in accordance with law

Natural Rights

the rights given to all humans

Universal suffrage

the right to vote to all adult citizens

coalition

group formed when factions, states, political parties, militaries, or other parties agree to work together to achieve a common goal.

Anti-Federalism

people who opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution.

Ex post facto law

law that changes the consequences of actions that were committed before the law exsisted