AP Gov Definitions Unit 1

Articles of confederation

Weak union of sovereign states; States supreme, not national gov’t

Unicameral legislation

Each state has 7 delegates and 1 vote

Annopolis convention

Address trade / navigation disputes between states

Shay’s rebellion

Veterans uprising against Massachusetts gov’t b/c of debt crisis

Riot Act (Shays rebellion)

Officials killing the rioters wouldn’t face prosecution

Federalism

Shared power between state and gov’t

Constitutional convention

Meeting to fix articles of convention

Great compromise

Made gov’t bicameral - House (Population) and State (2 votes)

Habeas corpus

People have right to know their charges

Bills of attainer

When legislature declares someone guilty w/ out trial

Ex post facto laws

(Not allowed) Punishing people for acts that weren’t deemed crimes when they were committed

Virginia Plan

3-branch gov’t w/ bicameral state legislature (2 houses)

New Jersey plan

Legislature where each state delegation got 1 vote

3/5th Compromise

1 slave = 3/5th a person

Compromise on importation

Congress can’t restrict slave trade until 1808

Checks and balances

Each branch has powers to keep each other in check

Legislative branch

Make laws

Executive Branch

Execute laws

Necessary and proper / Elastic clause

Certain things necessary and proper for gov’t to carry out larger responsibilities

Implied powers

Gov’ts powers not explicitly stated, but implied

Judicial branch

Hearing cases through federal courts

Supremacy clause

Declares that all national laws are supreme law of the land

Judicial review

Supreme court’s power to overturn unconstitutional laws

Amendment

Process of changing constitution

Federalists

Approve constitution ; want strong national gov

Anti-federalists

Disapprove constitution ; want strong state gov

Federalist papers

85 essays laying the theory behind constitution

Federalist no. 51

Separation of powers ; Checks and balances

Federalist no. 10

(Federalist) Argues that a faction take over can be avoided w/ large republic and republican gov’t

Faction

Group of self-interested people

Democracy

Governed by the people

Article 1

About Legislative branch

Article 2

About Executive branch

Article 3

About Judicial branch

Article 5

About Amendment process: 1 - Pass senate and HOR by 2/3 ; 2 - Pass states by 3/4

Unitary systems

1 central gov’t control over states

Confederal systems

States have more power over gov’t

Federal systems

Commerce clause

Congress has authority to regulate commerce/trade

Necessary and proper clause

Certain things necessary and proper for gov’t to carry out its responsibilities

Supremacy clause

Gov’t laws and authority is highest in land

10th amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to national gov’t to states

Reserved powers

Powers not given to national gov’t

Concurrent powers

Powers divided between national and state authority

Full faith and credit clause

States have to recognize public acts, records, civil court proceedings from another state

Extradition

States must return criminals who committed crimes in a different state

Mculloh v. maryland

(Major federalism case: Necessary and proper clause) Congress put a national bank in Maryland. Maryland taxed the bank. McCulloch didn’t wanna pay taxes.

Gibbons v. Ogden

(Commerce clause) Ogden was granted a monopoly by NY to protect trade routes but Gibbons was granted federal license to use those routes.

13th Amendment

Outlaw slavery

14th Amendment

People born in US are citizens

15th Amendment

African Americans can vote

Plessy v Ferguson

Ruled Separate but equal and that segregation didn’t violate 14th Amendment

Selective incorporation

Supreme court applies Bill of Rights to states on a case-by-case basis

Grants-in-aid

Federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives

Fiscal Federalism

Use of grants-in-aid to influence policies

Categorical grants

Grants-in-aid provided to states w/ conditions

Unfunded mandate

Federal requirements that states must follow w/ out provided funding

Block grant

Type of grant-in-aid giving state officials more authority in disbursement of federal funds

Revenue sharing

Red. gov’t apportions tax money to states w/ nos things attached

Devolution

Returning more authority to state/local gov’t

Natural Rights

People are born w/ unalienable rights given by a creator (Bill of Rights)

Popular Sovereignty

People give power to government

Social contract

People an overthrow gov’t if needs are unmet

Republicanism

People elect representatives to make laws in people’s interest

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society - Ex: Everyone votes individually

Elitist Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation by few educated people on behalf of the people - Ex: Electoral college

Pluralist Democracy

Non-gov’t interest groups working to impact politics - Ex: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People