AP Government Unit 1 test

Articles of Confederation

The first national governing document that created a weak central government and a loose alliance of states

Confederation

A system in which states retain sovereign authority except for limited powers delegated to the national government

Republic

A form of government where the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Natural rights

Rights inherent to humans (life, liberty, property) that government cannot take away

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution protecting individual liberties

Social contract

The idea that people consent to be governed in exchange for protection of natural rights

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring independence from Britain and listing grievances against the king

Veto

The president's power to reject bills passed by Congress

Bicameral legislature

A lawmaking body with two chambers (House and Senate)

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on population in a bicameral legislature

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation for each state in a unicameral legislature

Unicameral legislature

A lawmaking body with one chamber

Great Compromise

Compromise creating a bicameral Congress: House based on population and Senate with equal representation

Three Fifths Compromise

Compromise counting 60% of enslaved persons for representation and taxation

Separation of powers

Division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Checks and balances

System where each branch can limit the others to prevent abuse of power

Federal system

System dividing power between national and state governments

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution granted to the federal government

Reserved powers

Powers not given to the federal government and therefore reserved to the states

Supremacy clause

States that the Constitution and federal law override conflicting state laws

Anti Federalists

Opponents of ratification who feared a strong national government

Federalists

Supporters of ratification who favored a stronger national government

The Federalist Papers

Essays written in support of ratifying the Constitution

Bill of attainder

A law declaring someone guilty without a trial (prohibited)

Block grant

Federal grant giving states broad spending discretion

Categorical grant

Federal grant with very specific spending rules

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments

Cooperative federalism

System where federal and state governments work together

Creeping categorization

Process where block grants gain more rules and become more like categorical grants

Devolution

Shifting power from the national government to the states

Dual federalism

System where federal and state governments remain separate ("layer cake federalism")

Elastic clause

Allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper to carry out enumerated powers

Ex post facto law

Law that punishes actions retroactively (prohibited)

Federalism

System dividing power between state and federal governments

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize public acts, records, and court decisions of other states

General revenue sharing

Federal funds given to states with few restrictions

Immigration federalism

State involvement in immigration policy

New federalism

Effort to return power to the states (Reagan/Nixon era)

Nullification

Theory that states can ignore unconstitutional federal laws

Privileges and immunities clause

Prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states

Race to the bottom

Competition between states by lowering taxes or regulations

Unfunded mandates

Federal requirements without federal funding

Unitary system

System where all power resides in the national government

Venue shopping

Strategy of seeking favorable institutions to achieve policy goals

Writ of habeas corpus

Court order requiring the government to justify a person's detention

Autocracy

Government ruled by one person with absolute power

Oligarchy

Government ruled by a small group of people

Democracy

Government where power rests with the people

Constitutional government

Government with legal limits on its power

Authoritarian government

Government not constitutionally limited but checked by other forces

Totalitarian government

Government seeking total control over public and private life

Popular sovereignty

Idea that government authority comes from the people

Limited government

System in which government power is restricted by law

Republicanism

Belief that people elect representatives to govern on their behalf

Participatory democracy

Model emphasizing broad citizen participation in politics

Pluralist democracy

Model emphasizing organized group participation in politics

Elite democracy

Model emphasizing limited participation by educated or wealthy elites

Federalist No. 10

Argues that a large republic helps control factions and prevents tyranny of the majority

Brutus No. 1

Warns that a strong national government threatens liberty and that a large republic cannot represent the people adequately

Lack of a central military

Weakness of the Articles due to no unified defense force

Lack of an executive branch

Weakness of the Articles due to no enforcement of laws

Lack of a national court system

Weakness of the Articles due to no judicial dispute resolution

Lack of power to regulate interstate commerce

Weakness of the Articles causing trade conflicts between states

Lack of power to coin money

Weakness of the Articles leading to state currencies and instability

Make a strong central government

Goal of the Constitution to fix Articles weaknesses

Prevention of excessive democracy

Goal to prevent too much direct citizen control

Representation across a large republic

Goal to balance state and population interests

Protection of individual liberties

Goal achieved through the Bill of Rights

Separation of powers and checks and balances

Goal to prevent concentration of power

Electoral College

System for indirectly electing the president

Agreement to add a Bill of Rights

Deal made to win Anti-Federalist support for ratification

Who chooses senators

State legislatures originally elected senators

Who is the president of the Senate

The Vice President

All bills for raising revenue originate in

The House of Representatives

Citizens of each state are entitled to

All privileges and immunities

No state shall be deprived of

A republican form of government

Federalists feared

Tyranny of the many over the few

Anti Federalists feared

Tyranny of the few over the many

State police power

Power to enforce criminal/health/safety laws, marriage/divorce laws, regulate livelihoods, and define property

Commerce clause

Gives Congress power to regulate interstate commerce

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers

Supremacy Clause

States that federal law is superior to state law

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to recognize records, acts, and judicial decisions of other states

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states

United States v. Lopez

Held that possessing a gun in a school zone is not economic activity and exceeds Congress's commerce power

McCulloch v. Maryland

Case establishing implied powers and that states cannot tax the national bank

McCulloch v. Maryland outcome

Upheld the Necessary and Proper Clause to justify creation of a national bank