AP Gov Unit 1 Test Review

Checks and balances

Each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches

Inalienable Rights

rights that cannot be taken away; such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Limited Government

Government power is restricted by laws and the constitution

Natural Rights

Basic rights people are born with, such as life, liberty, and property

Popular Sovereignty

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

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws

seperation of powers

dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Social Contract

A voluntary agreement where people give up some freedom in exchange for government protection and order

State of nature

a condition in which no governments or laws existed at all and people have complete freedom but little protection

Elite Democracy

A political system where a small group of wealthy, powerful, or influential people have most of the political power

Hyper pluralism

when too many interest groups have so much influence that governments struggles to make decisions

Participatory Democracy

a system of democracy in which all members of a group or community participate collectively in making major decisions

Pluralist Democracy

citizen membership in groups is the key to political power (many different groups compete to influence government)

pluralist theory

the idea that political power is spread among many competing interest groups.

delegations of authority

when power is given from one person or level of government to another

federalism as distributions of power

power is divided between the national government and state governments

mischiefs of factions

problems caused when groups pursue their own interest of the common good

delegated powers

Powers specifically given to the federal (national) government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

intra-stare powers

powers involving activities that happen within one state

shays rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers; showed weakness in the AoC

Articles of Confederation

America's first national government; it gave most power to the states and made the national government very weakAmendment process

Connecticut (great) compromise

created a bicameral congress: house based on population, senate has equal representation

electoral college

the system used to elect the president through electors from each state

importation of slaves compromise

Congress could not prohibit the slave trade until 1808, but imported slaves could be taxed.

nationalists vs. localists

nationalists wanted a stronger national government. localists wanted more power for the states

New Jersey (paterson) plan

proposed equal representation for every state in congress

Philadelphia convention

1787 meeting where delegates created the u.s. constitution

3/5ths compromise

allowed slaves to be counted as 3/5ths of a person towards representation and taxation

virginia (madison) plan

proposed representation based on state population, favoring larger states

executive powers

powers given to the president to enforce laws and run the executive branch

judicial powers

powers of the courts to interpret laws and decide whether laws/actions are constitutional

legislative powers

powers of congress to make laws, tax, spend money, and oversee the government

majority power

the ability of the majority to make decisions through voting

minority protections

constitutional protections that prevent the majority from taking away the rights of minorities

concurrent powers

powers shared by the federal and state governments, such as taxing and making laws

impeachment and removal

impeachment is charging a federal official with wrongdoing; removal happens if the senate convicts them

bills of attainder

laws that punish a person or group without a trial; they are unconstitutional

commerce clause

gives congress the power to regulate interstate commerce (business between states)

block grants

federal money given to the states for a general purpose, giving states flexibility in how to spend it

categorical grants

federal money given to the states for a specific purpose wit rules on how it must be spentdelegated powers

denied powers

powers the Constitution denies to the national government

devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

dual federalism

federal and state governments have separate areas of power

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution. (for the federal government)

ex post facto

a law that punishes someone for an action that was legal when they did it

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

extradition

returning a person accused of a crime to the state where the crime was committed

fiscal federalism

Federal government using money (grants) to influence & control states.

formula grants

Federal categorical grants (money) given to states based on a specific formula, such as population

full faith and credit

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

horizontal federalism

relationships between state governments

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution but considered necessary to carry out expressed powers

incorporated powers (via courts)

applying bill of rights protections to the states through Supreme Court decisions

layer-cake federalism

another name for dual federalism- federal and state powers are clearly separated

mandates: funded

federal government requires states to do something AND provides money to pay for it

mandates: unfunded

federal governments requires states to do something WITHOUT providing money to pay for it

marble-cake federalism

federal and state governments share and mix responsibilities

necessary and proper/elastic clause

allows congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers

privileges and immunities

states cannot unfairly discriminate against citizens from other statesPublic policy expectations

reserved powers

powers kept by the states, not given to the federal government

revenue-sharing

when the federal government gives money to state/local governments to spend

supremacy clause

says that federal law is higher than state law when the two conflict

vertical federalism

the division of power between federal, state, and local governments

writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.

access points

places where citizens can influence or interact with government, such as elections, courts, or political parties

grassroots

people at the local level; average voters, not professional politicians

gridlock

when the government cannot agree or get things done because of political conflict

linkage institutions

organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media