AP Gov Ch 1 + 3 American Government and Federalism

Power

the ability to cause another to act in accordance w/ one’s intentions

Authority

right to use power. Formally, the power of the government office.

Antifederalists

against ratification of Constitution, believe Articles of Confederation should be kept.

Articles of Confederation

Founding document with weak national government. Major faults: Didn’t allow national government to tax, required approval of all states to amend.

Bicameral legislature

Two houses of congress as designated by the Great Compromise

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that declares a specific person or group guilty of a crime and imposes punishment, bypassing the judicial process and due process. Prohibited by constitution.

Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments to constitution. Added after Antifederalists demanded more protections for states and individuals.

Block Grants

fixed-amount, flexible federal grants-in-aid given to state and local governments to fund broad, functional areas—such as health, housing, or social services—with few "strings" attached

Brutus I

Anti-Federalist paper from 1787 arguing against ratifying the U.S. Constitution, warning that a large republic creates a government too powerful for citizens to control, leading to tyranny and loss of liberty

Bureaucratic theory

the hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of modern governments allow bureaucrats, who carry out the day-to-day workings of government, hold the real power over public policy (Max Weber)

Categorical grants

federal funds given to state/local governments for specific, narrowly defined purposes (like highway construction or education programs) with strict rules on spending.

checks and balances

The ability of each branch of US government to respond to the actions of the other branches.

Client Politics

Legislative action with distributed costs and concentrated benefits. Ex. Decreased regulations on tobacco industry.

Commerce clause

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among states, and with Indian tribes

Concurrent powers

governmental authorities shared by both the federal and state governments

conditions of aid

the rules, requirements, or "strings attached" that a granting body (like a federal or international agency) imposes on a recipient (like a state or organization) to receive funding

Confederation

a union of independent, sovereign states or entities that form a central authority for specific common goals, like defense or trade, while retaining ultimate power and autonomy

Constitutional Convention

Meeting of delegates from all states except Rhode Island to draft new US Constitution.

Constitutional Reform

The difficult process of amending the constitution

Cooperative federalism

a system where federal and state governments share power and work together to implement policies, think “marble cake“

Creative federalism

a period (late 1950s-1960s) emphasizing cooperation between federal, state, and local governments to solve problems, especially poverty, through joint programs, new grant systems, and increased local involvement

Creedal Passion view

Morally impassioned elite drive important political changes

Democracy

system where power rests with the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives

Devolution

the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government.

Direct democracy

system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies, bypassing elected representatives

Dual federalism

a system where federal and state governments have distinct, separate, and sovereign powers. Think layer cake.

Due Process Clause

concept found in the 5th (and 14th) Amendment to the US Constitution, which says no one shall be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law" by the federal government.

Elbridge Gerry’s letter

Antifederalist document outlining reasons why he is not signing constitution unless it has bill of rights.

Elite theory

A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization. (C. Wright Mills)

Eminent Domain

the government's power to take private property for public use, requiring "just compensation" for the owner, as protected by the Fifth Amendment.

Entitlement grants

mandatory, formula-based funding provided by the government to eligible beneficiaries (individuals, cities, or counties) who meet specific legal criteria, such as age, income, or location.

Entrepreneurial Politics

policy with concentrated costs and distributed benefits, ex. anti-pollution legislation

Enumerated Powers

the specific, explicit powers granted to the U.S. federal government in Article I, Section 8, including taxing, coining money, declaring war, and regulating commerce.

Ex Post Facto Law

a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of actions committed before the law was enacted. Prohibited by Constitution.

Factions

a group of citizens, majority or minority, united by a common passion or interest that conflicts with the rights of others or the public good (according to Madison)

Federalism

the constitutional division and sharing of power between a central national government and regional state governments

Federalist 10

Jame’s Madison’s document arguing a large republic controls factions (self-interested groups) better than small ones, by diluting power through diverse interests and representation, preventing majority tyranny and promoting stability.

Federalist 51

Document written by James Madison explaining the U.S. Constitution's system of checks and balances and separation of powers.

Federalists

Those in favor of ratifying the constitution. Prefer strong central gov.

Full faith and credit clause

(Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution) requires states to honor the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of other states,

Grants-in-aid

funds transferred from a central government (federal) to lower-level governments (state/local), organizations, or individuals to support specific public projects, policies, or research.

Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

established a bicameral legislature (two houses) to resolve conflicts between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention.
House = proportional representation
Senate = equal representation

Hyperpluralist theory

when too many powerful interest groups compete for influence, the government becomes overwhelmed, leading to policy gridlock, inefficiency, and an inability to govern effectively

Inherent Powers

authorities not explicitly listed in a constitution but stem from the very existence and sovereignty of the government, allowing flexibility for unforeseen situations. (ex. a president giving executive orders)

Interest group politics

Concentrated costs, concentrated benefits. (ex. mandated notice before layoffs)

Implied powers

governmental authorities not explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution but inferred as necessary to carry out expressed, or enumerated, powers, primarily derived from the "Necessary and Proper Clause" (Elastic Clause).

Initiative

a political process that allows citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments through gathering signatures on a petition.

Interstate

activities across state lines, falling under federal jurisdiction.

Intrastate

activities occur entirely within one state, governed by state laws

Judicial review

the power of courts, especially the U.S. Supreme Court, to examine actions by the legislative and executive branches and invalidate them if they conflict with the Constitution or higher law, serving as a fundamental check and balance in government.

legitimacy

the popular acceptance of a government’s, institution's, or leader's authority to rule and make binding decisions

liberty

the protection of individual rights from arbitrary government interference, primarily secured by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who believed:

• Humans are naturally peaceful.

• gov power comes from the consent of the governed, people can overthrow it

• limited gov based on separation of powers

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment philosopher who believed:

• Humans are naturally selfish

• People surrender all rights to an absolute sovereign for security and order

• the sovereign's power must be unlimited to prevent chaos.

Log-rolling

a legislative practice where members of Congress trade votes, agreeing to support each other's preferred bills or amendments to ensure passage. It is used to secure votes for localized projects (pork barrel spending) or in complex, omnibus legislation

Majoritarian/Participatory Politics

a policy-making process where the will of the majority prevails, resulting in policies that provide widely distributed benefits and costs, such as national defense or Social Security

Majority rule

principle that decisions are made by the will of more than half the voters, a core of democracy

Mandates

an order or requirement, often from the federal government to states/localities (like unfunded mandates requiring action without funds) or a political party/official claiming authority from voters to enact policies (mandate theory of elections).

Montesquieu

Enlightenment philosopher who advocated for the separation of powers—dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches—to prevent tyranny and protect liberty. His ideas directly shaped the U.S. system of checks and balances

“Necessary and Proper”/Elastic Clause

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the U.S. Constitution, enabling implied powers that allow the federal government to adapt and address issues not specifically enumerated, like establishing a national bank or regulating modern industries, significantly expanding federal authority.

New federalism

political philosophy and policy approach, championed by Presidents Nixon and Reagan, that aims to devolve (return) power, responsibilities, and decision-making authority from the federal government back to state and local governments

New Jersey plan

a proposal for a stronger federal government but with equal representation for all states, favoring smaller states by keeping a unicameral legislature where each state had one vote

Nullification

the controversial theory that states have the power to invalidate federal laws or Supreme Court decisions they deem unconstitutional

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. No one person becomes too powerful. (Robert Dahl)

Policy entrepreneurs

energetic individuals—activists, lobbyists, or politicians—who invest their political capital (time, energy, reputation) to bring attention to issues and push for specific policy changes.

Political agenda

the set of issues, problems, and subjects that government officials and decision-makers deem important to address at a given time. It is shaped by linkage institutions (media, interest groups, parties), influenced by public opinion, and determined by leaders like the President and Congressional majority.

Popular sovereignty

the core principle that a government's power comes from the people (the "consent of the governed")

Pork-barrel legislation

laws providing federal funds for local projects (like roads, dams, or bases) in a specific district or state, designed to win votes and political favor from constituents, often by adding these "earmarks" to larger bills, even if the projects aren't nationally essential.

Preamble/General Welfare Clause

(Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) grants Congress the power to tax and spend for the general welfare of the U.S.. It is not a direct regulatory power but a foundation for federal spending on programs benefiting the nation, often used to influence state policies via conditional grants

Ratification

the formal process of approving a proposed law, treaty, or constitutional amendment, making it officially enacted and legally binding, often requiring specific supermajorities (like 3/4 of states for amendments) or legislative votes

Recall

direct democracy tool allowing voters to remove an elected official from office before their term ends, initiated by a petition with enough signatures, triggering a special election where voters decide whether to remove the official or keep them in office

Referendum

direct democracy tool where citizens vote to approve or reject a specific law, constitutional amendment, or policy already passed by a legislature

Republic

A form of government in which power resides in elected individuals representing the citizen body and governed according to law.

Reserved Powers

authority not given to the federal government or denied to states, belonging to the states or the people, as outlined in the Tenth Amendment (ex. education)

Revenue sharing

the federal government giving a portion of its tax revenue (like income taxes) directly to state and local governments, often with few restrictions.

Separation of Powers

the principle of dividing governmental authority into three distinct branches

Shays’ Rebellion

an armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers, which exposed the severe weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (like the inability to raise an army or enforce laws)

Sovereignty

the supreme, independent authority a state or government holds to govern itself, its people, and its territory without external interference,

Supremacy Clause

(Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution) establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land,"

Tenth Amendment

Amendment that defines federalism by reserving powers not given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, to the states or the people

Three-Fifths Compromise

a 1787 Constitutional Convention agreement counting three out of every five enslaved people for both state representation in the House of Representatives and direct taxation.

Trunk Decisions

the core, foundational problem or key issue being studied within a political context, often used in analyses of federalism or policy-making.

Unalienable Rights

fundamental, natural rights inherent to all humans by birth, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which governments cannot legitimately take away or transfer, forming the basis for challenging unjust laws and government actions.

Universal suffrage

the principle that all adult citizens have the right to vote, regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic status, or any other criteria.

Unitary System

a government where the central, national government holds supreme authority, concentrating most or all power, and any regional or local governments only exercise powers delegated to them by that central body

Virginia Plan

James Madison's proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a strong national government with three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and a bicameral legislature where representation in both houses was based on state population, favoring large states and forming the basis for the Constitution.

Waiver

A decision by an administrative agency granting some other part permission to violate a law or rule that would otherwise apply to it.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

a court order demanding that a person holding someone in custody (like a jailer) must bring that person before a judge to justify their imprisonment, ensuring detention isn't unlawful and protecting against arbitrary government action, serving as a fundamental due process safeguard

Intergovernmental Lobby

when state and local governments (like cities, counties, and states) use organizations (e.g., National Governors Association) to lobby the federal government for more funds, fewer federal strings (mandates), or favorable policies, essentially one level of government influencing another, often driven by federal grants-in-aid.

Impeachment

House of Representatives' formal accusation (like an indictment) of a President, VP, or civil officer for treason, bribery, or "high Crimes and Misdemeanors," not necessarily a crime, but serious misconduct, followed by a Senate trial and potential removal from office, requiring a two-thirds vote for conviction.

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

a federal-state public assistance program (1935–1996) providing cash welfare to low-income families with children

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

a 1996 federal block grant program providing cash assistance and work support to low-income families with children, replacing AFDC