AP Gov Unit 1.1-1.5

limited government

A political system governed by laws that restrict governmental power, ensuring individual rights and liberties.

natural rights - john lockes

all men are born free and equal. no murder and no authority w/o the citizens consent

popular sovereignty

power belongs to the people. we give consent to government officials to make decisions and exercise authority on our behalf.

republicanism

people elect representatives who are responsible to make and carry out laws and policies on behalf of the citizens, ensuring accountability and reflecting the will of the majority.

social contract jean jacques rousseau

1762 free individuals give up certain rights in return for a collective security within the community resulting in greater freedom for all.

declaration of independence

thomas jefferson's document declaring America free from British rule, asserting natural rights and government based on consent. foundation for popular sovereignty. obligated people to rebel against rulers who did not respect the consent of the governed.

federalists

wealthy merchants, land owners. strong national government, weaker state governments, no bill of rights. elite government.

anti-federalists

laborers, small farmers. democratic republicans. weak national government, strong state government, led by common man, and protection for individual liberties. participatory government

federalist papers fall 1787 - spring 1788

james madison, alexander hamilton, john jay. directed to the people of NY. purpose is to encourage ratification of constitution

fed 10

wants the “father of the constitution” to encourage the ratification of this document. claimed that the constiution was designed as a representative republic to control the effects of violence of factions. minority faction cannot get control of a republican government while majority faction will be controlled by representative government.

brutus 1

anti feds were concerned about the limited powers of the states (the people) under a large republic. participatory democracy. claimed the confederate system has been dismantled by the constitution and a federal system has replaced it, leaving states powerless, country is too large to be united under a republic, and people will never trust a republic government so large.

participatory democracy

direct democracy, people vote on laws directly, and it has broard participation in politics and civil society.

pluralist democracy

working as a group to a common goal, interest groups influence policy making

elite democracy

elected representatives act as trustees for the voters, emphasizes limited participation, and power concentrated with few and often wealthy people

articles of confederation

legislative branch, one house (congress), each state had one vote in congress, regardless of population. no power to tax people directly, no power to create/maintain an army, no national court, no power to regulate commerce, no president, no powers

shays rebellion

poor farmers had lost their farms. as a result, a more effective government was needed to protect them. this proved the articles of covederation were weak

virgina plan

representation based on population of state, 3 branches of government, 2 house legislature, supreme national government, separation of powers

new jersey plan

equal representation in legislature for every state, limited and expressed powers of national legislature, sovereignty of states

connecticut compromise

bicameral legislature, house of representatives based on population w/ a min of 1 per state, senate has equal representation of all states (2 senators per state)

electoral college

body to choose the president, number of electors is equal to total number of congressmen, each state may decide how to choose their delegates who are sent to the electoral college

3/5 compromise

only 3 out of 5 slaves would be counted, congress could not interfere with the slave trade until 1808the

the constitution

blueprint for american democracy, under leadership of george washington, grand committee ( 1 delegate from each state)

article 1

legislative (congress) makes laws

article 2

executive (president) carries out laws

article 3

judicial (supreme court) interprets laws

article 4

relations among states.

article 5

amending process. 2 proposals and 2 ratification methods.

article 6

supremacy

article 7

ratification 9 - 17, 1787. the constitution would need to be ratified by 9 out of 13 staes in order to be sufficient for establishment.

USA Patriot Act

created post 9/11, purpose was to deter and punish terrorist acts in the US and around the world and to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools. created a breach of privacy in exchange for security