AP Gov - Unit 1 Vocab Flashcards

Government

The formal vehicle through which policies are made and affairs of state are conducted

Democracy

A system of government that gives power to the people, directly or with elected representatives

Republic

A government rooted in the consent of the governed, a representative/indirect democracy

Politics

The study of who gets what, when, and how/how policy decisions are made

Anti-Federalists

People who favored strong state government and weak national government, opposed the ratification of the Constitution

Article I

Puts all legislative power in the Congress, establishes bicameral legislature. Sets out qualifications for holding office, terms of office, methods of selecting representatives/senators, and the system of appointment to determine membership in the House

Article II

Places all executive power, authority to execute laws over nation with the President. Sets President's term, explains the Electoral College, and describes qualifications/how to replace President

Article III

Establishes Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction

Article IV

Requires states honor laws/judicial proceedings of other states and steps for how to admit new states into the Union

Article V

Specifies how amendments can be added to the Constitution

Article VI

Contains supremacy clause, Constitution and federal laws over state constitutions/laws

Articles of Confederation

Compact between the 13 colonies that created a loose league of friendship. National government drew power from the states

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments of the constitution, mostly guarantees specific rights and liberties

Checks and Balances

Constitutionally mandated structure that gives each of the 3 branches a degree of oversight/control over the actions of the others

Constitution

A document establishing the structure, functions, and limitations of a government

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 intended to revise the Articles of Confederation but produces the Constitution instead

Critical Period

Period from 1781-1789 after the Revolution where colonies were governed by the Articles of Confederation

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, proclaimed the right of the colonies to separate from Great Britain

Enumerated Powers

Powers of the national government granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 in the Constitution

Federalism

The distribution of constitutional authority between state governments and the national government with different powers/functions exercised by both

Federalists

People who favored a stronger national government and supported the proposed Constitution, later became the first U.S. political party

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Section of Article IV that ensures judicial decrees/contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state

Great Compromise

The final decision of the Constitutional Convention to create a two-house legislature, lower house elected by people and power divided between the two

Implied Powers

The powers of the national government derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause

Inherent Powers

Powers that belong to the president because they can be inferred from the Constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause

Paragraph in Article I, Section 8, gives Congress the authority to pass all "necessary and proper" laws to carry out enumerated powers specified in the Constitution

New Jersey Plan

Proposed framework for the Constitution, called for one-house legislature with one vote for each state. The Congress would have the ability to raise revenue. Supreme Court would be appointed for life.

Political Culture

Commonly shared attitudes, behaviors, and core values about how the government should operate

Separation of Powers

A way of dividing the power of government among legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each staffed separately with equality and independence of each branch ensured by the Constitution

Shays's Rebellion

A rebellion in which an army of 1,500 angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Massachusetts and forcibly restrained the state court from foreclosing mortgages on their farms

Supremacy Clause

Part of Article VI mandating the national law is supreme to state laws and constitutions

3/5 Compromise

Agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention allowing 3/5 of the total slave population in each state determine the amount of representation in the House

Virginia Plan

Proposed framework for the Constitution favoring large states, bicameral legislature would appoint executive and judicial officers

Federal System

A system of government in which the national and state governments share power and derive authority from the people

10th Amendment

Defines American federalism, powers not given to the national government are reserved to the states/people

Reserved Powers

Powers reserving to the states by the 10th Amendment that lie at the foundation of a state's right to legislate for public health/welfare of its citizens

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by national and state governments

Bill of Attainder

Law declaring an act illegal without a judicial trial

Ex Post Facto Law

Law that makes an act punishable as a crime, even if it the action was legal when it was committed

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Section of Article IV guaranteeing citizens of every state are afforded the same rights

Extradition Clause

Section of Article IV that requires states to return criminals to the state they're convicted in or will stand trial in

Interstate Compacts

Contracts between states that carry the force of law, generally now used to address multistate policy concerns

McCulloch v Maryland

Using the Constitution's supremacy clause, the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank. The Court's interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for future rulings upholding federal powers

Gibbons v Ogden

The Supreme Court upheld broad congressional power to regulate interstate commerce, the Court's broad interpretation of the Constitution commerce clause paved the way for future rulings upholding federal powers

Barron v Baltimore

A Supreme Court ruling that limited the applicability of the Bill of Rights to the federal government before the Civil War

Dual Federalism

The belief that having separate and equally powerful levels of government is the best arrangement (layer cake federalism)

Nullification

The belief in the right of a state to declare a federal law void

Dred Scott v Sandford

Supreme Court decision that ruled the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional and denied citizenship to enslaved African Americans. Dred Scott heightened tensions between North and South

Cooperative Federalism

Intertwined relationship between national, state, and local governments that began with the New Deal (marble cake federalism)

Progressive Federalism

Views relations between national and state governments as coercive and cooperative

Categorical Grants

Grants that give federal funds to states for a specific purpose

New Federalism

Proposed by Reagan, returns administrative powers to state governments

Block Grant

Large grant given to states by federal government with general spending guidelines

Programmatic Requests

Federal funds designated for special projects within a state/congressional district (also called earmarks)