ACP Government - Unit 1.1 Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Unit 1.1 study guide to aid in studying for the ACP Government exam.

Faction

A group with a shared political interest; in Madison's view, factions are inevitable and can be managed through a republican form of government.

Collective Action Problem

A situation where individuals would benefit from cooperating but fail to do so because each has an incentive to free ride; leads to under-provision of a public good.

Free Rider Problem

A form of the collective action problem where individuals benefit from a public good without contributing to its cost.

Articles of Confederation

America's first constitution (1781–1789) with a weak central government; no power to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws; no executive or national judiciary; amendments required unanimity.

Limited Government

The principle that government power is restricted by law and the Constitution.

Republicanism

A system in which citizens elect representatives to govern in the public interest.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that sovereign authority rests with the people.

Pluralism

A theory that many groups compete for influence in politics, preventing any single group from dominating.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Concurrent Powers

Powers possessed and exercised by both national and state governments, such as taxation and law enforcement.

Cooperative Federalism

A model of intergovernmental relations where national and state governments work together on policy, often through grants and shared programs.

Picket Fence Federalism

A model where policy areas are managed through distinct federal and state roles; different policy areas have clear boundaries across levels of government.

Fiscal Federalism

The use of money (grants, taxes) by the national government to influence state policies and programs.

Coercive Federalism

A form of federalism where the national government uses mandates and conditions on funding to influence state policies.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also called the Elastic Clause; grants Congress the power to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land; they override conflicting state laws.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states and with foreign nations.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 Supreme Court decision establishing judicial review, the power to strike down laws or actions that violate the Constitution.

Public Goods

Goods that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous; the government often provides them (e.g., national defense, highways).

Identity Politics

Political positions shaped by membership in social groups (race, ethnicity, gender, etc.), influencing voting and policy preferences.

Plural Executive

An arrangement in which multiple executives share power or the executive power is distributed to prevent concentration of authority.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution (e.g., declaring war, coining money, regulating interstate commerce).

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Living Constitution

The view that the Constitution's meaning can evolve over time through interpretation and application to new circumstances.

Tenth Amendment

Amendment reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch can limit the powers of the other branches to prevent tyranny.

Separation of Powers

Division of government powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent the concentration of power.

Anti-Federalists

A group opposed to a strong central government who favored stronger states' rights and feared consolidation of power.