AP GOV Unit One Vocab - Chapters 1-4

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, protecting individual freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.

Direct (or Participatory) Democracy

 A form of democracy where citizens directly participate in decision-making rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy in which a small group of wealthy or educated individuals influence political decision-making.

Limited Government

 A principle that government power is restricted by law, often through a constitution, to protect individual rights.

Natural Rights

Fundamental freedoms inherent to all people, such as life, liberty, and property, which governments are meant to protect.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy where multiple groups compete for power and influence, ensuring no single group dominates governance.

Politics

The process by which individuals and groups influence government policies and decisions.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that government authority comes from the people, who have the power to elect leaders and shape laws.

Representative Democracy

A system of government where citizens elect officials to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

Social Contract

A philosophical idea that people consent to be governed in exchange for protection of their natural rights.

Unalienable Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away or denied, often referring to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Amendment

A formal change or addition to the Constitution, requiring approval by Congress and the states.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the U.S. Constitution during ratification, fearing a strong central government and advocating for states' rights and individual liberties.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the U.S. (1781–1789), which created a weak national government with limited powers, later replaced by the Constitution.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

 An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that allowed the continuation of the slave trade until 1808, after which Congress could ban it.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where delegates created the U.S. Constitution, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

Electoral College

The system established by the Constitution for electing the president, where each state’s electors vote based on the popular vote in that state.

Faction

A group of individuals, such as a political party or interest group, united by common interests that may be contrary to the interests of the larger society (discussed in Federalist No. 10).

Federalists

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution who favored a strong central government and argued that checks and balances would prevent tyranny.

Great Compromise

 An agreement at the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature, combining elements of the Virginia Plan (representation based on population) and the New Jersey Plan (equal representation for states).

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention favoring small states, advocating for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

Ratification

The formal approval process of the U.S. Constitution or amendments, requiring approval by states.

Republic

 A form of government where the people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, rather than direct rule by the people.

Shays’ Rebellion

A 1786–1787 uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic hardship and debt, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and leading to calls for a stronger federal government.

Taxation Power

The authority of a government to collect taxes from citizens to fund public services; under the Constitution, Congress has the power to levy taxes, unlike under the Articles of Confederation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise at the Constitutional Convention that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for determining representation and taxation in Congress.

Virginia Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention favoring large states, calling for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

Appointment

The process by which the president selects individuals for government positions, such as judges or cabinet members, often requiring Senate approval.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Confirmation of Nominees

The Senate’s process of approving or rejecting presidential appointments to executive and judicial positions.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body charges a government official with misconduct; in the U.S., the House of Representatives can impeach, and the Senate holds the trial.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine whether laws or executive actions are constitutional, established by Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Ratification of Treaties

The process by which the Senate approves international agreements negotiated by the president, requiring a two-thirds majority.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent concentration of power.

Veto

The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses.

Categorical Grants

 Federal funds given to states for a specific purpose, often with strict conditions on how the money must be spent.

Commerce Clause

 A clause in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate trade between states, with foreign nations, and with Native American tribes.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as taxing, borrowing money, and enforcing laws.

Conditions of Aid

Requirements set by the federal government that states must meet in order to receive certain federal funds.

Confederal System

A system of government where power is held primarily by independent states, with a weak central government (e.g., under the Articles of Confederation).

Cooperative Federalism

A system in which national, state, and local governments work together to solve policy issues, often sharing responsibilities and resources (also known as "marble cake" federalism).

Devolution

The process of transferring power from the federal government to state and local governments, often to increase state autonomy.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to the federal government by the Constitution, primarily listed in Article I, Section 8.

Federalism

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

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause, allowing Congress to carry out its enumerated powers.

Mandates

Federal requirements that states or local governments must follow, sometimes without receiving funding (unfunded mandates).

Reserved Powers

 Powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution and therefore reserved for the states (10th Amendment).

Revenue Sharing

The distribution of federal tax revenues to state and local governments with minimal restrictions on how the money is spent.