AP Gov Unit 1

Limited Government

: a system where the government's power is restricted by law, typically through a constitution, to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals and prevent tyranny

Natural rights

People are born with certain rights that are given to them by their creator. Life, Liberty, and Property. Influenced by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

Popular sovereignty:

By nature, the power to govern is in the hands of the people. Influenced by John Jacques Russo

Social contract:

To protect their natural rights people willingly give over some of that power to a government. And if the government violates this agreement and becomes tyrannical than, its the people's duty to overthrow that government and replace it.Influenced by John Jacques Russo

Republicanism:

The consent of the governed is expressed via regular elections and appointing representatives by the electorate

Constitutional convention in 1787

Delegates meet in Philadelphia in order to draft a new constitution

The Grand Committee was tasked with forging the compromise that were required to draft a new constitution

James Madison was the main author of the new constitution. He would lay the foundation for republicanism and separation of powers

Separation of powers

the framers separated the powers of the federal government into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Each of the branches has the authority to check the power of the others so none of them can grow too powerful

Participatory Democracy:

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

Elite Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation by a few, well-educated and informed statespeople who are qualified to direct the nation through law making on behalf of the people.

Pluralist Democracy

Describes group-based activism by nongovernmental interest which work to impact political decision making

Initiative

when voters put a measure on the ballot which they want passed into law

Referendum

when people oppose a law that is passed by their legislature and when given enough support the people can call for a vote to defeat such law

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people

Civil Society Groups

independent associations outside the government's control

Representative democracy

Citizens choose leaders to represent them. This is the voluntary surrender of power from the people to an elected official.

Monarchy

One ruler with inherited power

Absolute Monarchy

One ruler who inherited the power with said complete power

consitutional monarchy

monarch inherits right to rule but is limited by laws and a law-making body elected by the people

Dictator

One ruler who has taken complete power

Totalitarian

dictator with total control

Oligarchy

a group of dictatorships

Democratic centralism

When political elites assume they grasp the needs and wants of the people

Unitary

All power located with a central/national authority

Federal

sharing of power between national and state governments

Confederal government

Subunits are superior to and control the central government

Problems with article of confederation

no national army

states can disobey national orders

no checks and balances,

no national currency

lacked unity

trade problems

Unicameral legislature

One house of Congress

limited power due to the Articles of Confederation

Didn’t have the power to declare war, make treaties, name diplomats

Shays Rebellion

an armed insurrection by indebted farmers and Revolutionary War veterans in western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787, led by Daniel Shays. The rebels protested high taxes and stringent economic conditions and raided a town arsenal and armed themselves. But the Massachusetts government, under severe debt, responded by cracking down on them with their own militia.

Constitutional convention

Aftermath: the writing of a new constitution

Purpose: revise the Articles of Confederation to address key weaknesses

Political institutions

the established organizations, rules, and practices that structure political life, making and enforcing public policy for a society

consitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law

consitution

a document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government

Articles of Confederation

a governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the national government, were supreme

The great compromise

which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Virginia Plan:

Argued that representatives ought to be apportioned by population

Bigger states would have more representatives and small states would have less

New Jersey Plan

Small states have the advantage over bigger states

Argued that representatives ought to be apportioned equally: each state gets one vote

bicameral legislature

Congress has two houses

House of Representatives

Senate

House of Representatives

Representatives would be apportioned by population

Big states have more, small states have less

Senate

Representatives would be apportioned equally with each state

No matter the size each state had two senators

Electoral College compromise

Decision to not allow people to directly vote for the president, through using electors

3/5s Compromise

Count 3/5ths of the enslaved population for purpose of representation and count 3/5ths of the enslaved population for purposes of taxation as well

Importation of enslaved people compromise

Slave trade wouldn't be touched for another 20 years after which it would be abolished

Writs of habeas corpus

the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

bills of attainder

When the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

ex post facto las

laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed

Grand Committee

a committee at the cosntitonal convention that worked out the compromise on representation

Bicameral

two house legislature

Factions

groups of people who believed their interest are more important than any other interests

Legislative:

Bicameral that makes up Congress

House of Representatives and Senate

Power to propose and make laws

Executive

President

Execute the laws or enforce the laws

Bureaucracy

Judicial

Supreme court

Interpret the constitutionality of the laws

Checks and Balances

Each branch has the power to check the other two branches if necessary

Stake holders effect on government

Anyone with a vested interest in the outcome of policymaking. In the U.S the people are the stakeholders

Federalism

Described the sharing of power between national government and state government

Exclusive powers

Powers delegated by the constitution to the federal government alone

Reserved powers

The powers kept by the states

Concurrent powers

Powers that both national and state governments share

Fiscal Federalism

The system of how the federal government shares money (through grants) and assigns financial responsibilities (spending/taxing) to state and local governments

Categorical Grants

Gives federal money to the states as long as they comply with specific federal standards

Block Grant

federal money given to states/localities for broad purposes (like community development, education) with "few strings attached," granting recipients significant freedom to decide how to spend it

Funded Mandate

The federal government requires states to follow federal directives and gives money toward the carrying out of the mandate

Unfunded Mandates

The federal government sets a mandate and then provides no funds to help the states comply

Commerce Clause

Gives congress the authority to regulate commerce among the states

Necessary and proper cause(elastic clause)

Congress also has the power to pass any laws which is deemed necessary and proper to the carrying out of their enumerated powers

Full Faith and Credit clause

Each state much respect the other's laws

Supremacy Clause

establishes the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as the "supreme Law of the Land," meaning they override conflicting state laws, ensuring a consistent national legal framework and underpinning federalism by granting federal power dominance in areas of constitutional authority, preventing states from undermining national policies. 

Implied Powers

Powers not listed in the Constitution but inferred as essential to carry out expressed powers for the federal government

Declaration of Independence

Declared the colonies independent from Britain and listed the grievances against the king