Chapter 2 & 3 AP GOV Definitions

Constitution

Basic law. Divides and assigns power in government. Lays out the guarantee of citizens. Laws can be written or unwritten.

Equal rights amendment

Equality rights under the law should not been denied by the US or the state on account of sex. The amendment failed to get support from 3/4 of state legislatures.

Bill of rights

First 10 amendments to the US constitution drafted in response to anti-federalist concerns. Basic liberties such as liberty religion speech and press.

Federalist papers

85 esses advocating for the ratification of the constitution and providing insightful commentary on the nature of the new system of government.

Federalist

We’re in support of the ratification of the constitution.

Anti-federalist

Were against the ratification of the constitution.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Checks and balances

Constitution requires each branch of the federal government to obtain the consent of of the other branches for its action. There is limited power to each branch.

Virginia plan

Proposed at the constitutional convention call for representation of each state in Congress to be proportional to its population.

New Jersey plan

Proposed at the constitutional convention it called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of size of the state population.

Shays rebellion

Attacks on court houses by a small band farmers. Daniel Shay being the leader. They blocked foreclosure proceedings on farms.

Consent of governed

Idea that government derives its authority from the people.

Natural rights

Rights given just because you’re human not dependent on the government. Such as life liberty and property natural rights were brought up by John Locke.

Supremacy clause

Clause in article 6 of the constitution that makes the constitution national law and treaty supreme over state laws as long as the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Intergovernmental relations

An entire set of interactions among national, state and local governments-including regulations, transfers of funds and sharing of information – that constitutes the workings of the federal system.

Judicial review

The power of the court to determine whether acts of Congress and these executive branch are in accord with the US Constitution.Judicial review was established by Marbury V Madison.

Unitary government

A central government that holds supreme power in a nation. Most national governments today are unitary.

Separation of power

Constitution requires the three bank branches of government executive legislative and judicial to be relatively independent of each other so that they can’t control each other. Power is shared among the three institutions.

Writ of habeas corpus

Court order requiring authorities to explain to a judge what lawful reason they have for holding a prisoner in custody.

Connecticut compromise

Two houses establish of Congress the house of representatives in which represents based on the states population. Then the Senate in which each state has two representatives.

Factions

Interest groups, James Madison says they arise from unequal distribution of property or will they have the potential to cause instability.

Limited government

Certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Articles of confederation

First constitution of US establish the continental congress Asda national legislator but left most of authority to the state legislators.

US Constitution

Set the institutional structure of the US government, test the institution performs and relationships among them replace articles of confederation.

Enumerated powers

Powers of the federal government that are explicitly listed in the constitution.

Implied powers

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those listed in the constitution.

Elastic clause

Final paragraph of article 1 section 8 of the constitution, which authorize Congress to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out enumerated powers.

extradition

A legal process where a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Privileges and immunities

A provision found in Article IV of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits states from discriminating against those who are not state citizens or from favoring its own citizens over citizens of other states.

Dual federalism

A system of government in which the state and national government each remain supreme within their own sphere, each with different powers and policy responsibilities.

Cooperative federalism

A system of government in which states and the national government share power and policy assignments.

Devolution

Transferring responsibilities for policies from the federal government to state and local government.

Fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system, it is a cornerstones of the national governments relations with states and local governments.

Block grant

Grants given to state or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.

Categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes for state or local spending.

Project grants

Federal grants given with the specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merit of application.

Formula grants

Distributed in accordance to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulation.

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to recognize public acts and legal judgments of other states

Dual federalism

Both national and state government is supreme in their own sphere they are kept separate

Cooperative federalism

State and federal sphere overlap and distinctions between them are blurred

Revenue sharing

distribution of part of the federal tax income to state governments