AP Government: Chapter 1-3

federalism

A governmental system In which authority is divided between two sovereign levels of government: national and regional

sovereignty

The supreme or ultimate authority to govern weighing a certain geographical area

confederacy

A governmental system in which the sovereignty is vested entirely in subnational (state) governments

unitary system

A governmental system in which the national government alone has sovereign (ultimate) authority

enumerated clause

The 17 powers granted to the national government under Article I, section 8 of the constitution. These powers include taxation and the regulation of commerce as well as the authority to provide for national defense.

supremacy clause

article VI of the Constitution, which makes national law supreme over state law when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

elastic clause

The authority granted congress in Article I, Section 8 of the constitution "to make all laws which shall he necessary and proper" for the implementation of it enumerated powers.

implied powers

The federal government constitutional authority (through the "necessary and proper" clause) to take action that is not expressly authorized by the constitution but that supports actions that are so authorized.

reserved powers

The powers granted to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.

nationalization

The process by which national authority has increased over the course of U.S. History as a result primarily of economic change but also of political action.

dual federalism

A doctrine based on the idea that a precise separation of national power and state power is both possible and desirable.

cooperative federalism

The situation in which the national, state, and local levels work together to solve problems.

fiscal federalism

a term that refers to the expenditure of federal funds on programs run in part through ages and localities

grants-in-aid

Federal cash payments to states and localities for programs they administer.

block grants

Federal grants-in-aid to that permit state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general area

categorical grants

federal grants-in-aid to states and localities that can be used only for designated projects

devolution

The passing down of authority from the national government to the state and local government.

political thinking

The careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue.

political science

The systematic study of government and politics.

politics

The process through which a society settles it's conflicts.

power

The ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.

democracy

A form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.

majoritarianism

The idea that the majority prevails not only in elections but also in policy determination.

pluralism

A theory of American politics that hold s the society's interests are substantially represented through power exercised by groups.

authority

The recognized right of officials to exercise power as a result of the position they hold.

constitutionalism

The idea that there are lawful limits in the power of government.

judicial action

The use of courts of law as a means by which individuals protect their right and settle their conflicts.

free-market system

An economic system based on the idea that government should interfere with economic transactions as little as possible. Free enterprise and self-reliance are the collective and individual principals that underpin free markets.

corporate power

The power that corporations exercise in their effort to influence government and maintain control of the workplace.

elitism

The notion that wealthy and well-connected individuals exercise power over certain areas of public policy.

Public policies

Decisions by government to pursue particular courses of action.

limited government

A government that is subject to strict limits in its lawful uses of power and, hence, on it's ability to deprive people of their liberty.

self-government

The principle that the people are the ultimate source and should have a voice in their governing.

social contract

A voluntary agreement by individuals to form a government, which is then obliged to act writhing the confines of the agreement.

inalienable rights

Those rights that persons theoretically possessed in the state of nature, prior to the formation of governments.

constitution

The fundamental law that defines his a government will legitimately operate.

virginia plan

A constructional proposal for a strong Congress with two chambers, both which would be based on numerical representation, thus granting more power to the larger states.

new jersey plan

A constitutional proposal for a strengthened Congress but one in which each state would have a single vote, thus granting a small state the same legislative power as a large state.

great compromise

The agreement at the constitutional convention to create a two-chamber Congress with the House appointed by population and the Senate appointed equally by state.

three fifths compromise

A compromise worked out at 1787. Each slave was to be counted as three fifths if a person for purposes of federal taxation and congressional apportionment (number of Sears in the House of Representatives.

anti-federalists

A term used to describe opponents for the constitution during the debate over ratification.

federalists

A term used to describe proponents of the Constitution during the debate over ratification.

liberty

The principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they did not infringe unreasonably on the freedom and well-being of others.

grants of power

The method of limiting the U.S. Government by confining it's scope of authority to this powers expressly granted in the constitution.

denials of power

A constitutional means of limiting government by listing those powers that government is expressly prohibited from using.

separation of powers

The division of the powers of government among separate institutions or branches.

separated institutions sharing power

The principle that, as a way to limit government, it's powers should be divided among separate branches, each of which also shares in the lower of the others as a means if checking and balancing them. The result is that no one branch can exercise power decisively without the support of acquaintances of the others.

checks and balances

The elaborate system of divide sphere of authority provided by the U.S. Constitution as means of controlling the power of government.

bill of rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They include tights such as freedom of speech and religion.

judicial review

The power of courts to decide whether a governmental institution has acted within its constitutional powers and, if not to decide its action null and void.

tyranny of the majority

The potential of majority to monopolize power for its eon gain to the detriment of minority rights and interests.

democracy framers

A form of government in which the power of the majority is unlimited, wether exercised directly or through a representative body.

republic

A form of government in which the people's representatives decide policy through institutions structured in ways that foster deliberation, slow the progress of decision making, and operate within restraints that protect individual liberty.

trustees

Elected representatives whose obligation is to act in accordance with their own consciences as to what policies are in the best interests of the public.

electoral college

An unofficial term that refers to the electors who cast the states electoral votes.

electoral votes

The candidate with the most popular votes in a state receives it's electoral votes.

delegates

Elected representatives whose obligation is to act in accordance with the expressed wishes of the people they represent.

primary election

A form of election in which voters choose a party's nominees for public office.

constitutional democratic republic

A government that is constitutional I just provisions for minority rights and rule by law; democratic in its provisions for majority influence through elections; and a republic in its mix of deliberative institutions, which check and balance each other.