ap gov chapter 2

what was the stamp act

a british tax to help pay for the french and indian war; colonists saw it as taxation without representation

what were the articles of confederation

the first u.s. government, designed to be very limited and reject monarchy

what was a major weakness of the articles of confederation

no executive branch, no judicial branch, and no strong national power to enforce laws or raise revenue

what is a limited government

a system where governmental powers are restricted to prevent tyranny

why was shay’s rebellion important

it showed the national government was too weak to handle crises and helped lead to calls for a new government

what is popular sovereignty

government gets its legitimacy from the people, usually through elections

what is republicanism

a system where elected representatives make laws for the people

what are natural rights

rights people are born with; life, liberty and pursuit of happiness

which philosophers influenced the framers

thomas hobbes, john locke, and baron montesquieu

what did john locke believe

people have natural rights, government exists by consent, and people can replace governments that fail to protect rights

what did monstesquieu influence

separation of powers and checks and balances

what did madison argue in federalist 51

government must be able to control the governed and itself

what is a faction in madision’s federalist 10

a group pursuing its own interest instead of the common good

what was the great compromise

a two branch legistislature with house representation by population and senate representation equally by state

what was the virginia plan

a plan favoring the larger states with representation based on population

what was the new jersey plan

a plan favoring equal representation for all states

why was the electoral college created

to select the president without making the president too dependent on congress

what does the 10th amendment do

reserves undelegated powers to the states

what is the supremacy clause

when state and federal law conflict, federal law wins

what was the three-fifths compromise

enslaved people were counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation

what is logrolling

trading support between groups to gain agreement on different issues

what are enumerated powers

powers specifically listed in the constitution

what is the necessary and proper clause

also called the elastic clause; gives congress implied powers needed to carry out listed powers

what are implied powers

powers not written directly in the constitution but needed to carry out listed powers

what is congress’s power of the purse

the power to tax and spend

what is judicial review

the power of courts to strike down laws or executive actions as unconstitutional

what case established judicial review

marbury v. madison

what are shared powers

powers held by both the federal and state governments or between branches

according to the declaration of independence, what rights are unalienable

life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

what is the purpose of government in the declaration

to secure natural rights

what does the declaration say gives government legitimacy

the consent of the governed

when may people alter or abolish government

when it becomes destructive of their rights

how does locke define the state of nature

a state of freedom and equality

why do people form government according to locke

to protect property, liberty, and security

what happens if a government becomes too tyrannical according to locke

the people may resist it or replace it

what does locke mean by tyranny

power used beyond right, for private advantage instead of the common good

what is the social contract

an agreement where people give up some freedom in exchange for government protection

how are jefferson and locke similar

both argue that government exists to protect rights and depends on the consent of the governed