ap gov chapter 1

federalism

a system of government that divides the power between the national and state governments

Federalists

group of people who endorsed the Constitution

social contract

agreement between a democratic government and its' people that if violated, the people could take the power back

natural law

law of God, acknowledged through human sense and reason under which people were born free and equal

popular sovereignty

the people as the ultimate ruling authority

republicanism

political ideology in which men were entitled to "life, liberty, and property" and these could not be taken away except under laws created through the consent of the governed

participatory democracy

people vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them

pluralist democracy

nongovernment groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision-making

elite democracy

elected representatives make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them

Declaration of Independence

an official statement which justified the colonies break from Britain, listing the moral and legal justification for the rebellion

Articles of Confederation

series of statements that defined the initial national government and redefined the former colonies as states

extradition

states were expected to return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states that they had fled

James Madison

his influence in creating the plan for the new government and his stalwart support of it during the ratification process earned him the nickname Father of the Constitution

Virginia Plan

proposed three-branch system of government, bicameral legislature, and made the national government supreme over the states which became blueprint for the Constitution

bicameral

two-house

separation of powers

distinct responsibilities and limits of each branch to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful

New Jersey Plan

proposed system of government in which states would retain sovereignty

Grand Committee

committee made up of one delegate from each of the states represented at the convention

Great Compromise

compromise between Virginia and New Jersey Plan

House of Representatives

house of Congress which would award seats based on population of state

Senate

house of Congress which would receive two senators from each state regardless of the state's size

Three - Fifths Compromise

agreement to count only three of every five slaves to determine representation in the House

Electoral College

compromise for choosing Chief Executive in which each state had same number electors as representatives in Congress, and the people would vote for the electors

Preamble

mission statement of the Constitution

enumerated powers

powers that are listed out

commerce clause

empowers Congress to "regulate commerce with other nations, and among the several states"

necessary and proper clause

"Congress shall have power to make all law which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers" granting implicit powers

full faith and credit clause

requires states to be open about their laws and encourages states to respect one another's laws

national supremacy

unite the nation under stronger national policy

supremacy clause

makes certain that all states must adhere to the Constitution

Federalist Papers

series of essays written to argue in favor of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

group of people who opposed the Constitution

Bill of Rights

list of rights that guaranteed basic liberties

USA PATRIOT Act

law covering intelligence gathering and sharing by executive branch agencies, points of criminal procedure, and border protection. allowed govt agencies to share significant info on suspects especially phone taps (allows invasion of privacy)

representative republic

collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense

checks and balances

limiting powers each branch can use on the others

veto

president rejects a bill

pocket veto

president refusing to sign a bill at the end of a legislative session, killing the bill

two-thirds override

each house of Congress separately votes in favor of a vetoed bill by a supermajority of two-thirds can make a vetoed bill into law

advice and consent

the Senate's formal approval on presidential appointments

impeachment

an accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing

judicial review

federal courts can deem an act of the legislature unconstitutional when deciding on a case

reserved powers

powers given to the states