AP US Gov - Unit 1 Vocab

Natural Rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

Social contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

pluralist democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

elite democracy

a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

exclusive powers

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

reserved powers

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Part of Article IV of the Constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

categorical grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

Devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

unfunded mandates

Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

Commerce Clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws