AP Gov Unit 1

Thomas Hobbes

The government state is best for society, people need to give up some of their rights for the good all

John Locke

Natural Rights govern Society the governed should consent to the government

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A Republican government with limited and separated powers

Republicanism

Citizens of sovereign states elect leaders for a limited time who make an execute and laws

Representative Democracy

Government where people entrust elected officials to act in their best interests

Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776; provided a moral legal justification for the rebellion and emphasize limited government and natural rights (Thomas Jefferson, John Adam’s, Ben Franklin)

The U.S Constitution

a government with three branches; checks and balances; social contract; representative republic with sovereign states(James Madison, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, grand committee)

Participatory Democracy

Broad involvement of citizens and politics; citizens vote directly for laws. Initiative and referendum.

Pluralist Democracy

People with widely bearing interest form groups to influence policy making(interest groups)

Elite Democracy

Elected representatives act as trustees for the people that elect them

Federalists

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John J. Strong federal government will prevent factions from overpowering the country, federalist 10.

Anti-Federalists

Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson. A strong federal government will trample peoples liberties and lead to tyranny. Brutus 1

Articles of Confederation

League of friendship, 13 articles states are sovereign; one federal branch, Congress had minimal power. Weaknesses: inability to tax, no national court system, no regulation between states, each state casts, regardless of population, Shays rebellion.

Great Compromise

Bicameral legislator, senate and house of representative

Virginia Plan

Reflects states population

New Jersey Plan

States should be represented equally

3/5 Compromise

3/5 of each states slave population would count; also Congress cannot regulate slave trade for at 20 years and states must return fugitives

Electoral College

Electing a president through states to decide who choose electors

Commerce Clause

Gave Congress the power to regulate trade between states and sit tariffs on imports, but not exports

Amendment Process

2/3 vote to be approved by congress, ratification: ¾ by state legislature

Legislative Branch

100 Senators, 435 house. Makes the laws, participate in communities.

Executive branch

President and vice president, carries out the nations laws.

Judicial Branch

You are Supreme Court, practice, judicial review, citizens use the court systems regularly and can appeal convictions.

Separation of Powers

Three branches of government with distinct responsibilities and limitations.

Veto

Executive powered to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Pocket Veto

The president killing a bill by refusing to sign it.

Advice and Consent

Congress can provide suggestions to the president for appointments.

Impeachment

An accusation of wrongdoing by president, federal judge, or other official.

Federalism

The sharing of powers between the national government and states government.

Supremacy Clause

National power is above the states, but is limited by the enumerated powers.

Full Faith and Credit Privileges and Immunities Extradition

States must honor the laws of others, and honor, citizens and judicial proceedings of other states.

Exclusive(Delegated Powers)

Federal powers: military, foreign diplomacy, currency, international and interstate commerce

Reserved Powers

State powers: education, marriage, health and safety, police powers.

Concurrent Powers

Shared powers: tax operate courts, improve lands.

Federal Grant

Addressing national issues with a federal dollars; grant in aid programs.

Categorical Grants

Grant money that comes to strings, most common.

Block Grants

Broad grants, two states without strings, not very common.

Mandates

Money for states to comply with federal mandates, sometimes unfunded.

Enumerated Powers

Article 1 section 8: tax, raising army, borrow money, postal system, immigration process

Elastic Clause

Implied or necessary and proper, but not listed powers

Reserved Powers

Tenth Amendment, specifically listed, any powers not listed in articles one to three belong to the states

Equal Protection Clause

14th amendment, states cannot deny equal protection of the laws