AP US Gov & Pol Unit 1 Vocab

Anti-federalist

Anti-Federalists rose up as the opponents of the Constitution during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that granted most power to the states

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

Block grant

a large grant given to a state by the federal government with only general spending guidelines

Bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

categorical grant

Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

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.

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution

elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

elite democracy

a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders - only the "elite" can pick

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

faction

a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.

federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office, forcing them to be removed from said office

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Importation of Slaves Compromise

The Constitution allowed importing slavery only until 1808 in exchange for Congress being able to place a tax on the imported slaves until 1808.

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

mandates

terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants

natural rights

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

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

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

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

separation of powers

The division of a central government into two or more branches, each having its own responsibilites and authorities.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Tenth 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.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)