AP Gov - Unit 1 Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering all 56 key concepts, foundational documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, and constitutional clauses from AP Government Unit 1.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government. Dealt with a state attempting to tax and destroy the national bank. The bank is legal because of the Commerce Clause

Marbury v. Madison

Establishes Judicial Review (courts can declare laws/gov’t unconstitutional)

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who argued that people have three natural rights

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment thinker who believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority to keep order

Baron de Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker who believed government should have separation of powers

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Pluralist Democracy (Groupist Theory)

A model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interest groups in a free society. Examples: Interest groups pressure government to take action

Hyperpluralist Theory

There are so many self-interested groups that compete with each other that gridlock happens

Bureaucratic Theory

Appointed officials dominate the government through unelected jobs. Example: NASA

Elite Democracy (Elitism)

Favors allowing the best educated, often wealthy, members of society to govern in the best interests of the country. This system favors having a small group of the best-informed people to govern.

Federalists

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

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption. Feared that it gave the federal government too much power.

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Shays' Rebellion

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers to block foreclosure proceedings. This led to a realization that the Articles of Confederation were too weak.

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

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.

New Jersey Plan

"Small state" proposal for the new constitution. The proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress.

Brutus 1

An Anti-Federalist writing that made the case that the Federal government under the proposed Constitution was too strong. Argued that federal government powers could lead to state governments becoming essentially useless. Impossible to have a large republic and stable government that protects rights.

Philadelphia Convention

A meeting in which delegates originally met to fix the Articles of Confederation, but ended up creating a new Constitution.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature (Senate) and representation based on population in the other house (House of Representatives).

House of Representatives

The lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population. Reflects consent of the governed because people were always able to directly elect them, and they represent just the people of their district.

Senate

The upper house of Congress, consisting of two representatives from each state. Originally chosen by state legislatures (elite democracy) but now they are directly elected by the people.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; People agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for order and security, but the government is not to be abusive with its power or it can be replaced.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law. Idea supported by Montesquieu.

Factions

Groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose most frequently from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government.

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens. Government doesn't have power to do anything they want.

Article 1 of the Constitution

Establishes the Legislative Branch

Article 2 of the Constitution

Establishes the Executive Branch

Article 3 of the Constitution

Establishes the Judicial Branch

Supremacy Clause

Found in Article 6 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.

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.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

A clause in Article I, section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for the implied powers.

Enumerated/Expressed Powers

the powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions. Not written out.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

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

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.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Federalist 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since it is harder for any faction to dominate.

Federalist 51

Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution. Great example of limited government

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.

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

Block Grants

Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington. Example: Community development

Categorical Grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as Medicaid.

Federal Revenue Sharing

The practice of sharing federal income tax revenue with state and local governments

Privileges and Immunities Clause

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Reserved Powers

Powers given to the state government alone

Exclusive Powers

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

Unfunded Mandate

a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level

Federalism

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

Federalist 39

Written by James Madison, this document demonstrated how the Constitution created a government that shared federal power with the states.

Gettysburg Address

A speech given by Lincoln which restated the American commitment to Enlightenment Ideals like Equality of Opportunity and Popular Sovereignty.

9th Amendment

We have other rights, too

10th Amendment (Reserved Powers Clause)

Powers not given to the national government are awarded to the states. In direct conflict with Elastic Clause

14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Birthright citizenship, ADA, same-sex marriage, Brown v. Board of Education (anything civil rights)