AP Gov 1-3 facts and terms

AP Gov

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Collective Good

Benefits for all members of society

Politics

determines whom we select as our government leaders and what policies they pursue; in other words, who gets what, when, and how.

Political Participation

the ways in which people get involved in politics

linkage institutions

link the people to the policy makers

Policy agenda

Issues that attract attention from public officials and others involved in politics

Policy makers/Policy making institutions

The branches of government that take action on political issues

public policy

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

Majority Rule

The primary principle of a traditional democracy; policy represents the wishes of the largest portion of a population

Minority Rights

principle of democratic government that protect small sections of the population

Pluarlism

principle of American democracy that focuses on opening the policy making process to as many people as possible.

Elitism

The upper class should be entrusted with the majority of the power

Hyper pluralism

If there are too many groups that are too powerful the government will be weakened.

Policy Gridlock

Governmental stagnation that occurs when no majority can be formed

Constitution

A nations basic law

Declaration of Independence

Document written in 1776 listing grievances with Great Britain

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in human beings

Consent of the governed

Principle that governments should get their power from the people

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States

Shay's Rebellion

armed uprising in response to a debt crisis in Massachusetts

Factions

groups caused by various divisive factors

New Jersey Plan

Every state gets equal representation in Congress

Virginia Plan

States get representation in congress proportional to population

Connecticut Compromise

proposal of bicameral legislature, combination of New Jersey and Virginia Plan

Writ of Habeas Corpus

court preventing unlawful imprisonment

Separation of Powers

feature of the constitution that requires three branches of government.

Checks and balances

Limitation of government power by balancing power among the branches of government

Republic

People select representatives to govern them and make laws

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution

Anti-federalists

Opponents of the Constitution

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written in support of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments

Judicial Review

power of the courts to veto legislation for constitutionally

Federalism

Two or more levels of government have control over the same land and population

Supremacy Clause

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

10th Amendment

State governments have all rights not explicitly given to the government or withheld from the states

Enumerated Powers

powers of the federal government specifically addressed in the constitution

Implied Powers

Powers of the federal government beyond what is specifically stated in the Constitution

Elastic Clause

Clause in the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers

Full faith and Credit

Clause in the Constitution requiring states to recognize actions of other states

Extradition

Legal process that allows criminals to be tried where the alleged crime was committed

Privileges and Immunities

States must recognize privileges of citizens from other states.

Dual Federalism

State and federal government influence is seperated into their respective spheres

Cooperative/New Federalism

Powers of policy are shared between state and federal government

Devolution

The transfer of responsibility for policies from federal government to local government

Fiscal Federalism

How federal, state, and local governments share funding.

Categorical Grants

Grants with strict limitations for how the money is spent

Project Grants

Categorical grants with that require an application

Formula grants

grants with funding based on a formula

Block grants

Federal grants with few strings attached given for large programs like social services