AP U.S. Government & Politics: The Constitution

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical compromises, constitutional concepts, and relevant court cases from the AP U.S. Government & Politics review notes.

Political power

The ability to get other people to do what you want.

Unalienable rights

Rights given by God and nature, rather than granted by the king, as derived from John Locke and included in the Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

A league of friendship where the national government could not tax or control the economy.

Shay's Rebellion

A rebellion by land-owning farmers who fought in the war and had their property taxed by local authorities, which was resolved using mercenaries (a private army).

Separation of powers

The division of government into three branches (Congress, President, Judiciary) so that one branch will not be more powerful than another.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case associated with the "necessary and proper" clause, establishing that Congress can pass laws even if they are not explicitly in the Constitution.

Necessary and proper clause

A constitutional clause allowing Congress to pass laws even if not explicitly stated in the Constitution, provided they are necessary.

Reserved powers

Powers held exclusively by state governments.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the state and national government, such as the power to tax.

Federalists

A group that favored a strong national government and wanted to implement the Constitution.

Antifederalists

A group that favored a weak national government and a strong state government, and insisted on adding a Bill of Rights.

Federalist Papers

Essays written to convince people to approve the Constitution.

Federalist No. 10

An essay written by Madison concerning factions, arguing that having enough factions prevents any single group from ruling over others.

Factions

Groups of people who have common political opinions.

Direct Democracy

A system of government where everyone votes on everything directly.

Representative Democracy

A system of government where citizens vote for smart, knowledgeable individuals to represent them.

Bicameral structure

The two-chamber structure of Congress created to please both small and big states.

Senate

The chamber of Congress that protects the interest of smaller states by giving them equal representation.

House of Representatives

The chamber of Congress where representation is based on population, favoring bigger states.

3/5ths compromise

An agreement to balance northern and southern states where each slave counted as 3/5ths of a person for House representation, later resolved by the Civil War.

Powers of Congress

The power to make laws.

Powers of the President

The power to enforce laws.

Powers of the Judiciary

The power to review laws.

Judicial review

The authority of the Supreme Court to review laws, established in Marbury v. Madison.

10th amendment

The amendment reserving power to the states, providing a way to modify the Constitution as attitudes or situations change.

2nd amendment

The amendment establishing the right to bear arms and maintain a state militia that can be called upon if something happens.

The Great Compromise

The agreement establishing the structure of Congress comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of the Supreme Court to hear a court case first.

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of the Supreme Court to hear appeals coming from lower courts.