AP Government and Politics - Unit 1 Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key foundational terms, constitutional compromises, principles, federalism definitions, and Supreme Court cases from AP Government and Politics Unit 1.

Government

The institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies, consisting of all those who have authority and control over people.

Three Basic Powers of Government

The three fundamental powers held by government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

State

The primary political unit controlled by governments, defined by four characteristics: population, territory, sovereignty, and government.

State of Nature

A hypothetical condition in which people live without government or political authority.

John Locke's View on Government

Believed people possess natural rights, government is created to protect those rights, and government only holds legitimate power through the consent of the governed.

Thomas Hobbes's View on Government

Believed people are primarily self-interested, conflict and insecurity are inevitable without strong authority, and people surrender significant freedom in exchange for order and protection.

Social Contract

An agreement in which people accept government authority and surrender some freedom in exchange for the benefits, order, and protections that government provides.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy where the people hold all political power directly.

Representative Democracy

Also known as a Republic, a form of democracy where citizens hold political power to select representatives who hold governing power.

Limited Government

A foundational democratic principle stating that government power is restricted through divisions and limitations to prevent unchecked authority.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the powers of government derive from the consent of its people.

Natural Rights

Innate rights that individuals are born with, which are not granted by the government and must be protected by it.

Participatory Democracy

A democratic model emphasizing broad public participation in politics, where citizens directly influence policy through tools like town hall meetings, initiatives, and popular referendums.

Pluralist Democracy

A democratic model where organized groups, such as political parties and interest groups, compete to influence public policy.

Elite Democracy

A democratic model in which a small number of wealthy or well-educated individuals influence policymaking, as seen in institutions like the Supreme Court and Electoral College.

Articles of Confederation

America's first constitution (1781), creating a unicameral legislature with one vote per state and a 'firm league of friendship' among sovereign states, lacking a federal executive or judiciary.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Lack of federal power to tax, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce laws, along with requiring 9/13 states to pass laws and 13/13 states to approve amendments.

Shays' Rebellion

An outbreak of violence among states demonstrating that Congress was too weak under the Articles of Confederation to maintain order, leading to the call for the 1787 Philadelphia Convention.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal favored by large states calling for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal favored by small states calling for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

The Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, it created a bicameral legislature featuring representation by population in the House of Representatives and equal representation per state in the Senate.

Three-fifths Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention where every five slaves counted as three free persons for both direct taxation and congressional representation.

Slave Trade Compromise

An agreement allowing Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, while prohibiting Congress from banning the slave trade prior to the year 1808.

Electoral College Compromise

A compromise system where voters choose electoral intermediaries (electors) who then cast votes to select the President and Vice President.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional distribution of legislative, executive, and judicial powers across three distinct branches (Congress, President, Courts) to limit government authority.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional system giving each branch of government specific restraints and controls over the powers of the other branches.

Formal Amendment Process (Article V)

Amendments are proposed by a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or a convention called by 2/3 of state legislatures, and must be ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures or state conventions.

Federalism

A political system dividing government power between a central national government and regional state governments.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that can only be exercised by the National Government.

Reserved Powers

Powers not granted to the federal government and not denied to the states, guaranteed to the states under the 10th Amendment.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared and exercised by both the state and national governments, such as levying taxes, using public land, and establishing courts.

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically granted to the Federal Government by the Constitution in Articles I, II, and III.

Categorical Grants

Federal financial assistance granted to states with specific rules and conditions attached regarding how the funds must be spent.

Block Grants

Broad federal grants given to states for general policy purposes, providing states with greater discretion over implementation.

Federal Mandates

Requirements set by the federal government that states must comply with, often tied to federal funding incentives.

Dual Federalism

Also known as 'layer-cake federalism,' a system in which the boundaries between national and state government responsibilities are strictly and clearly defined.

Cooperative Federalism

Also known as 'marble-cake federalism,' a system where national, state, and local governments share responsibilities and collaborate to solve problems.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly written and listed in the text of the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly detailed in the Constitution but reasonably suggested as necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause

A clause in Article I of the Constitution granting Congress the broad legislative power to pass laws essential for executing its enumerated duties.

Commerce Clause

A constitutional clause giving Congress broad authority to regulate economic activity and trade between the states.

Supremacy Clause

A provision in Article VI establishing the Constitution, national laws, and treaties as the supreme law of the land over conflicting state laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A landmark Supreme Court decision ruling that Congress has implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause to charter a national bank, and that states cannot tax federal operations under the Supremacy Clause.

US v. Lopez (1995)

A landmark Supreme Court ruling holding that the Gun-Free School Zone Act exceeded Congress' authority under the Commerce Clause, placing limits on federal power and affirming state authority.