APGOV Unit 1 Vocab

Natural rights

rights that cannot be taken away

inherent rights that are believed to be necessary for all humans and include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

State of nature

How we would exist in purest form before formal government

Civil society

Society with rules, regulations, and laws

Social contract

People give up certain freedoms to maintain social order

Popular sovereignty

Government that is based on the consent of the people. The people are the ultimate ruling authority

Limited government

government power is not absolute

done through separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism

Republicanism

Citizens elect leaders for a limited period of time; the leaders job is to make and execute laws in the public interest

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units, such as states or provinces

Participatory democracy

Depends on the direct participation of many, if not most, people in a society. Emphasizes broad involvement of citizens in politics.

People doing something for a cause they care about. Can take forms of many things like voting on ballot measures, calling congressmen, protest, boycotts

Pluralist democracy

Nongovernmental (interest groups) groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision making. Believe that no single view can control policy entirely.

Diverse population ensures a variety of viewpoints contribute to public policy - “marketplace of ideas”

View bargaining and compromise as essential ingredients to democracy

Elite democracy

Elected officials make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them. Sometimes referred as representative democracy.

Society is divided along class lines and that an upper class elite rules. Wealth is seen as the basis of power.

Hyper-pluralism

Existence of too many influential groups makes it impossible for government to act - gridlock

When politicians try to make every group happy, the result is confusing, contradictory, and muddled policy (or no policy at all)

This theory suggests that public interest is rarely translated into public policy

Great Compromise

Created a 2 house Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Satisfied both those wanting population as the criteria for awarding seats in a legislature, because House seats would be awarded based on population, and those wanting equal representation, because the Senate would receive 2 senators from each state, regardless of the state’s size

Federalists

Supported the strong national government created by the constitution

Believed existing Constitutional provisions would protect the rights of states and individuals

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the constitutions - Wanted states to have more power.

Believed a Bill of Rights was needed to guarantee protection of the rights of states and individuals

Believed many should have a voice in government to prevent the elite from having too much power.

Faction

Interest group

groups of individuals within a larger political entity who share a common interest or goal that is distinct from other groups

Enumerated Powers

powers granted to the Federal government, and specifically Congress, which are mostly listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution

Concurrent Powers

powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments. This includes the power to tax, build roads, and create lower courts

Reserved Powers

The powers not delegated to the United States (federal government) by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

Necessary and Proper Clause

Article 1, Section 8

allows congress the ability to make laws or to act where the constitution doesn't explicitly give it authority to act. Sometimes thought of as implied powers

Commerce Clause

Article 1, Sec. 8

power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among states, and with the Indian tribes

gives Congress broad power to regulate interstate commerce and restricts states from impairing interstate commerce

Supremacy Clause

Article VI:

the foundational principle that, in general, federal law takes priority over any conflicting state law.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

the requirement, derived from Article IV, Section I of the Constitution, that state courts respect the laws and judgments of courts from other states. This clause attempts to prevent conflict among states and ensure the dependability of judgments across the country

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Article IV, Sec. 1:

Equal treatment regardless of the state where one lives.

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States