APGOV Unit 1

power

the ability to get someone to do what another wants

authority

the right to use power

legitimacy

what turns power into authority

bureaucratic theory

the belief that top bureaucratic leaders have the power in the US government

power elite

small group of govt officials, military leaders, and business leaders have the real power in the govt

pluralist view

idea that all citizens have access to the government so no particular group has more influence than others

class theory

the belief that corporate owners and business leaders exert the most power in the US govt

Shays' Rebellion

group of farmers kept MA courts from taking away further property from veterans

natural rights

all people are born with the ability to enjoy life, liberty and property

social contract

idea that people give up their power to the govt so the govt can protect people's natural rights

Articles of Confederation

the first attempt at a government after independence from Britain

Federalists

the group who favored the Constitution because it granted the national govt much power

anti-Federalists

the group who opposed the Constitution because they believed the national govt was given too much power

Great Compromise

agreement between large and small states that created a bicameral legislature with one chamber based on population, the other equal

limited government

the Constitution restricts the power of the government

separation of powers

the division of powers of the US government into three branches

checks and balances

each branch has some power over the other two branches

judicial review

the ability of courts to declare laws or actions of govt officials unconstitutional

federalism

the division of power between the states and the federal government

popular sovereignty

the idea that the government's power comes from the people

representative democracy

US citizens choose others to run the government

direct democracy

US citizens participate in making the governmental decisions for the country

rule of law

ALL citizens must obey the laws of the US

enumerated powers

the duties of the federal govt that are specifically listed in the US Constitution (also called formal, expressed and delegated)

implied powers

the powers of the govt that are not listed in the Constitution, but are needed to carry out those enumerated powers

reserved powers

powers not given to the US govt belong to the states

concurrent powers

powers that both the states and the federal govt share

necessary and proper clause

allows the federal govt to perform actions not listed in the US Constitution

habeaus corpus

individuals have a right to be brought before a judge to be told what they are being charged with

bill of attainder

Congress passing a law that allows someone to be punished without a trial

ex post facto law

neither Congress nor the states can pass laws that punish someone if an action was not a crime at the time it was committed

nullification

states' belief that they do not have to follow federal laws

dual federalism

the states are supreme in their sphere, while the federal govt is supreme in its own sphere

McCulloch v Maryland

court case in which the SC had to decide if a bank was constitutional and whether a state could tax the federal government

Gibbons v Ogden

court case in which the SC defined interstate commerce and placed Congress solely in charge of it

initiative

signatures are gathered to put a law on the ballot to be voted on by citizens

referendum

signatures are gathered to put a law on the ballot for voters to determine whether it should be removed

recall

voters removing a government official who has already been elected into office

categorical grants

federal money given to states for specific purposes dictated by the federal govt

block grants

federal money given to states with the states having much flexibility in how to spend that money

mandates

terms set by the federal govt that states must complete whether or not they receive federal grants

devolution

transfer of money and powers from the federal govt to state governments

Bill of Rights

first ten amendments which provide citizens with specific rights protected from govt interference

US v Lopez

SC ruling that guns in schools was not an interstate commerce issue and should be regulated only by states

Marbury v Madison

SC ruling in which the power of judicial review was given to the Court

project grant

federal money given to states and is awarded competitively to states that qualify

formula grant

federal money distributed to states according to specific rules that define who is eligible to receive the money

cross-cutting requirements

laws that apply rules and guidelines to a broad array of federally-subsidized state programs

crossover sanctions

to remain eligible for federal funding in one program, a state must adhere to the guidelines of another unrelated program

direct order

federal requirements given to states that are enforced by legal and/or civil penalties

partial preemption

federal law allows the states to run federal programs as long as they conform to federal guidelines; if not followed, the state may lose some control over the program

total preemption

federal government's power to have its laws and regulations take precedence over state and local laws

due process

the govt can only take a citizen's natural rights if they go through a certain process to ensure fairness

consent of the governed

the idea that the power of the govt is granted by the permission of the people

majoritarian

a type of politics in which a large group pays and a large group benefits

interest group politics

a type of politics in which a small pays and a small group benefits

entrepreneurial

a type of politics in which a small group pays but a large group benefits

client

a type of politics in which a large group pays but a small group benefits

policy

how the govt chooses to get involved with an issue that is on the national agenda

political agenda

issues that are so important that the govt is required to make a policy about them