APGov – Foundations Unit Vocabulary (41)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the major concepts, documents, court cases, theories, and ideological terms from the lecture’s Foundations of American Government unit.

Limited Government

The principle that governmental power is restricted by a constitution; the government cannot act arbitrarily.

Natural Rights

Inherent rights with which people are born; John Locke identified them as life, liberty, and property.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that ultimate authority rests with the people, reflected in the Constitution’s preamble, “We the People…”

Republican Democracy

An indirect form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives who govern on their behalf.

Social Contract

An agreement where individuals give up certain freedoms so government can protect life, liberty, and property.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document announcing colonial separation from Britain, listing philosophical reasons and grievances against the king.

U.S. Constitution

1787–88 document establishing the structure, powers, and limits of the U.S. government; the supreme law of the land.

Federalist No. 10

Madison’s essay arguing that a large republic and federal system control factions by preventing any single one from dominating.

Brutus No. 1

Anti-Federalist essay contending that a small, decentralized republic would better protect liberty and be more responsive.

Participatory Democracy

Theory that citizens should actively and directly control government through tools like recalls, referenda, and initiatives.

Elitist Theory

View that society is divided by class and a small upper-class elite dominates government decisions.

Articles of Confederation

America’s first constitution, creating a weak central government and granting most power to sovereign states.

Shay’s Rebellion

1786–87 uprising that exposed weaknesses of the Articles and spurred calls for a stronger national government.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Constitutional agreement creating a bicameral Congress: population-based House and equal-representation Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement counting three of every five enslaved persons for House representation and taxation purposes.

Import Compromise

Clause preventing Congress from banning the trans-Atlantic slave trade until 1808 to secure Southern support.

Fugitive Slave Clause

Constitutional provision requiring escaped enslaved persons to be returned to owners, treating slaves as property.

Amending the Constitution

Most common process: 2⁄3 vote in both houses of Congress to propose, then 3⁄4 of state legislatures to ratify.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of legislative, executive, and judicial functions to prevent concentration of authority.

Impeachment

Process whereby the House charges a federal official and the Senate conducts the subsequent trial.

Access Points

Places where interest groups and citizens can influence policy, e.g., Congress, courts, or state legislatures.

Enumerated (Expressed) Powers

Specific powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Concurrent Powers

Authorities exercised jointly by national and state governments, such as the power to tax.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds given to states for narrowly defined purposes, often with strict conditions or “strings.”

Fiscal Federalism

Federal strategy of using taxing, spending, and grants to influence state policies.

Mandates

Federal requirements that states must follow, whether or not they accept grant money (e.g., ADA compliance).

Checks and Balances

System enabling each branch to limit the others, preventing abuse—for example, vetoes and judicial review.

Tenth Amendment

Constitutional provision reserving powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Fourteenth Amendment

Grants citizenship by birth and prohibits states from denying due process or equal protection of the laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case affirming national supremacy and broad “necessary and proper” powers; states can’t tax federal entities.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Decision ruling that Congress overstepped the Commerce Clause with the Gun-Free School Zones Act, limiting federal power.

Unitary System

Government structure in which all key authority is held by the national government.

Confederal System

League of independent states with a weak central authority; states retain sovereign power.

Federal System

Structure dividing power between national and state governments, as established by the U.S. Constitution.

Political Socialization

Process by which individuals acquire political beliefs, influenced by family, schools, peers, and media.

Libertarian

Ideology favoring minimal government interference in both economic and social matters; “hands-off” approach.

Block Grants

Broad federal grants giving states flexibility in how funds are spent within a general policy area, such as welfare.

Liberal

Political ideology (often Democratic/Progressive) advocating governmental action to address social and economic issues.

Polarization

Condition in which political parties move toward ideological extremes, reducing space for compromise.

Conservative

Political ideology (often Republican) favoring limited government in economic affairs and traditional social values.