AP Gov Unit 1 Key Terms

Articles of Confederation

the original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789

Bicameral legislature

two-house legislature

Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments to the US Constitution

Block grant

money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g, transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g, school lunch program)

Categorical grant

money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g, school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g, transportation)

Centralists

those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority

Checks and balances

system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g. presidential veto of a congressional law

Commerce clause

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution

Concurrent powers

powers held by both Congress and the states, e.g, establishing law enforcement agencies

Confederation

system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g, the US under the Articles of Confederation

Decentralists

those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority

Delegated powers

powers granted to the national government under the Constitution, as enumerated in Articles I, II, and III

Direct Democracy

system in which the people rule themselves

Elastic clause

states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g, establishment of the first Bank of the United States

Enumerated powers

those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article I, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g, the power to tax. AKA: expressed powers

Extradition

the process used when a person in one state or country has committed a crime in another state or country and is to be taken into custody and sent for trial to the place where the offence allegedly occurred

Federalism

constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments

Dual federalism

system in which the national government and state governments are coequal

Cooperative federalism

system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems

New Federalism

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

Federalist Papers

group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of NY to adopt the Constitution

Formal amendment

a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states

Full faith and credit clause

Article IV, Section 1, of the US Constitution - provides that the various states must recognize legislative acts, public records, and judicial decisions of the other states within the US

Great Compromise

a plan proposed by Roger Sherman of Connecticut at the 1787 Constitutional Convention for creating a national bicameral legislature

Implied powers

those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause

Indirect democracy

system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic

Inherent powers

foreign policy powers (e.g, acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government

Informal amendment

a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g, through a court decision such as Brown v. Board

Judicial review

power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803

Line-item veto

in government: the power of an executive authority to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill, AKA partial veto

Mandates

requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding

Marbury v. Madison

1803: established the power of judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers

New Jersey Plan

a plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention providing for a single legislative house with equal representation for each state

Pardons and reprieves

forgive or excuse and cancel or postpone the punishment

Police powers

powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the people

Popular sovereignty

principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people

Privileges and immunities clause

(Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1, also known as the Comity Clause) prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner, with regard to basic civil rights

Reserved powers

powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is reserved for the states

Revenue sharing

the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments

Separation of powers

principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial

Shay's Rebellion

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention

Supermajority

a majority greater than a simple majority of over one half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3

Three-Fifths Compromise

The Founding Fathers agreed that three-fifths of all slaves should be counted for purposes of both deciding a state's obligation for a direct federal tax, and for determining its population for representation in the House of Representatives

Unicameral legislature

one-house legislature

Virginia Plan

James Madison offered the Constitutional Convention this calling for proportional representation in Congress. James Paterson's New Jersey plan, hoping to protect the less populous states, called for equal representation in Congress for each state