Unit 1 AP GOV

popular sovereignty

the idea that the government has the right to rule within districts of the states

social contract

people allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functional society

Limited government

a theory of governance in which the government only has those powers delegated to it by law, often through a written constitution

National rights

basic rights that include the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Declaration of Independence

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The political idea that people are born with natural rights— instead of being given them by a government

Powers and Structures of the Articles of Confederation

declare war, appoint military officers, sign treaties, make alliances, appoint foreign ambassadors, and manage relations with Indians

Articles of Confederation Failures

a weak central government and powers in the hands of the states. the US economy faltered, since the central government lacked the power to enforce tax laws or regulate commerce.

Compromise of State and Federal Governments

Amendment Process

must be passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, then ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

Federalists

Those who supported the Constitution and a stronger national republic

Anti Federalist

Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in favor of small localized government

Federalist 10

a strong federal government can protect liberty because it guards against the dangers of control by a narrow interest. Madison also called it "faction." wanted a large republic government. 

pluralism

a theory of governmental influence that views the distribution of political power among many competing groups as serving to keep one of them in check 

Fear of factions

the most common source of faction is the "unequal distribution of property. A fear of factions was because if a certain faction took over it could overturn them all.  

Brutus 1

argues against the proposed U.S. Constitution, warning that a strong central government could threaten individual liberties and state sovereignty.

Participation democracy

emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society (supported by anti federalists)

Pluralist democracy

emphasizes group-based activism by non government interests striving to impact political decision-making 

Elite democracy

emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society.

legislative

the institution responsible for making laws, house and Senate

Executive

the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch 

judicial

the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through federal courts SCOTUS

allocation

the distribution of rights based on past use.

Article I

Legislative: makes laws, congress (house and senate)

Article II

executive: carrying out the laws, the president 

Article III

Judicial: interprets laws, Supreme Court of the US

Article IV

States: full faith and credit laws, allow states to have a balance between the federal government 

Article V

Amendments:  ⅔ propose, ¾ ratify 

Article VI

National supremacy: the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land

Article VII

ratification: 9/13 had to agree, all 13 agreed 

Checks and Balances

rules and procedures to reduce mistakes, prevent improper behavior, or decrease the risk of organizational centralization. prevent any one person or department from having absolute control over decisions and force cooperation in completing tasks

Federalist 51

Appropriate checks and balances can be created in the government and also advocates for separation of powers within the national government. The idea of checks and balances adapted between the branches.

Separation of powers

Making sure that each branch cannot overpower each other

Faction

 a group of self-interested people

centralized

 to create a system in which one central group of people gives instructions to regional groups

decentralized

process of shifting control from one main group to several smaller ones.

grants

the act of granting

stakeholder

the person who drove a stake into the land to demarcate the land s/he was occupying/stealing from Indigenous territories

republicanism

a system in which the government authority comes from the people through their representatives

social contract

people allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functional society 

Great Compromise

provided for a bicameral legislature, with representation in the House of Representatives according to population and in the Senate by equal numbers for each state.

Bicameral

a type of legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses

⅗ Compromise

 it determined that three out of every five slaves were counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxation.

Slave Trade Compromise

passed a compromise on the issue of foreign trade—the importation of enslaved Africans being the most fraught part of the issue.

Necessary and Proper Clause

authorizes Congress to employ any means that are appropriate and plainly adapted to the permitted end

Philadelphia Convention

address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.

McCulloch v Maryland

Court held that Congress had the power to incorporate the bank and that Maryland could not tax instruments of the national government employed in the execution of constitutional powers

US v Lopez-

struck down the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 (GFSZA) as it was outside of Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.

Commerce Clause

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

Supremacy Clause

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

10th amendment

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

14th amendment

no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

Federalism

 system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government

Categorical Grants

money granted by the federal government to state and local governments, with strict limitations on how it is to be spent

Block Grants

a grant-in-aid of a specified amount from a larger government to a smaller regional government body

dual federalism

for of federalism in which of the states and the national government operate independently in their own areas of public policy

cooperative federalism

form of federalism in which states and national government work together to shape public policy

reserved powers

(state) those not delgated or enhumrated to the national goverment but are reserved to the state

concurrent powers

shared power between both levels o

exclusive powers

held by national government and includes enumerated powers and implied powers

implied powers

not specifically written in the constitution