AP Government Unit 1 Vocab Terms

Articles of Confederation

First attempt at government for the United States, which gave too much power to states and not enough to the national government.

Bicameral Legislature

A two-house legislature.

Block Grants

Money given by federal government to states with broad freedom on how to spend it.

Brutus #1

Essay criticizing the new constitution, arguing that giving up freedom to a powerful national government means never getting those freedoms back.

Federalist #10

Essay in support of the U.S. Constitution arguing that a large country is necessary to protect against greed and ambition.

Federalist #51

Essay stating that a system of checks and balances prevents any one part of the government from becoming too powerful.

Federalist #70

Essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a unitary executive, proposing that only one person should be president.

Federalist #78

Essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing that the judicial branch should be independent and judges should serve for life.

Categorical Grant

Money given by federal government to states with certain limits on how it is spent.

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.

Commerce clause

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

Concurrent powers

Powers held by both Congress and the states.

Decentralists

Those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.

Declaration of Independence

Written by Thomas Jefferson, it listed abuses by King George III and reasons for the 13 colonies' rebellion.

Direct democracy

System in which the people rule themselves.

Elastic clause

States that Congress can exercise powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically written in the Constitution given to the national government.

Federalism

Constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments.

Federalist Papers

A group of 85 essays written to persuade the people of New York 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.

Indirect Democracy

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

Informal amendment

A change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution.

Judicial review

Power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions.

Mandates

Orders from the federal government that states must follow.

Marbury vs. Madison, 1803

Established the power of judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819

Established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.

Pluralism

Theory that policy making is the result of competition among interest groups.

Popular sovereignty

Principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.

Reserved powers

Powers held by the states through the 10th amendment.

Revenue Sharing

Money given by federal governments to states with little or no restrictions on spending.

Separation of powers

Principle that government powers are separated among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Shay’s Rebellion

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking debt relief; influenced the calling of the Constitutional Convention.

Supermajority

A majority greater than a simple majority of 51%, typically 3/5 or 2/3.

U.S. v. Lopez, 1995

Supreme court ruling that the commerce clause cannot be used to prosecute gun offenders, strengthening state power.