AP Gov Unit 1 Vocab

27 need to know words for unit 1 in AP US Government and Politics

Government

the institution through which a society makes and enforces a public policy

Public Goods

a commodity or service that is provided without profit to all members of a society, either by the government or a private individual or organization

Politics

the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power

Political Participation

how individuals engage in politics

Policymaking system

what mechanisms the government utilizes to create policy

Political issue

an issue is an important subject that people are arguing about or discussing

Policymaking institutions

organizations within the government that create policy

Public policy

the principles, often unwritten, on which social laws are based

Democracy

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically though elected representatives

Majority rule

50% plus 1

Minority rights

guaranteed freedoms for a group that is not a part of the majority

representation

the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented

Pluralist theory

the theory that there are a multitude of interest groups trying to influence government

Elite and class theory

the theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power--and that this power is independent of democratic elections

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government contending that when a large number of different groups or factions become so politically influential, the government is unable to function properly

Policy gridlock

there are so many groups competing in government that nothing gets done

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

combined elements of the New Jersey and Virginia plans to create the Constitution

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president

Three-Fifths Compromise

three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxation

Virginia Plan

outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive and judicial

New Jersey Plan

retain a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal votes of states and have the national legislature elect the executive

Federalism

division of power between state, federal, and local governments

Grants

money that is given to the states from the federal government for some purpose. Two types of this are categorical and block grants

Commerce Clause

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

Necessary and Proper Clause

allows Congress to make any law necessary to execute their expressed powers

Expressed Powers

those powers specifically listed in the Constitution

Implied Powers

those powers suggested in the Constitution to ensure that governing entities have the ability to execute their expressed powers