Ap Government - 1st Semester Review (Units 1-3)

Ideals of Democracy

The U.S. government is based on ideas of limited government, including natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social contract. These ideals can be found in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

Limited Government

restrictions on government power, usually found in a constitution

Natural rights

Rights that we are born with that cannot be infringed upon | life, liberty, property (or pursuit of happiness)

Popular sovereignty

Power belongs to the people | consent of the governed

Republicanism

The people can elect representatives who are responsible for making and carrying out laws

Social contract

consent to be governed in return for the protection of natural rights (Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s idea.)

Participatory democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

Pluralist democracy

Recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making

Elite democracy

emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society

Federalist 10

document that adresses concern over special interest groups. Focuses on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government

Brutus 1

document over the fear that a powerful central government will result in more elite democracy and limitations to participatory democracy. Adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized governments.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the United States that establishes the framework of the federal government and lays out the rights and responsibilities of citizens

Federalists

In favor of the U.S. Constitution and the power of the national government

Anti-federalists

Not in favor of the Constitution as some wanted a Bill of Rights, and others voiced concern about the central government having too much power

Articles of Confederation (AOC)

First governing document of an independent U.S. government.

• weak central government

• no independent executive or judicial branch

• hard to amend (all 13 unanimous) or make national laws (9 of 13 states, each state getting 1 vote)

• unicameral

Drawbacks of the AOC

• lack of tax law enforcement power by the national government

• inability to regulate commerce

• lack of national military powers heightened by events like Shays’ Rebellion

Connecticut Compromise

combination of Virginia and New Jersey Plan, creating a bicameral legislature, one chamber based on population and another on equal representation | Also known as the “Great Compromise”

Electoral College

debate over the election of president resulted in creation of the _________ _______, elites that would have a say over the presidential election (in theory)

3/5 Compromise

representation of enslaved population resulted in counting enslaved people as 3/5 of a population, leading to slave states with disproportionate representation

Amendment Proposal Process

1. 2/3 vote in both houses

   OR

2. Proposal from 2/3 of state legislatures

Amendment ratification process

¾ vote from the states

Federalist 51

document that explains how consitutional provisions of seperation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities.

Separation of powers

A doctrine of constitutional law under which the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are kept separate. Allows for multiple access points for citizens (i.e., groups can influence/lobby/etc. different branches for policy changes)

Federalism

the sharing of power between the national and state governments

Exclusive Powers

powers only for the federal government such as declaring war

Enumerated powers

Powers found in the Constitution for the federal government

Concurrent powers

Powers shared or allowed for both the federal and state governments

Reserved Powers

Powers granted to the states or people via the 10th amendment. Not guranteed to the federal government

Implied powers

Congressional powers beyond enumerated throught he necessary and proper clause. Stretches the power of the federal government

Cooperative federalism

separate spheres of power to more sharing of powers

Fiscal federalism

Use of federal monies to influence policy

Categorical Grants

Federal monies for state governments for specific purposes (money with strings attached)

Block grants

Federal monies for state governments for broad puproses (little to no strings attached). Examples include a federal grant for highway construction, for “infrastructure“, allowing states more freedom to decide how money is spent

Unfunded mandates

Required by the federal government to do, but not funded by them. Examples inlcude Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), No Child Left Behind, and Clean Water Act.

Revenue sharing

Distribution of tax money to the state government. General _______ _______ was discontinued in the 1980s due to high deficits

Commerce Clause

the federal government can regulate interstate commerce. Used to expand federal power

Necessary and Proper clause

Congress implied powers, a clause that expands federal power

Democracy

'rule by the people'. An example of this is any system of government in which people vote their elected representatives into parliament.

Faction

a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like, typically having different opinions and interests than the larger group

Shay’s Rebellion

uprising in western Massachusetts in opposition to high taxes and stringent economic conditions. Armed bands forced the closing of several courts to prevent execution of foreclosures and debt processes. Led people to realize the Articles of Confederation were too weak

Impeach

“to accuse someone of misconduct” | The house has the power to _______ the president. The senate serves as a jury to determine guilt or innocence of the president regarding the charges

Checks and Balances

Powers each branch has to check the power of another branch

Policymaking

the process of creating a policy

Bill of Rights

The only reason North Carolina and Rhode Island would ratify the Constitution | First 10 amendments of the US Constitution

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, the Press, Assembly, and to petition the government

2nd amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

You cant be forced to quarter soldiers

4th Amendment

No unwarrented searches (includes cell phone data)

5th Amendment

guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids “double jeopardy,” and protects against self-incrimination.

6th amendment

The right to speedy and public trial, right to an impartial jury, to be aware of the criminal charges, to confront witnesses during the trial, to have witnesses in the trial, and the right to legal representation

7th amendment

Protects right of the citizen to have a jury trial in civil cases where the claim exceeds $20

8th amendment

No cruel or unusual punishments or excessive bails

9th amendment

There are more rights than just listed in the Constitution

10th amendment

Reserved powers for the state

Senate

one of the houses of Congress | Has 100 members, 2 per state, and 6 year terms | Have the power to filibuster

House of Representatives

one of the houses of Congress | has 435 members, based on population of state | 2-year term

Constituent

the residents of a congressional district or state.

Tax Revenue

funds programs and services government provides

Budget

a policy document that allocates burdens and benefits

14th amendment

Due process and equal protection clauses protect civil liberties and civil rights from the states. Limits state power

Speaker of the House

Highest ranking member of the majority party in the House. Their duties include:

• Presiding over meetings of the House

• Appointing members of joint committees and conference committees

• Scheduling legislation for floor action.

Filibuster

”Talking a bill to death” | A power only in the Senate

Cloture

A vote to stop a filibuster (needs 60 votes)

Rules Committee

“Traffic Cop” | decides what measures to consider and creates strict rules on how to debate. Is only in the House of Representatives

Committee of the whole

a committee of the House on which all Representatives serve and which meets in the House Chamber for the consideration of measures from the Union calendar.

Discharge Petition

Forces a bill out of a committee

Entitlements

Mandatory spending programs that MUST be covered as a result of Legislation (Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, Unemployment Programs)

Discretionary Spending

Congress debates to determine who will get a piece of the pie (part of the budget)

Pork Barrel

Money set aside (earmarked) in a bill for a pet project in a congressman’s district

Logrolling

One congressman votes for another congressman’s project hoping they will return the favor

Partisanship

persons who strongly support their party's policies and are reluctant to compromise with political opponents.

Gerrymandering

drawing district lines to benefit a political party

Redistricting

census indicates changes in population, causes new district lines to be drawn every 10 years.

Reapportionment

the process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the house

One person, one vote

the principle of equal representation in voting

Divided government

a government in which one party controls the white house and another party controls one or both houses of congress

Lame Duck

when a president has reduced powers and is on their way out of office. The sessions begins mid November of the election year and last to January 20 of the following year.

Trustee Representative

Representatives that use their conscience

Delegate representative

representatives that are agents for those who elected them

Politico representative

representatives with an allegience to their party. A hybrid of the delegate and trustee models

Policy Agenda

what governmental officials find important to discuss

Veto

the presidents power to reject a bill from congress. Can be overcome witha 2/3 vote from congress

Pocket Veto

when the president does not sign a bill into law during the last 10 days of a congressional session

Line Item Veto

presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire bill. Was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

Commander in chief

the president is the _________ __ _____ of the army and navy

Executive Agreements

a formal agreement between the president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval. It is an informal power

Treaty

a formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by 2/3 of the Senate.

Executive Order

mandatory requirements from the Executive Branch, and have the effect of law

The Cabinet

group of presidential advisers, including the heads of the executive departments, the attorney general, and other officials chosen by the president

Signing Statement

An informal power of the President | Document informing Congress and the public of how the President will interpret a law that has passed

Life tenure

a term of office that lasts for the office holder's lifetime unless the office holder is removed from office for cause of misbehaving in office, extraordinary circumstances, or decides personally to resign.

Federalist 70

“A single person in charge of the government and the executive branch could be dangerous, but the advantage of a single executive includes avoiding conflicts and ensuring accountability”

22nd Amendment

amendment that limits the number of terms a president can serve to two

Formal powers

the power that is explicitly given with a title, role, or position

Informal Powers

are not specifically listed, but are granted to the president to expend his/her powers, being the executive of the nation

State of the Union Address

a message from the President to Congress, usually given once a year in January or February. In the message, the President talks about important issues facing Americans and offers his ideas on solving the nation's problems, including suggestions for new laws and policies

Bully Pulpit

The president’s use of media coverage to promote an agenda directly to the American public

Agenda Setting

describes the "ability (of the news media) to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda"

Article I

article in the Constitution that talks about the Legislative Branch

Article II

article in the Constitution that talks about the Executive Branch