AP GOV UNIT 1 TEST

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

public policy

A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem.

democracy

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

direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

traditional democratic theory

Government depends upon the consent of the governed

pluralist theory

The theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

elite theory

theory that upper class elites exercise great influence over public policy

bureaucratic theory

A theory that appointed civil servants make the key governing decisions

hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

social contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

natural rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

federal system

the sharing of power between the central and state governments

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

an agreement during the Constitutional Convention protecting slave holders; denied Congress the power to tax the export of goods from any State, and, for 20 years, the power to act on the slave trade

Ratification of the Constitution

Article 7; required 9 out of 13 states to ratify (approve) it to become law.

Federalists

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

Federalist Papers

a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convince readers to adopt the new constitution

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution (Civil Liberties)

Constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

limited government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

popular sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

checks and balances

used to keep the government from getting too powerful in one branch

federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

amendments

Official changes, corrections, or additions to the Constitution

judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Marbury v. Madison (1803, Marshall)

The court established its role as the arbiter of the constitutionality of federal laws, the principle is known as judicial review

delegated powers

Constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government.

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic Clause)

The authority granted Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper" for the implementation of its enumerated powers.

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

reserved powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A clause in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Part of Article IV of the Constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states.

extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

interstate compacts

Contracts between states that carry the force of law; generally now used as a tool to address multi-state policy concerns

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819, Marshall)

The Court ruled that states cannot tax the federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase "the power to tax is the power to destroy"; confirmed the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.

dual federalism

The belief that having separate and equally powerful levels of government is the best arrangement. "layered cake" federalism

cooperative federalism

Cooperation among federal, state, & local governments; "marble cake" federalism

devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

fiscal federalism

Federal government using money (grants) to influence & control states.

fiscal policy

the use of government spending and revenue collection to influence the economy

grants-in-aid

money awarded to the states by the federal government

categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as a school salad bar

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services, such as transportation (roads, bridges, air ports, railways, etc)

revenue sharing

federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states

mandates

terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants

unfunded mandate

a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level Ex. Americans w/Disabilities Act & Motor Voter Act

United States v. Lopez (1995)

The Commerce Clause of the Constitution does not give Congress the power to prohibit mere possession of a gun near a school, because gun possession by itself is not an economic activity that affects interstate commerce even indirectly.

Federalist 10 (Madison)

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

Federalist 51 (Madison)

"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature." If men were angels…. CHECKS & BALANCES + SEPARATION OF POWERS Give the constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of the others. People are the primary check.

Brutus No. 1

This work by a prominent Anti-Federalist argued that that the new federal government would be too powerful. In particular, he pointed to the necessary-and-proper clause and the supremacy clause. In addition, he objected to Congress's power to tax and raise a standing army and to the vast size of the proposed republic. He felt this powerful new government would supplant the states.

U.S. Constitution (1789)

Replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a functioning government. Established (1) federalist system, (2) separation of powers, (3) checks and balances, and (4) The Bill of Rights was 'included'.

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.

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

Amendment 3

Citizens do not have to house soldiers.

Amendment 6

Rights of accused in criminal cases.

Amendment 8

No excessive bail or cruel punishment.

Amendment 9

People get rights not listed in Constitution.

Amendment 16

Income tax.

Amendment 23

Washington D.C. residents can vote for president.

Amendment 27

Congress cannot accept a pay raise until next term.

Amendment 1

Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

Amendment 2

Right to bear arms.

Amendment 4

No unreasonable search or arrest.

Amendment 5

No double jeopardy or no witness against yourself.

Amendment 7

Trial by jury.

Amendment 10

Any rights not given to federal government are given to the states and people.

Amendment 11

Individual cannot sue a state in a federal court.

Amendment 12

Separate ballots for President and Vice President.

Amendment 13

Abolish slavery.

Amendment 14

If you are born or naturalized in the U.S. then you are a citizen of the U.S.

Amendment 15

You cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed.

Amendment 17

Popular election of U.S. Senators.

Amendment 18

Prohibition.

Amendment 19

Women get the right to vote.

Amendment 20

President takes office on January 20th instead of March 4th.

Amendment 21

Repeal prohibition.

Amendment 22

President can only serve two terms.

Amendment 24

Anti poll tax.

Amendment 25

How president turns duties over to V.P. due to illness.

Amendment 26

18 year olds get to vote.

Federalist No. 70

Here Hamilton argues for the necessity of a single president (rather than an executive committee). Hamilton states that Americans should not fear the president becoming a tyrant because a single person would be easier to control. Additionally, a single president could act with more energy, efficiency, and secrecy than could a committee.

issue networks

The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits the president to two terms in office

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period. Example of Congressional Override of POTUS veto power.

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

White House staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary

Department of Veterans Affairs

This department administers benefit programs for our veterans.

line-item veto

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

merit system

A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.

Social Security Administration

Provided a pension for retired workers and their spouses and aided people with disabilities.