AP Gov - Term Definitions

enlightenment

an 18th century philosophical movement that began in Western Europe with roots in Scientific Revolution

social contract

some freedoms sacrificed (respecting government) in exchange for government protection

natural rights

fundamental rights (life, liberty, property) of all humans NOT received from a government

types of democracy

participatory, pluralist, and elitist

participatory democracy

emphasizes widespread grassroots political participation for a successful democratic government

elitist democracy

emphasizes a small group of socio-economic elites have the most influence in the policy-making process

pluralist democracy

emphasizes competition between interest groups that represent a plurality of views is most important for a successful democracy

republicanism

a form of government where people choose representatives to make public policy

popular sovereignty

the ideas that people are the source of governmental power and authority (the government’s power comes from the people)

Declaration of Independence (1776)

a resolution for independence from British rule written by Thomas Jefferson, including a list of grievances

Articles of Confederation (1777)

outlined the first US government, predecessor to the Constitution

federalism

the division of power between national, state, and local governments

dual federalism (layer cake)

state and federal governments are each supreme in there own spheres of power with no overlap

cooperative federalism (marble cake)

state and federal governments share responsibilities, costs, and administration of policies; increases federal power

fiscal federalism

refers to how federal, state, and local governments share funding and administrative responsibilities within our federal system

Shay’s Rebellion

six month rebellion formed by over 1,000 post-war veteran farmers in Massachusetts due to Congress’ lack of compensation (revealed weaknesses in Articles of Confederation)

what was required in the Articles of Confederation for the document to be amended?

the Articles could only be amended with a unanimous vote from the states

Articles of Confederation did not allow Congress to

impose taxes, form a national army, or regulate interstate commerce

Constitutional Convention (1787)

federal convention convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ended up rewriting the foundational document into the US Constitution, increasing the amount of power to the federal government

bicameral legislature

legislature with two houses (Congress with House and Senate)

Virginia Plan

Madison proposed a bicameral legislature based on population size

Virginia Plan favored

larger states

New Jersey Plan

proposed a unicameral legislature with each state getting one vote

New Jersey Plan favored

smaller states

Great Compromise

created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and a Senate (equal representation with two votes per state)

Three-fifths Compromise

a slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person for congressional representation

Three-fifths Compromise increased

Southern representation in the House

compromise on the importation of slaves

slave trade could not be banned for 20 years following the ratification of the Constitution (1808)

Federalists

supported the Constitution and advocated for a strong central government

Anti-Federalists

opposed the Constitution and preferred smaller state governments

electoral college

composed of elected officials from each state who represent the people and vote for the president

Brutus No. 1

argued that power should be held by the people; local governments are more democratic and allow citizens to more directly influence policy

Federalist No. 10 (Madison)

addresses the dangers of factions and how factions will compete for power so in a large republic there will be so many groups that no single group will dominate

Federalist No. 51 (Madison)

argued that the separation of powers and checks and balances are necessary to maintain a limited government

Federalist No. 70 (Hamilton)

argued that the executive branch should only have one member, the president, and proposed term limits as a way to limit to president’s power

Federalist No. 78 (Hamilton)

addressed the concerns about the power of the judicial branch and argued that the judicial branch would have the least amount of power under the Constitution, but would also have the power of judicial review

Article I

described the legislative branch

Article II

described the executive branch

Article III

described the judicial branch

Article IV (4)

outlines the relationship between the various states, as well as the relationship between each state and the US federal government

Article V (5)

outlines out the process to change the Constitution (including proposal and ratification)

Article VI (6)

supremacy clause

How is the Constitution amended?

Congress can propose an amendment by a 2/3 vote in each house or a national convention can propose an amendment request by 2/3 of the states. State legislatures or state conventions can ratify an amendment by a vote of 3/4 of the states.

separation of powers

each branch is given specific jobs/powers

checks and balances

each branch has the ability to limit or influence other branches

limited government

a government that is prevented from tyranny through a system of checks and balances and a distribution of power among several acting members

Legislative branch

makes laws

Executive branch

enforces laws

Judicial branch

interprets laws

delegated/exclusive powers

given exclusively to the federal government

examples of delegated/exclusive powers

coining money, regulating interstate commerce, and declaring war (only Congress)

reserved powers

powers that are reserved only for the states

concurrent powers

powers that both the state and federal governments have

Article 1, Section 8

necessary and proper (elastic) clause

necessary and proper clause grants

Congress implied powers as it allows it to pass all laws it deems “necessary and proper” to its duties

commerce clause

Congress holds the power to regulate interstate commerce and all commercial activity that crosses state lines

supremacy clause

In the case that federal law and state law are competing with one another, federal law trumps state law

enumerated/explicit powers

powers directly written in the Constitution

implied powers

not directly written in the Constitution

incentives/conditions of aid

requirements states must satisfy to receive a grant from Congress

Categorical grants

federal aid granted for a specific purpose with strict rules about how it should be used

Block grants

federal aid to states for use within a broad policy area, giving more discretion to states

Unfunded mandate

a federal requirement that states take a specific action, without providing money to do so

Federal revenue sharing

money provided to the states without any restrictions on how the money is spent

veto

the power of the president to reject laws

amendment

the addition of a provision to the Constitution

10th Amendment

any power not given to the national government nor denied to the states in the Constitution belongs to the states

McCulloch v Maryland (1816)

Congress chartered second bank of the USA in 1816 which Maryland opposed and said that any bank not approved by the state will be fined. Necessary and proper clause caused a unanimous vote in favor of McCulloch stating the institution of a national bank by the federal government was within its Constitutional powers.

US v Lopez (1995)

Lopez carried an unloaded pistol to school and was arrested under the federal Gun Free School Zones Act. The commerce clause was referenced in this case as a possession of a gun in a school zone did not substantially affect interstate commerce. This contributed to the ruling in favor of Lopez and that the federal law was unconstitutional.

the constitutional principle behind McCulloch v Maryland

Article 1 Section 8 - necessary and proper clause

the constitutional principle behind US v Lopez

Commerce Clause

devolution

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

Letter From Birmingham Jail

MLK demanding the fulfillment of the Declaration of Independence and and Constitution’s 14th amendment (equal protection clause) for ALL people

favored civil disobedience in order to protest against unjust laws

House of Representatives

435 members

represents districts within a state

serve 2 year terms

more formal and rule based

powers of the House

initiate all tax and revenue bills

power of impeachment

discharge petition

discharge petition

force a bill out of committee by a majority vote of a full house

House Rules Committee

set rules for debate when a bill comes to the floor

can make it more easy or difficult for it to be passed

House can turn into a committee of the whole

entire House considers a bill and acts as a single committee to help speed up the passage of legislation

Senate

100 members

represents states

serve 6 year terms

less formal and rule based

powers of the Senate

confirm nominations by the president

ratify treaties

filibuster

long speech to prevent a bill from coming to a vote

cloture (end filibuster forcibly)

60 members of Senate can vote to end debate on a bill and force a decision-making vote

hold

a senator can prevent a bill from being discussed on the floor

unanimous consent agreement

all senators agree to waive certain rules or procedures to speed along the passage of legislation

Speaker of the House

always from the majority party

most powerful person in the House

presides over House, schedules bills for debate and vote

President of the Senate

VP of the US

casts tie-breaking vote

standing committees (permanent)

bills sent here first for revision, markup, and hold hearings

conduct Congressional oversight after bills have been passed

congressional oversight

oversee executive branch to make sure that those bills are enforced correctly

committee chairs

leader of congressional committees

always from majority party

tremendous influence over legislation in committee

trustee representation

rep votes their conscience regardless of what constituents want

delegate representation

rep votes how their constituents want, even if they personally disagree

politico representation

sometimes act as a trustee and sometimes as a delegate

how are districts made?

every decade a census occurs and reapportionment takes place

reapportionment

changing the number of seats each state has in the House to make sure it is still proportional to population

gerrymandering

drawing districts in bizarre shapes in an effort to benefit a particular demographic or party

bully pulpit

a position of authority that allows the president to speak out and bring attention to any issue

State of the Union address

nationally televised speech delivered bu president in front of Congress

attempts to gain support for their agenda and pressure Congress to make laws favorable to it

no Senate confirmation needed for

White House office/staff

Chief of staff

Press secretary

Policy advisors, etc.

formal powers of the president

veto

pocket veto

commander-in-chief who directs troop movements and is head of the armed forces

veto

can reject a bill and send it back to Congress, preventing it from going into law

Congress can override this with a 2/3 majority vote