AP GOVT Unit 1 Terms: Constitutional Foundations

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering essential terms and court cases for AP Government and Politics Unit 1.

Block Grant

Fixed sum of money given by a higher level of government to a state or local govt to fund broad services.

Categorical Grant

Federal funds given to state & local govt w/ strict rules on how the money can be spent.

Checks & Balances

System of govt where each branch has power to limit the actions of the other branches.

Concurrent Powers

Political powers shared by both the federal and state govts.

Cooperative Federalism

System of govt where nat. & state govts share power & work together to solve public problems.

Devolution

Transfer of power, authority, & responsibility from a central or national govt to regional/local govt.

Direct Democracy

System of government where citizens vote directly on laws & policies instead of electing reps to vote for them.

Dual Federalism

System of governance where the federal govt and state govt have distinct, non overlapping spheres of power.

Elitism

Belief or attitude that a small, select group of ppl (wealthy) deserve more influence, authority, or advantages than others.

Enumerated Powers

Specific, explicit powers granted to the fed govt (primarily Congress) by the US constitution.

Ex Post Facto Law

Law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of an action.

Federalism

System of govt where power is divided b/w the national & state govts.

Federalist Papers

Series of essays written to persuade Americans to ratify the U.S. Const.

Fiscal Federalism

Use of federal money, grants, & funding to influence state & local govt.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

States must recognize the public acts, records, & court decisions of other states.

Gibbons v. Ogden

Sup. court case where Congress has power to regulate interstate commerce.

Great Compromise

Agreement creating 2-house congress, balanced representation w/ pop in house & equal rep for each state in senate.

Implied Powers

Powers given to fed govt not specifically listed in the constitution but are necessary.

Judicial Review

Power of courts to determine whether laws/govt actions are constitutional.

Limited Government

Govt power is restricted by the constitution & laws.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court case; congress has implied powers & states can't interfere w/ valid fed actions.

Natural Rights

Basic rights ppl are born w/ that govt can't take away.

New Jersey Plan

Each state has equal representation, regardless of pop.

Pluralism

Political power is spread among many competing groups rather than controlled by one group.

Popular Sovereignty

Govt gets power from ppl.

Privileges & Immunities Clause

States must give ppl of other states the same basic rights/ protections as their ppl.

Republicanism

Govt where citizens elect reps to make decisions on their behalf.

Reserved Powers

Powers not given to fed govt are reserved for the states or ppl.

Separation of Powers

Divides govt power among 3 sep branches so no one becomes too powerful.

Shays' Rebellion

In Massachusetts, farmers protested debt & taxes (exposed weakness in AOC).

Social Contract

Ppl give govt some authority in exchange for protection of their rights.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution & valid fed laws are the highest law of land.