AP Government Vocabulary - Unit 1

Comprehensive key term definitions covering foundational concepts of American democracy, constitutional principles, branches of government, and federalism based on AP Government vocabulary notes.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States from 1781 to 1789, which established a "league of friendship" among 13 states.

Ballot Measures

A proposed law, constitutional amendment, or policy question placed on an official ballot for voters to approve or reject directly; an example of participatory democracy.

Declaration of Independence

Document dated July 4, 1776, that justified the American colonies' separation from Great Britain using core Enlightenment philosophies.

Democracy

A system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives.

Direct Democracy

A system of government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies instead of electing representatives.

Representative Democracy

A system of government where citizens elect officials to make laws and policy decisions on their behalf.

Elite Democracy (Elite Theory)

A model of representative democracy emphasizing limited citizen participation, asserting that a small, wealthy, well-educated, and well-connected group holds the ultimate political power.

Government

The set of institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society.

Great Compromise

Agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that created a bicameral Congress combining elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey plans, where representation in one house is based on state population and every state receives equal representation with two senators in the other.

House of Burgesses

Established in 1619 by the Virginia Company, where each Virginia county elected two representatives, known as "burgesses," to meet and pass local laws.

Initiative

A process that allows citizens to propose new state laws or constitutional amendments and place them directly on the ballot for a public vote.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, giving every state one vote regardless of population.

One-Person, One-Vote

The constitutional principle that legislative districts must contain roughly equal populations so that each person's vote carries equal weight.

Participatory Democracy

A model of representative democracy that emphasizes broad, direct citizen involvement in politics and civil society.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy where power is distributed among competing organized groups, ensuring no single group or faction dominates political decision-making.

Politics

The interactive process through which society makes its governing decisions, determines public policies, and decides who gets what, when, and how.

Popular Sovereignty

The core democratic principle that a government's power and legitimacy come from the consent of the people.

Recall

A method of direct democracy that allows voters to remove an elected official from office before their regular term ends.

Referendum

A direct vote by all citizens on a specific policy question.

Republic

A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make and enforce laws on their behalf, rather than voting on laws and policies directly.

Second Continental Congress

The de facto national government of the thirteen American colonies from 1775 to 1781, organizing the war effort and declaring America's independence from Great Britain.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays that exposed the fatal weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.

Social Contract

The implicit agreement where people give up some of their individual freedoms to a government in exchange for social order, security, and the protection of their remaining natural rights.

Three Fifth’s Compromise

A 1787 agreement from the Constitutional Convention that allowed three-fifths of a state's enslaved population to be counted for congressional representation and direct taxation.

Virginia Plan

A 1787 Constitutional Convention proposal drafted by James Madison that called for a strong national government with three distinct branches and a bicameral legislature based on proportional representation.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers explicitly granted to the federal government—primarily Congress—by the United States Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government where a constitution divides and shares power between a national central government and regional state governments.

Federalists

Supporters of ratifying the U.S. Constitution who argued that a strong national government was needed to fix the weak Articles of Confederation.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pen name "Publius" to convince states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Requires each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Implied Powers

Powers exercised by Congress that are not explicitly written in the U.S. Constitution, but are inferred as necessary to carry out the government's enumerated powers.

Necessary & Proper Clause

Gives Congress the power to pass all laws needed to execute its explicit, enumerated powers.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional design that divides the power of the federal government into three distinct, independent branches so that no single branch can accumulate tyrannical authority.

Inherent Powers

Powers held by the president and Congress that are not explicitly written in the Constitution, but are logically necessary for the government to function and manage the country.

Privileges & Immunities Clause

Prevents a state from unreasonably discriminating against out-of-state citizens, ensuring visitors receive the same fundamental rights as native residents.

Supremacy Clause

A constitutional provision in Article VI which establishes that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land".

Reserved Powers

Political powers that the U.S. Constitution neither gives to the national government nor denies to the states, leaving them strictly to the states or the people under the Tenth Amendment.

Checks & Balances

A constitutional principle where each of the three branches of government holds specific powers to limit or block the actions of the other two branches, ensuring no single branch becomes too powerful.

Concurrent Powers

Political and legal powers shared by both the national and state governments in a federal system.

Commerce Clause

A provision in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations, among the several states (interstate commerce), and with Indian tribes.

Block Grants

A lump sum of federal money given to state and local governments for broad policy areas with very few conditions or restrictions.

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to state and local governments for a narrowly defined, specific purpose with strict rules and conditions attached.

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government where national and state governments share responsibilities, costs, and administration for overlapping policy areas.

Delegated Powers

The specific authorities granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution.

Devolution

The transfer of policy-making responsibility and administrative power from the federal government to state and local governments.

Dual Federalism

A system of government where national and state governments operate independently within their own distinct, non-overlapping spheres of authority.

Federal Mandate

A requirement set by the federal government that state and local governments must follow, often regardless of whether federal funding is provided.

Federal System

A system of government where a constitution divides and shares power between a central national government and regional state governments.

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system that the national government uses to influence state and local policies.

Formula Grants

Federal funds given to state and local governments automatically based on a legal formula rather than a competitive application process.

Gibbons vs. Ogden

(1824) A landmark Supreme Court case that broadly interpreted the Commerce Clause to give Congress the exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce, overriding conflicting state laws.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare legislative and executive actions unconstitutional.

Layer Cake

A political system where national and state governments operate in distinct, separate spheres of authority without overlapping responsibilities.

Mandate

A requirement set by the national government that state or local governments must follow.

Marble Cake

Cooperative federalism, where the responsibilities and powers of the national, state, and local governments are blended and shared rather than kept separate.

Marbury vs. Madison

Supreme Court case in which incoming President Jefferson refused to deliver the appointment of Adams's "midnight judge" pick, William Marbury; Chief Justice Marshall ruled the law Marbury used to sue unconstitutional, establishing judicial review and cementing the Court as a co-equal branch of government.

McCulloch vs. Maryland

Supreme Court case that established federal supremacy and implied powers under the "Necessary and Proper" Clause; ruled that Congress had the power to create a bank after Maryland tried to tax a branch of the Second Bank of the United States and cashier James McCulloch refused to pay.

Municipalities

A local, incorporated urban political unit—such as a city, town, or village—that is created by a state to provide local government services and pass local ordinances.

New Federalism

A political philosophy that shifts power and policy responsibility from the federal government back to state and local governments.

U.S. vs. Lopez

Supreme Court case involving a high school student charged under federal law for bringing a gun to school; the Court ruled the law unconstitutional as carrying a gun in a school zone is non-economic, limiting Congress's power under the Commerce Clause and protecting state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment.

Unitary System

A form of government where one central authority holds all governing power, and any regional or local governments exercise only the powers that the central authority chooses to delegate.

1st Amendment

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

Freedom of Religion (2 clauses)

Establishment Clause: religion cannot be established ONTO people

Free Exercise Clause: can exercise any religion one chooses

Engel vs. Vitale

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools (goes alongside the establishment clause)

Wisconsin vs. Yoder

A Supreme Court case educating children is not compelling enough to override the parents' rights to exercise their Amish religious beliefs by exempting their children from compulsory school attendance beyond the eighth grade (goes alongside the free establishment clause)

Schenck vs. U.S.

Landmark case where Schenck makes flyers that enocurage others to resist the draft, he was arrested and this case was ruled unconsitutional because it presented a "clear and present danger" to national security (freedom of speech)

Tinker vs. Des Moines

Landmark case where students wear black armbands to school in protest against the Vietnam War, resulting in a ruling that students do not lose their First Amendment rights at school, court voted in favor of students (freedom of speech) (SYMBOLIC SPEECH)

New York Times vs. U.S.

A landmark Supreme Court case that reinforced the principle of freedom of the press by ruling that the government could not prevent the publication of classified materials unless it posed a direct threat to national security (freedom of press)

2nd Amendment

The right to keep and bear arms; “necessary to the security of a free state”

McDonald vs. Chicago

A Landmark case, Chicago banned handgun registrations, McDonald wanted guns for protection in an unsafe neighborhood, court ruled in favor of McDonald

3rd Amendment

no quartering of soldiers in peace-time without the homeowners consent

4th Amendment

freedom from unreasonable searches/seizures, except with probable cause

Exclusionary Rule

stops government from using evidence in a criminal trial if gathered breaking while breaking the Constitution

5th Amendment

the right to due process of the law, freedom from self-incrimination, no double jeopardy, protects private property from government aquisition

6th Amendment

the right of…

• speedy/public trial

• jury of peers

• legal counsel

• know charges against you

• confront the witness

• hear Miranda Rights

Gideon vs. Wainwright

A landmark case, Gideon arrested and could not afford a lawyer, had to represent himself in court, ruled in his favor (6th amendment)

7th Amendment

right to trial by jury in federal court for certain cases ($20)

8th Amendment

prohibits excessive bail and unusual punishments

9th Amendment

one has more rights than are written, enumerated rights

10th Amendment

limits powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution

11th Amendment

state immunity; states cannot sue non-citizens from that state

12th Amendment

method of presidential elections; distinction of vice pres. and pres.

13th Amendment

abolishes slavery

14th Amendment

grants full citizenship; colored count as a whole

Due Process Clause

African Americans can no longer be deprived of life, liberty, or property.

Baker vs. Carr

a landmark case that established the principle of one person, one vote, addressing legislative districting and representation (due process clause) (14th amendment)

Equal Protection Clause

A provision in the 14th Amendment that requires states to treat all individuals equally under the law, prohibiting discrimination

Shaw vs. Reno

a Supreme Court case that ruled on racial gerrymandering, determining that redistricting based on race must meet strict scrutiny under the (equal protection clause) (14th amendment)

Incorporation Doctrine

government and states need to follow the Bill of Rights

15th Amendment

black men can vote

16th Amendment

income tax both the rich and the poor

17th Amendment

direct election of senators by the people

18th Amendment

prohibition of alcohol production and sale

19th Amendment

all are allowed to vote

20th Amendment

• president start on Jan 20

• Congress start on Jan 3

21st Amendment

repeals prohibition