AP Government - Unit 1

Government

The rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking.

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and polices of government.

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

Natural Rights

The rights to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away.

Social Contract

People allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.

American Political Culture

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share.

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that the government's authority comes from the people

Republicanism

a system in which the government's authority comes from the people

Inalienable Rights

rights the government cannot take away

liberty

social, political, and economic freedoms

Particapatory Democracy

a theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

civil society groups

independent associations outside the government's control

pluralist theory

A theory of government and politics that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process.

elitist theory

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

Political Institutions

the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary

Constitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law

Unicameral

One-house legislature

Shay's Rebellion

a popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts

Republic (Not the one from Star Wars)

a government ruled by the representatives of the people.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that was first intended to revise the Articles of Confederation but produced an entirely new document, the U.S. Constitution.

writ of habeas corpus

the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

bill of attainder

when the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

Ex Post de Facto

laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Virginia Plan

a plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress

New Jersey Plan

a plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state

Grand Committee

a committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation

Great Compromise

an agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; it settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally

Bicameral

Two house legislature

3/5ths Compromise

an agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating a state's representation

Compromise on Importation

Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808

Separation of Powers

a design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own

Checks and Balances

a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy

Federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states.

Legislative Branch

the institution responsible for making laws

Executive Branch

the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch

Judicial Branch

the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through the federal courts

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional provision that makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws.

Amendment

the process by which changes may be made to the Constitution

Federalists

supporters of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government

Anti-Federalists

those opposed to the proposed constitution, who favored stronger state governments.

Federalists papers

A series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay and published between 1787 and 1788 that lay out the theory behind the constitution.

Federalist 51

an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

Federalist 10

an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government

Factions

a group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process.

Brutus 1

an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government

American Political Culture elements

Democracy, natural/inalienable rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, liberty, pursuit of happiness, religious freedom.

pursuit of happiness (not the movie)

The belief that individuals should be able to achieve their goals through hard work, sacrifice, and their own talents.

Greek influence on Americal Political Culture

the concept of citizenship and direct democracy.

Roman influence on American Political Culture

Republic (representative form of democracy, aka republic), codifying laws (writing laws down).

Early England influence on American culture.

King John force to sign Magna Carta in 1215 which for first time limited the power of a monarch (Limited Government)

Enlightenment philosophers

idea of social contract and limited government (magna carta 1215)

Enlightenment period (1600-1700s)

Western Europe emphasized reason, analysis and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority. Took place in France and England

What did Thomas Hobbs do?

He created the Social Contract theory, he believed it would solve the issue of life being too dangerous and short for most people

John Locke

he believed that people came together voluntarily to form government/be governed to live in an orderly society. He believed that Magna Carta and English Bill of Rights protected the inalienable and natural rights of all citizens. Believed in contract theory/

Jean Russeau

agreed with Locke's theory, refined it, and added the word social because people would voluntarily come together to form a community and make a contract with each other, not a ruler. People would have to give up some of their freedoms for the needs of the majority.

Baron de Montesquieu

He created the limited government principle in fear of an abusive government.

Jefferson's arguments for separation from Britian

Preamble - statement of human rights
Grievances - no representation, justice obstructed, standing armies threatened, unfair taxes imposed.
Statement of separation - formally separating the colonies form England, colonies are now states.

Why did Bridget Mergens feel her rights were being oppressed?

Her school would not allow her to make a bible study club, in fear of more controversial clubs following her footsteps.

Which Advocacy group supported Mergens in her fight to make her school group

National Legal foundation - NLA

What part of the Equal access act did not force Mergen's HIGH SCHOOL to let her create her club

The Equal access act only applied to college clubs at the time

what year did the equal access act pass in

1984

in 2002, which club was turned down by a high school in Boyd Country despite other clubs being permitted.

GSA - Gay straight alliance

Which Group did the GSA go to for help in their fight?

ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union

Did Boyd County high school fully comply with the ACLU's request to allow the GSA

No, initially they permitted the club, but soon students started to fight over the club, so the school claimed that they shut down all school clubs, but in reality, they only shut down GSA operations while letting other clubs thrive.

What does the Mergens case and GSA case have to do with Liberty vs Order

The student had the right to create whatever clubs they wanted, but schools wanted to limit that right in fear of fighting and students arguing over these clubs.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

Autocracy

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

Unitary Government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

Confederacy

A loose union of independent states; name of government used by the southern states that seceded during the Civil War

When was articles of confederation adopted?

1777

When was articles of confederation ratified?

1781

2 main issues delegates of 2nd constitutional convention had to confront

lack of trust in other states not trusting a government ruling from them far away

Structure of AOC

1 vote per state 1 branch 2-7 representatives

Weakness of AOC

no enforcement of policies no tax power only 1 vote per state no judicial or executive branch

main issues tackled in consitutional convention

representation of states Powers of national govt

virginia plan elements (bicameral)

lower house representatvies based on population lower house memebrs elected by citizens upper house seats based on population upper house members appointed by state legislature and executive have strong powers

New jersey plan elements (unicameral)

legislature representatives is equal legislature members appointed by state weaker executeve and judicial same as AOC, but can now levy tax and regulate commerce

southerners wanted slaves to count for…

representation of states not taxation

northeners wanted slaves to count for…

taxation not representation

presidential term compromise, choose all that apply

settled on 4 years 10 years proposed 2 years proposed lifetime proposed

electoral college compromise, choose all that apply

could not decide whether people should vote, or most educated people choose their leader settled on electoral college

antifederalist fear of new government

feared central government would erase state govt feared standing army would always rule over

how many state had to agree for consitution to be ratified

9 out of 13

when was the natural rights added to consitution

dec 15 1791

Madison's solution for factions

factions will be minorities so they will not affect anyone in a republic

Great compromise elements

bicameral lowerhouse - representatives based on population and citizens appointed by state upperhouse - number of seats equal 2 senators and members appointed by state strong executive branch independent judicial branch