📘 AP Government – Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Natural Rights Philosophy

John Locke’s theory that all individuals are born with rights to life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract Theory

The idea that people consent to give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that political power resides with the people, who give consent to the government.

The Declaration of Independence

A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, outlining grievances and philosophical justifications.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The first national government had no taxing power, no executive or judiciary, and amendments required unanimous consent.

Great Compromise

Resolved representation debates by creating a bicameral legislature with the House based on population and the Senate with equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Determined that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

Checks and Balances

Measures that ensure no branch of government can dominate the others by giving each branch some control over the others.

Federalism

A system of government that divides powers between national and state governments.

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic would dilute the influence of factions.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist paper arguing against the Constitution, claiming it gave too much power to the central government.

Participatory Democracy

A form of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws required to carry out its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal laws and the Constitution take precedence over state laws.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Dual Federalism

A system where federal and state governments operate in distinct spheres.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Ratification

The formal approval of the Constitution by the states.

Faction

A group of people with shared interests that may work against the common good.

Checks and Balances

Mechanisms ensuring each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of the others.

Natural Rights Philosophy

John Locke’s theory that all individuals are born with rights to life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract Theory

The idea that people consent to give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that political power resides with the people, who give consent to the government.

The Declaration of Independence

A document drafted by Thomas Jefferson declaring the colonies' independence from Britain, outlining grievances and philosophical justifications.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The first national government had no taxing power, no executive or judiciary, and amendments required unanimous consent.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising by Massachusetts farmers that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.

Great Compromise

Resolved representation debates by creating a bicameral legislature with the House based on population and the Senate with equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Determined that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

Checks and Balances

Mechanisms ensuring each branch of government can monitor and limit the functions of the others.

Limited Government

The principle that the government's power is restricted by law, usually a constitution, to protect individual rights.

Republicanism

A political ideology emphasizing the participation of citizens in civic and political life through elected representatives.

Federalism

A system of government that divides powers between national and state governments.

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic would dilute the influence of factions.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist paper arguing against the Constitution, claiming it gave too much power to the central government.

Participatory Democracy

A form of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society.

Pluralist Democracy

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in policymaking; competition among groups drives policy outcomes.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy where a small, organized group of elites holds most of the political power and influence.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws required to carry out its enumerated powers.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are inferred as necessary to implement the enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal laws and the Constitution take precedence over state laws.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as the power to tax, build roads, and create courts.

Dual Federalism

A system where federal and state governments operate in distinct spheres.

Cooperative Federalism

A system where federal and state governments work together on common policy areas, often through shared programs and funding.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Ratification

The formal approval of the Constitution by the states.

Faction

A group of people with shared interests that may work against the common good.