Test One AP Gov't

Block grants

Congress gives a loan of money that has little to no restrictions on what the money is used for.

Categorical grant

"Congress gives a grant of money that has strict guidelines (e.g., highway loans and SNAP benefits)."

Mcculloch v. Maryland

A court case where a state said that National banks were not specifically stated in the Constitution, therefore there shouldn’t be a National bank and it should be able to be taxed by the state government. (Congress said that a National bank was constitutional due to the government needing a place to store and distribute money through the Necessary and Proper Clause / Supremacy Clause.)"

United States v Lopez.

"A court case where a Texan student brought a gun to school. The federal government charged him under the Gun-Free School Zones Act. The Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional, limiting Congress's power. (This court case helped establish the guidelines of the Commerce Clause by restricting its powers.)"

Cooperative federalism

is a model of government where national, state, and local governments work together to solve complex problems and share responsibilities, rather than operating in separate, isolated spheres. (like a Marbled cake: you can see the different parts but there together)

Checks and balances

The Branches of Gov’t over lap when completing a task. (The Executive branch vetoing a Congressional law)

Separation of powers

When the branch of Gov’t sticks to its own power to complete a task. (When Congress passes a law without a veto.)

Pluralist Democracy

Non-political groups fight for representation within gov’t (Think of activists groups)

Elite Democracy

A group of political people who have governmental power or a group of the wealthy that have political power over there community (Less representation)

Participatory Democracy

Implies that everyone 'participates' in government. Instead of voting for representatives,citizens vote on specific government powers,such as laws and changes within government.

Federalism

Is a system of government where power is divided and shared between a central national government and local regional governments (such as state or provincial governments)

Jhon Locke

He had a very important effect on the Declaration of Independence. He did not write it,but his ideas,like natural rights, were fundamental.

Neccessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

The clause that allows Congress to do anything that is essential for the longevity of the United States government.

Dual Federalism

is a model of government where the national government and state governments operate in completely separate, distinct spheres of authority, with little to no overlap.Like a layered cake,the parts are clearly separated.

President (Elective) Checking the Courts

Nominating of Judges, Presidential Pardons are how this branch Checks the Courts.

presidential pardons

When the Executive branch of government can pardon someone from the repercussions of laws or jail time.

Articles of confederation

The beginnings of the American government ended up failing due to the main government not having the power to tax, which left the American government with no money to pay off their debts from the war. (Over all economic chaos)

Federalist 10

James Madison writes on the importance of how a factional government is not what he is trying to form and that factions lead to chaos. However, because humans tend to congregate in groups,he understands that either way, "political parties" will end up forming.

Nullification

was a political theory in U.S. history that argued an individual state had the constitutional right to declare a federal law void (invalid) within its borders if the state believed the law was unconstitutional.

Federalist No. 51

The Federalist Paper that discusses the implementation of government branches such as the legislative, executive, and judicial branches,as well as speaking on the ideas of natural rights.

Judicial review.

The courts part of (checks and balances). Giving the courts the rights to look over presidential actions as well as Congressional actions.

Congressional Powers

The controlling of funding, treaties and nominations, Impeachment and removal as well as veto overrides.

Reserved powers

are political powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, nor denied to the states. Under the system of federalism, these powers are kept for the states or the people.

Virginia Plan

A part of the Constitutional Convention, there was the idea from large states to have two houses based on population. States with larger populations pushed for this voting system

New Jersey plan

A part of the Constitutional Convention, the idea from smaller states to have one representative house based on population and One state had One vote. Voting system.

Bicameral

describes a government system with a two-house legislature

Unicameral

describes a government or legislative body that has a single chamber or house.

Popular Sovereignty

is a fundamental political principle which states that the ultimate power and authority of a government comes from the consent of the governed—in other words, the people themselves.

Separation of Powers

The Three branches of government. Legislative (Congress) Electoral (President) Judicial (Courts)

Majority rule & minority right.

is a foundational principle of democratic government. It balances the will of the larger group with protections for the fundamental rights of everyone else.

Federalism.

is a system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments.

Judicial review

is the power of the courts—specifically the U.S. Supreme Court—to examine actions taken by the legislative and executive branches, as well as state governments, and declare them unconstitutional if they violate the U.S. Constitution.

The amendment process.

is the step-by-step procedure outlined in Article V of the U.S. Constitution that allows the nation to alter or add to its fundamental law. The Framers intentionally made this process difficult so that the Constitution could not be changed easily or impulsively, requiring broad national consensus.

Bill of rights.

was added to guarantee individual liberties and calm widespread fears that the new central government would become too powerful and tyrannical. (The 10th Amendment)

The Bill of rights protects Individuals.

by establishing clear legal boundaries that prevent the government from abusing its power. It acts as a shield for personal freedom in three primary ways, freedom of speech freedom of religion and the right to assemble/Petition.

The Organization of a Federalism gov’t

Through Reserved (State), Enumerated (Federal) and Concurrent (both at the same time.) powers.

Reserved Powers

Gov’t Powers that the states control Ex: School systems and curriculums and issuing licenses for drivers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and businesses.

Concurrent Powers

Powers That the State Gov and National Gov Share Ex. Collecting Taxes and Enforcing laws.

Enumerated Powers

are the specific authorities explicitly written and listed in the U.S. Constitution as belonging to the national government, primarily Congress. Ex. Creating and distributing money, National tariffs and declaring war.

The 14th Amendment.

Is one of the three Reconstruction Amendments passed after the Civil War. It transformed American law by expanding civil rights protections and limiting state power over individual citizens.

Devolution

is the transfer of power, responsibility, and authority from a central (national) government back to subnational (state or local) governments. Ex. The federal government ran Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

First Order devolution.

Federal Gov’t giving power to state Gov’t

Second Order devolution

State Gov’t giving power to Local Gov’t

Third Order devolution

Local Gov’t giving power to Private/Non-Profit establishments.

Commerce Clause

gives Congress the power to regulate trade and business between states, with foreign nations, and with Native American tribes.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote to the people of New York to convince them to pass the Constitution, pushing for the beliefs of Federalism.

Brutus 1

is the foundational Anti-Federalist paper written in opposition to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It argued that a large national republic would destroy state sovereignty and individual liberty.