AP Government unit 1.1-1.4

Democratic Terms

Core ideas that shape American democracy. In the CED, these include natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty, and limited government

Limited Government

Government power cannot be absolute. The constitution limits what government officials and institutions may do.

Natural Rights

Rights that belong to people and cannot be taken away by government.

Popular Sovereignty

Government power comes from the consent of the people.

Republicanism

the democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government debates and decisions buy their representatives.

Social Contract

An agreement in which people give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection and social order.

Civil Society

The part of society outside government where people participate, organize, and work together politically and socially.

Elite democracy

A model of representatives democracy that emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society.

Participatory democracy

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

Pluralist democracy

A model of representatives democracy that emphasizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests trying to influence political decisions.

Representative democracy

A system in which citizens chose representatives to make political decisions on their behalf.

Anti- Federalists

Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution and wanted more power reserved to state governments rather than a strong central government

Decentralized republic

A republic in which power is kept close to state or local governments rather than concentrated in a strong national government.

Factions

Groups of people with shared interests or passions that may try to influence government.

Federalists

Those who supported ratification of the Constitution and advocated for a strong central government.

Large republic

Madison’s ideas that a. leader republic could help control factions by including many competing interests and elected representatives.

Personal liberty

Individual freedom from excessive government power.

Shays Rebellion

An incident that exposed a weakened of the Articles of Confederation because the national government lacked centralized military power to respond effectively.