A.P. US Government & Politics – Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Foundational vocabulary from Topic 1.1 through 1.3 of the AP US Government & Politics workbook, covering democratic ideals, foundational documents, and models of democracy.

Hobbes (The Leviathan)

A philosopher whose work, The Leviathan, addresses democratic ideals and the social contract.

Locke (Second Treatise of Civil Government)

A philosopher whose work, Second Treatise of Civil Government, influenced foundational democratic ideals.

natural law

A philosophical concept foundational to democratic ideals and governed by reason.

Rousseau (The Social Contract)

A philosopher whose work, The Social Contract, contributed to the development of democratic ideals.

popular sovereignty

A democratic ideal where the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Declaration of Independence

A required foundational document that reflects democratic ideals such as natural law and popular sovereignty.

Thomas Jefferson

A founder who is recognized as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison

A founder central to the formation of foundational documents and democratic principles.

George Washington

A founder who played a critical role in the establishment of the early U.S. government.

Alexander Hamilton

A founder and advocate for federal power who contributed to foundational political debates.

Montesquieu

An influential philosopher whose ideas on government structure are reflected in the U.S. Constitution.

U.S. Constitution

A required foundational document that establishes the framework for the American government and reflects democratic ideals.

republicanism

A democratic ideal where emphasis is placed on liberty and unalienable individual rights as central values.

limited government

A democratic ideal where governmental power is restricted by law, usually a written constitution.

representative republic

A system where the people elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

representative democracy

A model of democracy where citizens elect officials to represent their interests in government institutions.

participatory democracy

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

Federalists

A group that argued for a strong central government and federal power, producing documents like Federalist No. 10.

Anti-federalists

A group that argued for states' power and voiced concerns about a strong central government in documents like Brutus No. 1.

initiatives

A mechanism in today's representative democracies allowing citizens to propose new laws or constitutional amendments.

referendum

A democratic tool where citizens can direct vote on specific laws or measures.

pluralist democracy

A model of democracy where no single group dominates and various interest groups compete to influence policy.

interest group

An organized group that tries to influence public policy based on specific shared concerns.

elite democracy

A model of democracy where a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision-making.

Federalist No. 10

A foundational document that contains arguments for federal power and addresses the dangers of factions.

Brutus No. 1

A foundational document presenting Anti-Federalist arguments for states' power and against a centralized government.

factions

Groups of people with shared interests, discussed in Federalist No. 10, that could potentially work against the common good.

Articles of Confederation

The first foundational document of the United States, representing a system that prioritized states' power over a central government.