AP Government Exam Vocab

Natural rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.

Popular sovereignty

the idea that political authority belongs to the people

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws

Direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives. Laws are made directly made by the voting majority leaving the rights of the minority largely unprotected.

Rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

participatory democracy

a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions

Ex. Town hall meeting; local and state governments

pluralist democracy

a model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy.

Ex. Interest groups

Elite democracy

A small subset of citizens makes political decisions. Those who make policy are usually wealthier and more educated than the average citizen. Those who are in power are highly qualified to make political decisions.

Ex. Electoral college

Factions

a group, usually a small part of a larger group, united around some cause; refers to political parties and special interests or interest groups

Federalist 10

argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many factions exist; This diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable

Brutus 1

Laws cannot be properly executed in a large republic, where it's hard for central government to represent people properly. The proposed constitution is incompatible to the US because of the size of the country and the number of inhabitants.

Declaration of Independence

the document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

Unalienable Rights

Fundamental or natural rights guaranteed to people naturally instead of by the law. They include, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

Due Process Clause 14th Amendment

State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person life, liberty, or property.

Equal Protection Clause 14th Amendment

...nor shall any state ... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Translation: States cannot unreasonably discriminate against individuals. They must treat people "equally."

Citizenship clause 14th Amendment

All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

state sovereignty

states are in complete and exclusive control of all the people and property within their territory;

states have the ultimate power in a government—source of power

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution of the United States ratified in 1781. It was replaced by the Constitution of the US because it was not effective and was weak. State sovereignty, weak national government—13 nation-states.

Shay's Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out. The federal government did not have the power to collect taxes. Showed that the AOC was powerless--the economy was bad, and they could not raise an army to fight the rebellion.

Annapolis Convention

A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and economy, attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention (1787)

The gathering that drafted the Constitution of the United States in 1787; all states were invited to send delegates. The convention, meeting in Philadelphia, designed a government with separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

-States had too much power: controlled tax collection, made their own army, controlled commerce, and took part in international trade.

-National government had a weak military, had to rely on states

-Required unanimous approval to amend the Articles--1 state had the veto power. Tyranny of the 1.

-Required 9 out of 13 states to make a law.

Great Compromise

(Connecticut Compromise)

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Virginia (Large state) v. New Jersey (small state)

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Three-fifths Compromise

each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Census—counting people for representation in the House. Whole people (free but not Indians) and 3/5 of all other people (slaves)

Slave trade clause

The constitution prohibits Congress from outlawing slave trade for 20 years. Slave trade will increase, therefore profit and votes for the south will increase

Fugitive Slave Clause

Slaves caught fleeing in another state must be returned to their owner.

Bill of rights

The first ten amendments of the constitution

Federalists

supporters of the new US Constitution

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Anti-Federalists

people who opposed the Constitution

Amendment Process

Step 1: amendment proposed by 2/3 vote of both houses of congress OR a constitutional convention called by congress on petition of 2/3 out of 50 states. THEN amendment ratified by 3/4 of the 50 state legislatures OR 3/4 of special constitutional conventions called by 50 states THEN the new amendment is created

Bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Executive powers

the power to execute, enforce, and administer law

Legislative powers

The authority under the constitution to make laws and to alter or repeal them.

Judicial Powers

The powers to interpret laws, to determine their meanings, and to settle disputes in society

Checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Federalist 51

In this Federalist Paper, James Madison explains and defends the checks and balances system in the Constitution. Each branch of government is framed so that its power checks the power of the other two branches; additionally, each branch of government is dependent on the people, who are the source of legitimate authority.

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office. Check against the president for abusing their power.

Judicial review

The authorities of the supreme court to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

10th Amendment

All powers not given to the national government are reserved for the states

Reserve powers

Powers given to the state government alone

Dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. The line between federal and state government is distinct.

Cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. There is no clear distinction between powers of a state and national government.

Enumerated powers

-Taxing and spending: The first is the power to tax and to spend the money raised by taxes, to provide for the nation's defense and general welfare. Congress can borrow money through the issuance of bonds and other means. When it borrows money, the United States creates a binding obligation to repay the debt and cannot repudiate it.

-Congress can regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several states, and with the Indian Tribes.

-Congress has the power to raise and fund an army

-Congress has the power to declare war

Implied powers of congress

Powers not specifically written in the Constitution, but are necessary and proper to execute the powers

Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

federal mandates

Demands on states to carry out certain policies as a condition of receiving grant money.

25% of state budget comes from national government. Can be funded or unfunded

Categorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport. They are controlled by the national government.

Block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

Fiscal federalism

a concept of federalism where funding is appropriated by the federal government to the states with specific conditions attached. The legislation can be in the form of mandates.

Title IX

A United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

Selective incorporation

The process by which provisions of the Bill of Rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

1965; invalidated the use of any test or device to deny the vote and authorized federal examiners to register voters in states that had disenfranchised blacks; as more blacks became politically active and elected black representatives, it gave jobs, contracts, and facilities and services for the black community, encouraging greater social equality and decreasing the wealth and education gap

Civil Rights Act of 1964

This act made racial, religious, and sex discrimination by employers illegal and gave the government the power to enforce all laws governing civil rights, including desegregation of schools and public places.

Formal powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law given to the executive branch

Informal powers

Powers not directly granted by law. They may follow powers granted by law but may also come from the persuasive abilities, which are affected by the personality, popularity, and political support.

Veto

Chief executive's formal power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Pocket veto

A formal power. A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Signing statements

Informal power. A presidential document that reveals that the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced.

Executive order

A rule that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law

Executive agreements

An agreement between the president and the leader of another country. It is not a treaty, so it does not need senate approval. It is a way that the president bypasses the senate.

Treaty-making

The ability of a president to negotiate treaties with foreign nations requires ratification by 2/3 senate vote. Overshadowed by executive agreements.

Commander-in-chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

Appointment power

The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position (executive branch and judiciary, commissioned officers in the armed forces, and members of in the independent regulatory commissions)

Recess appointments

Presidential appointment made without senate confirmation during Senate recess; it is subject to later confirmation by the Senate

bully pulpit

the ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals; the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public.

Public approval ratings

A measure of the degree to which the public approves or disapproves of the president's performance in office.

State of the Union Adress

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation, in which he shares his agenda and plan for the year.

Persuasion and bargaining power with Congress

the means that the president uses to influence policy making. Presidents need to bargain to influence other branches of government (particularly Congress), but presidents also must bargain to influence the cabinet, secretaries, agency heads, and individual bureaucrats; all of these people have leverage they can use against the president, requiring the president to persuade all the time in his term

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Head of their party

The president is the leader of the party that he represents.

Pardon power

Power of the president to forgive a federal offense without penalty or grant release from a penalty already imposed.

Imperial presidency theory

term used to describe a president as an emperor who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive Congress. The belief that the presidency is uncontrollable and that it had exceeded its constitutional limits.

Unitary executive theory

The US president possesses the power to control the entire executive branch.

Mass media coverage (SOTU)

The president uses the SOTU to bring more popularity to themselves through television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet, and social media.

Press briefing

A relatively restricted session between a press secretary or aide and the press.

Election mandates

the permission granted to a political leader or winning party by the constituency, a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body, to govern and act on their behalf

Senate's advice and consent power

-The power of the Senate to consult and approve/disapprove the president's office position appointments by a 2/3 vote

-The power of the Senate to consult and approve/disapprove the president's proposed treaties with other nations by a 2/3 vote.

Power of the purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money.