AP Government Foundations and Federalism Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering constitutional democracy, federalism, foundational documents, and landmark Supreme Court cases based on the provided lecture notes.

Limited Government

Government can only exercise powers granted by the Constitution; government is limited by the rule of law.

Natural Rights

Rights John Locke identified as life, liberty, and property; these rights are inalienable.

Popular Sovereignty

Government authority is derived from the people, or the consent of the governed.

Republicanism

Government rooted in the consent of the governed, using representative or indirect democracy.

Social Contract

The idea that citizens give up some rights so government can protect the rights they keep.

Direct/Participatory Democracy

Voters directly meet or participate to discuss policy and use majority rule.

Pluralism

Government by people operating through competing interest groups.

Elite Theory

The view that a small group makes most government decisions.

Federalism

Power is divided between national and state governments.

Federalists

Supporters of ratification who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of ratification who favored stronger state governments and a weaker national government; they also wanted a Bill of Rights.

Factions

Madison's term for political parties and interest groups in Federalist No. 10.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution; it gave more power to the states.

Shays' Rebellion

A 1786 rebellion by Massachusetts farmers that helped convince leaders that a stronger national government was needed.

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress with equal representation for each state in the Senate and representation by population in the House.

Electoral College

The body of electors chosen by the states to cast ballots for president and vice president.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A constitutional compromise that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths for purposes of representation and taxation.

Federalist No. 51

Federalist essay explaining the need for checks and balances and separated government powers to prevent abuses of power.

Congress

The bicameral national legislature made up of the House of Representatives and Senate.

President

Head of the executive branch who carries out laws.

Federal Judiciary

The national court system, including district courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government has powers that can limit or oversee the other branches.

Separation of Powers

Government power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Federalist No. 39

Madison's essay explaining that the Constitution creates a republic whose powers are derived from the people.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by national and state governments, such as the power to tax.

Federal Revenue Sharing

A 1972–1986 program that sent federal money to state and local governments with broad discretion over how to use it.

Mandate

A national government requirement that a state undertake an activity or provide a service.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants given to state or local governments for a specific purpose.

Block Grants

Federal grants given for broad categories of programs with relatively few restrictions.

Tenth Amendment

Powers not given to the federal government or denied to the states are reserved to the states or the people.

Fourteenth Amendment

Amendment addressing citizenship, privileges or immunities, due process, and equal protection.

Commerce Clause

Constitutional provision giving Congress power to regulate commerce among the states.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congrss to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers; also called the Elastic Clause.

Enumerated/Expressed Powers

Powers specifically spelled out in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers reasonably implied by the enumerated powers, especially through the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Policy Making

Crafting proposed ways to resolve public problems.

Government

The formal vehicles through which policies are made and state affairs are conducted.

National Sovereignty

The externally recognized right of a political entity to exercise final authority over its affairs.

Order

Established ways of social behavior.

Public Goods

Government-provided benefits or services that benefit all and are unlikely to be voluntarily produced.

Police Power

Authority to maintain order and safeguard health, morals, safety, and welfare.

Political Equality

Equality in political decision making, including the idea that each person has one vote and votes count equally.

Social Equality

Equality in wealth, education, and social status.

Equality of Opportunity

The idea that people should have the same chance to succeed in life.

Equality of Outcome

The idea that society should ensure equality, including through government redistribution of wealth or status.

Rights

Benefits of government to which everyone is entitled.

Autocracy

A system in which power is concentrated in one individual.

Oligarchy

A system in which power is concentrated in a few people.

Democracy

A system in which the people rule directly or indirectly.

Universal Participation

The idea that everyone in a democracy should participate in government decision making.

Majority Rule

The principle that decisions reflect the preference of more than half of the participating voters or members.

Minority Rights

Government protections or benefits that cannot be denied by majority decisions.

Hyperpluralism

A situation in which many groups or factions become so strong that government is unable to function effectively.

Citizen

A member of a political community with rights and obligations.

Civil Society

The arena in which citizens organize and express views publicly through open debate about policy.

Indirect/Representative Democracy

A systm in which citizens elect representatives who act on their behalf.

Monarchy

A system in which hereditary kings or queens govern in the interests of the whole society.

Politics

The process of deciding who gets what, when, and how; how policy decisions are made.

Confederation

A system in which the national government derives its powers from the states; a league of independent states.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a one-house legislature with one vote per state, congressional acts as supreme law, and a supreme judiciary with limited power.

Legislative Branch

The branch that makes laws; described in Article I.

Executive Branch

The branch that carries out laws and runs the country; described in Article II.

Judicial Branch

The branch that interprets laws through judicial review; described in Article III.

Unitary System

A system in which power comes from a strong national government.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to review government actions for constitutionality; associated with Marbury v. Madison.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI provision stating that national laws override conflicting state and local laws.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 essays by Jay, Hamilton, and Madison supporting ratification of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution.

Constitution

The document establishing the structure, functions, and limitations of government.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Article IV provision requiring judicial decrees and contracts in one state to be recognized and enforced in other states.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two chambers, the House of Representatives and Senate.

Consent of the Governed

The principle that government is legitimate because citizens agree to be governed, rather than because of divine right.

Ratification

Approval of a proposed agreement or document by the required authority.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature with one chamber.

Inalienable

Unable to be taken away or given away; natural rights are inalienable.

Devolution

The idea that power should move from the national government to state governments.

Dual Federalism

A federalism system in which national and state powers are clearly differentiated; often called 'layer cake' federalism.

Cooperative Federalism

A federalism system in which national and state powers overlap; often called 'marble cake' federalism.

Grants-in-Aid

Money provided by a more powerful government to a less powerful government to help pay for a program.

Reserved Powers

Powers not granted to the national government or denied to the states; held by states through the Tenth Amendment.

Unfunded Mandates

National government requirements imposed on states without providing money to pay for them; penalties may apply.

Nullification

The theory that states can invalidate federal laws they consider unconstitutional; it has never been upheld by federal courts.

Extraordinary/Super-Majority

A requirement greater than a simple majority, such as two-thirds or three-fourths.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case recognizing federal implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause and federal supremacy over conflicting state law.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court case limiting Congress's Commerce Clause power and holding that Congress cannot regulate every activity simply because it affects interstate commerce.