AP Gov Unit 1: Foundations and Types of Democracy

Vocabulary flashcards covering Topic 1.1 Ideals of Democracy and Topic 1.2 Types of Democracy from AP Government Unit 1 notes.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society, where people vote directly for laws and matters that affect them instead of voting for representatives.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy recognizing group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision-making through competition and compromise.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy emphasizing limited participation in politics and civil society, where individuals or groups possessing the most power, money, or influence dominate government.

Pluralism

The idea that modern society consists of many competing groups (such as economic, religious, cultural, and ethnic) that must compromise to influence government and achieve goals.

Magna Carta (1215)

The first document to establish a limited government under a monarchy.

Limited Government

A government system empowered by law from a starting point of having no power, or where governmental power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution.

English Bill of Rights (1688)

An English document that established fundamental civil liberties and freedoms.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who authored Second Treatise on Government, arguing for natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty, and natural law.

Natural Rights (Locke)

The inherent rights identified by John Locke as life, liberty, and property.

Natural Law

The principle that people should be governed by ethical principles based on reason.

Social Contract (Rousseau)

The agreement of free and equal people to abandon certain natural rights in order to find secure protections for society and freedom in a single body politic committed to the general good.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the people are the ruling authority ('a government for the people, by the people') along with a government of officials to carry out the laws.

Republicanism

A political system where government power is held by the people who elect political representatives to represent them, make laws, and enforce laws.

Declaration of Independence

The foundational U.S. document that provides a foundation for popular sovereignty.

U.S. Constitution

The foundational U.S. document that provides the blueprint for a unique form of political democracy in the U.S.