AP government unit 1 vocabulary: foundations of American democracy

1.Natural rights

rights people are born with such as life and liberty

2.Social contract

an agreement in which people give government authority in exchange for protection of rights

3.popular sovereignty

government gets its power from the people

4.consent of the governed

legitimate depends on the approval of the people

5.limited government

government power is restricted by law

6.republicanism

citizens elect representatives to make political decisions

7.representatives democracy

citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf.

8.participatory democracy

emphasizes broad and direct citizen involvement.

9.pluralist democracy

competing groups influence public policy

10.elite democracy

a relatively small, powerful group has disproportionate political influence.

11.declaration of independence

document stating natukkjklral rights and justifying separation from Britain

12.Articles of Confederation

First U.S governing system; created a weak national government

13.constitution

supreme framework of the U.S. government.

14.Federalist No. 10

Madison argues that a large republic can control the effects of factions.

15.Federalist No. 51

Madison explains checks and balances and separation of powers.

16.Brutus No. 1

Anti-Federalist argument that the Constitution created a national government that was too powerful

17.Factions

Groups united by shared political interests of goals

18.Federalism

Power is divided between national and state governments

19.Separation of powers

Government powers are divided among three branches

20.Check and balances

each branch can limit the powers of the others

21.Bicameral legislature

A legislature with two chambers

22.Republic

A government in which citizens elect representatives

23.Rule of Law

Government officials and citizens are subject to the law

24.Supremacy Clause

Federal laws take priority over conflicting state law.

25.Necessary and Proper Clause

Give Congress Implied powers to carry out its expressed powers.

26.Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate interstate commerce Federalism

27.Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government.

28.Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly listed but reasonably inferred from enumerated powers.

29. Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states.

30. Concurrent Powers

 Powers shared by state and federal governments.

31.Mandate

A federal requirement imposed on state or local governments.

32.Block Grant

Federal money given to states for a broad policy purpose.

33.Categorical Grant

Federal money given for a specific program or purpose.

34.Ratification

Formal approval of the Constitution.

35.Federalists

Supported ratification of the Constitution.

36. Anti-Federalists

Opposed ratification unless individual liberties were better protected.

37. Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

38. Amendment

Formal change to the Constitution.

34. Shays' Rebellion

Uprising that exposed weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

40. Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

41.Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted enslaved persons as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.