AP GOV Terms Quiz #1

Block Grant

Large sum of federal money given to State and local governments with few conditions for community development and social services.

Categorical Grant

Federal money given to state and local governments for a narrowly defined, specific purpose with strict rules and conditions.

Checks & Balances

Constitutional principle that gives each branch of government specific powers to limit, block, or influence the actions of other 2 branches.

Concurrent Powers

Political powers shared by both federal (national) governments and state government. Powers can be exercised at the same time.

Cooperative Federalism

National and state governments share responsibilities, costs, and administration for public policies, blurring lines of authority between.

Devolution

Transfer of power, authority, or responsibility from central government to regional, state, or local government.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives to make choices for them.

Dual Federalism

Power is strictly divided between the national and state government with each level operating independently.

Elitism

Political theory that a small, wealthy, smart, and connected group holds the real power in society and makes policy decisions.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers granted to federal government (congress) by U.S. Constitution.

Ex Post Facto Law

Law that criminalizes an action, increases its punishment, or makes it easier to convict someone.

Federlism

System of government where power is shared between a national central government and regional state government.

Federalist Papers

Series of 85 essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to urgent states to ratify U.S. Constitution.

Fiscal Federalism

Pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in federal system where national government uses financial incentives to influence state and local policy.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

Requires each state to recognize and respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Gibbons v Ogden

Supreme Court case that interpreted commerce clause to give congress supreme authority to regulate any commercial activity (limiting states power).

Great Compromise

1787 agreement that made a bicameral (2 chamber) U.S. Congress combining proportional and equal state representatives.

Implied Powers

Powers of national government that aren’t explicitly written in constitution but are inferred to carry-out the governments (enumerated) powers.

Judicial Review

Power of the courts to declare legislative laws, executive actions, and state actions unconstitutional and void.

Limited Government

Power of the government is restricted by law and constitution to protect liberties and prevent tyranny.

McCulloch v Maryland

Supreme Court case that established supremacy of the federal government over state governments and confirmed congress’s implies powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Natural Rights

Inherent freedoms that all people possess by birth, independent of any government/laws.

New Jersey Plan 1787

Proposal that favored small states by calling for a unicameral (one chamber) legislature where every state got equal representation and one vote.

Pluralism

Model of democracy where political power is distributed among many competing organized groups rather than concentrated in a single elite majority.

Popular Sovereignty

Core democratic principle that a governments power and legitimacy comes from the consent of the people.

Privileges & Immunities Clause

Prevents a state from unreasonably discriminating against out-of-state citizens, ensuring visitors get same fundamental rights as native residents.

Republicanism

Power resides with the people, who elect representatives to make laws and govern on their behalf rather than voting on laws directly.

Reserved Powers

Political powers not granted to the national governments or denied to states by constitution.

Separation of Powers

Divided powers of federal government into 3 independent branches so that no single branch can become too powerful.

Shay’s Rebellion

Armed uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers that exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Social Contract

People give up their individual freedoms to a government in exchange for social order, scrutiny, and the protection of their remaining natural rights.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that the constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the “supreme law of the land”.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Allowed 3/5 of a state’s enslaved population to count towards total population for congressional representatives and direct taxation.

Unfunded Mandate

Forces state and local governments to perform certain actions and meet specific standards without providing the money to pay for them.

US v Lopez

Supreme Court case that involved a High School student bringing a firearm to school which limited congress power and gave power back to state.

Virginia Plan

Strong national government with 3 branches and a bicameral legislature based on proportional representation.