AP Governemnt Unit 1

Direct Democracy (Mobocracy)

The people as a whole make direct decisions on laws and policies rather than having those decisions made by elected representatives

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad, direct participation in politics and civil society in which most or all citizens participate directly

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf

Majority Rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority

Pluralist Democracy

political power rests with competing interest groups so that no one group dominates political decisions

Elite Democracy

a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making

Declaration of Independence

Laid out philosophical basis for independence from England justified with a long list of abuses by the King.

Natural Rights: life, liberty, and property

Unalienable Rights: life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

First government of the USA (1781) that was dominated by state's b/c Americans feared strong central gov.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

No power to tax, couldn't regulate trade, super majority to pass laws (9 states), no national courts, virtually impossible to amend (all 13 states), almost no executive power, no ability to raise army

Success of the Articles of Confederation

Organization of west and creation of new states

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population -> favored by large states

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation -> favored by small states

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Bicameral Legislature created: House of Representatives based on Virginia Plan (representation by population) and Senate based on New Jersey Plan (equal representation)

Electoral College

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

3/5ths Compromise

agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress

Slave Trade Compromise

Congress could not regulate or outlaw slavery or slave trade until 1808

Federalists

wanted a strong national government, elites most fit to govern, feared "excess" of democracy, helped ratification

Anti-Federalists

Wanted strong state government, feared power in hands of elite, feared lack of Bill of Rights, against ratification

Separation of Powers

Allocation of constitutional authority to each of the 3 branches

Checks and Balances

Each branch has a role in the actions of the others

Federalist No. 51

Argues that separation of powers and checks and balances within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group

Federalist No. 10

Factions are inevitable but can be controlled with a large republic

Brutus No. 1

Strong federal government wouldn't meet the needs of all US citizens; constitution would create a federal government with absolute power

Formal Amendments

written changes to the constitution (27 currently)

Informal Amendments

changes in the meaning and interpretation of the Constitution that does not change the written words

Proposing an amendment

2/3 of both houses of Congress OR 2/3 of State legislatures call a Convention

Ratifying an amendment

3/4 of state legislatures or special state conventions in 3/4 of states

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people

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

Commerce Clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations

expressed powers

Enumerated powers directly stated in the constitution

implied powers

powers that congress has that are not stated explicitly in the constitution

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments

reserved powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are expected from it

Centralists

People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels

-Elastic, Commerce, and Taxing/Spending Clause give power to national government

-loose interpretation of constitution

-14th amendment

-when in doubt rule in favor of national government

Decentralists

People who favor state or local action rather than national action

-10th amendment prohibits national government from interfering with activities reserved to states

-10th amendment gives broad powers to states

-when in doubt rule in favor of states

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

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Established national bank even though it isn't stated in Constitution (Elastic Clause) and rules states can't tax a federal institution (Supremacy Clause)

US v. Lopez

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; national government primarily influences states by giving money in the form of grants-in-aid

Regulatory Federalism

A system in which the national government sets requirements that are then implemented by state and local governments

block grants

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent

catagorical grants

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport

Federal Mandate

a federal order imposed upon states

unfunded mandates

Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding