AP Gov Term 3 Final

Articles of Confederation

First constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781. Created a weak central government to avoid the perceived tyranny the U.S. had experienced under British rule.

Autocracy

A system where a single individual holds absolute, unlimited power and authority over the state, operating without checks and balances or constitutional limitations.

Bourgeoisie

According to Marx, these are the capitalists who own the means of production and exploit workers.

Capitalism

Economic system in which individuals and businesses are allowed to compete for profit with a minimum of government interference; private ownership of capital goods.

Communism

An extreme form of socialism where workers should revolt and violently overthrow the government.

Confederation

An alliance of independent states;states have the most sovereignty.

Conservatism

An ideology that emphasizes preserving tradition and relying on community and family as mechanisms of continuing society.

Constitution

A body of fundamental laws setting out principles, structures and processes of a government.

Declaration of Independence

The official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.

Divine Right

A political-religious doctrine asserting that a monarch’s authority to rule comes directly from God, not from the people, aristocracy, or any other earthly power.

Economics

The study of human efforts to satisfy seemingly unlimited wants/needs through the use of limited resources.

Fascism

A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and persecution.

Federalism

A form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several state and local governments.

Direct Democracy

A structure of government in which citizens discuss and decide policy through majority rule.

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher who believed all humans are born selfish and wicked, so there is a need for a rule due to everyone’s own self-interest.

Laissez Faire

The idea that the government should stay out of economic affairs. “To let alone”.

Legitimacy

The degree to which citizens believe that a government’s exercise of power is right and proper; the trust people have in their government.

John Locke

Enlightenment Thinker who heavily influenced the American Revolution: natural rights of life, liberty and property.

Liberalism

An ideology that advocated change in the social, political, and economic realms to better protect the well-being of individuals and produce equality within.

Libertarianism

An ideology whose advocates believe that the government should take a “hands off” approach in most matters.

Liberty

The most essential quality of American democracy, it is both the freedom from governmental interference in citizens’ lives and the freedom to pursue happiness.

Magna Carta

The first documents to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law.

Majority Rule

The idea that in a democracy, only policies with 50% plus one vote are enacted, and only candidates that win 50% plus one vote are elected.

Oligarchy

Government in which an elite few hold power.

Political Efficacy

The belief that an individual’s vote and actions can influence political processes and that the government will respond to their demands

Politics

Means by which power is exercised in government.

Public Policy

Anything that a government decides to do; mainly laws and court decisions.

Republic

System of limited government where people are the ultimate source of power (voting). Also down as a Representative Democracy.

Social Contract

An agreement between people and their leaders in which the people agree to give up some liberties so that their other liberties are protected.

Social Contract Theory

The idea that individuals possess free will, and every individual is equally endowed with the God-given right of self-determination and the ability to be governed.

Socialism

An ideology that advocates economic equality, theoretically achieved by having the government or workers own the means of production (businesses and industry).

Sovereignty

The ultimate power over something, or freedom from outsider control.

State

A body of people living in a defined territory that has a government and has population sovereignty.

Theocracy

A system of government where religious leaders hold supreme power, ruling in the name of divine power or deity.

Elite

A type of representative democracy, where a group of wealthy, educated individuals wields most political power. Rich and powerful people in charge.

Participatory

A type of representative democracy that emphasizes direct involvement of citizens in political decision making. For example, social movements.

Pluralist

When policy making is decided by multiple interest groups, rather than concentration in a single elite.

Totalitarianism

System of government in which the government essentially controls every aspect of people’s lives.

Unitary Government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the land of the United States of America. Superseded the Articles of Confederation.

1st AMD

Amendment that outlines freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and press.

2nd AMD

Amendment that gives the right to maintain a militia and to bear arms.

3rd AMD

Amendment that states that troops can’t be put into private homes.

4th AMD

Amendment that clarifies the need for a warrant and/or probable cause; protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th AMD

Amendment that outlines due process of those accused, no double jeopardy, nor self-incrimination, and eminent domain.

6th AMD

Amendment that establishes the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. Also, guaranteed an attorney.

7th AMD

Amendment that states the right to jury trial in civil cases worth at least $20.

8th AMD

Amendment that states there can be no excessive bail nor cruel and unusual punishment. Punishment must fit the crime.

9th AMD

Amendment that says Americans are entitled to enjoy additional rights and freedoms not included in the Constitution.

10th AMD

Amendment that clarifies that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

11th AMD

Amendment that states there can be no lawsuits against states from citizens of other states nor foreign nations.

12th AMD

Amendment that requires separate ballots for the election of the president and vice president.

13th AMD

Amendment that abolished slavery.

14th AMD

Amendment regarding birthright citizenship, equal protection of the law, and due process to states.

15th AMD

Amendment that gave African American males the right to vote.

16th AMD

Amendment regarding federal income tax.

17th AMD

Amendment stating that U.S. Senators get elected by popular vote.

18th AMD

Amendment of prohibition; manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol illegal.

19th AMD

Amendment regarding women’s suffrage.

20th AMD

Amendment that moves the President and Congress inauguration from March to January.

21th AMD

Amendment that repealed the 18th amendment.

22nd AMD

Amendment that puts a two-term limit on the presidency.

23rd AMD

Amendment that gives the District of Columbia 3 electors in the electoral college.

24th AMD

Amendment that outlawed the Poll tax.

25th AMD

Amendment that outlines presidential disability, succession, and vice president vacancy.

26th AMD

Amendment that extended the right to vote to 18-year olds.

27th AMD

Amendment that states that Congress can’t increase its salaries until after the next election.

Anti-Federalists

Individuals who opposed ratification of the Constitution because they were deeply suspicious of the powers it gave to the national government and of the impact those powers would have on states’ authority and individual freedoms.

Article 1

Establishes the Legislative Branch (Congress) and defines its power to make laws, tax, and declare war while splitting it into the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Article 2

Creates the Executive Branch and details the power of the President to enforce laws, lead the military, and manage foreign treaties.

Article 3

Creates the Judicial Branch establishing the Supreme Court and defining what federal court jurisdiction can do.

Article 4

Describes the relationship between states, making sure they respect each other’s laws and providing a process for admitting new states to the Union.

Article 5

Explains the amendment process and how the constitution can be changed through a ⅔ vote in Congress and ratification by ¾ of the states.

Article 6

Establishes the Supremacy Clause, which states that the Constitution and federal laws are the “Supreme Law of the Land” and requires all officials to take an oath of office.

Article 7

Goes through the ratification process, detailing that the Constitution would take effect once nine of the original 13 states approved it.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments in the Constitution, which were ratified in 1791, constituting an enumeration of the individual liberties which the government is forbidden to interfere.

Bicameral legislature

Legislature comprising two parts, called chambers. In the U.S., congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Brutus I

Argues that a large, centralized national government will inevitably become tyrannical because it is too far removed from the people’s will. It warns that the Constitution's broad powers, like the Supremacy Clause, would eventually strip the states of their sovereignty and destroy individual liberty.

Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire

Established the “fighting words” doctrine, ruling that certain, limited categories of speech-such as those which by their utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of peace-are not protected by the First Amendment.

Checks & Balances

Separate branches possess specific, constitutional powers to limit, monitor, and influence the actions of one another.

Clear & Present Danger

A standard established in Schenck v. U.S. whereby the government may silence speech or expression if it poses an immediate threat to public safety or national security.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Indian tribes. Allows the national government to oversee economic activity.

Connecticut Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with one chamber’s representation based on population and the other chamber having 2 members for each state.

Double Jeopardy

Protection that prevents a person from being tried or punished twice by the same government for the exact same criminal offense.

Electoral College

The body of representatives elected by voters in each state to elect the president and the vice president.

Eminent Domain

The legal power of federal, state, and local governments to seize private property for public use, such as infrastructure projects, provided they pay the owner “just compensation.” Authorized by the 5th Amendment.

Engel v. Vitale

Schools can’t require students to say a daily non-sectarian prayer; sets up a precedent that the Establishment Clause referred to broad government activity regarding religion, not just official establishment of a state-sponsored church.

Exclusionary Rule

The criminal procedural rule stating that evidence obtained illegally cannot be used in trial.

Federalists

Individuals who supported the new Constitution as presented by the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Federalist No. 10

Argues that a strong, large republic is the best way to control the dangers of “factions” (groups with interests contrary to the public good) by making it difficult for any single faction to dominate, thus protecting minority rights and promoting stability.

Federalist No. 51

The Constitution’s structure creates a system of checks & balances and separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

Free Exercise Clause

The government cannot prohibit people from practicing/believing in their religion.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

States have to recognize/honor other states’ public acts/contracts

Habeas Corpus

Evidence/cause needs to be shown to a judge in order to detain a prisoner.

Impeachment

The power of the House of Representatives to formally accuse the president (and other high-ranking officials, including the vice president and federal judge) of crimes.

Lemon v. Kurtzman (Lemon Test)

Outlines a three-part test to determine if a statute violates the establishment clause. Statutes must have a secular legislative purpose, not advance nor inhibit religion, and not foster an excessive entanglement with religion.

Limited Government

Government that is restricted in what it can do so that the rights of the people are protected.

Judicial Review

Court authority to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates or does not violate the Constitution. Established by the Supreme Court in 1803 Marbury v. Madison case.

Marbury v. Madison

Established the principle of Judicial Review, the power of the federal courts to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions. Also established the Constitution as the supreme law of the land and SCOTUS as the final authority for interpreting it.

Miranda v. Arizona

Established the “Miranda Rights”-- The accused/arrested must be made aware of their 5th and 6th Amendment rights.