AP US Government and Politics Unit 1A: Constitutional Foundations Key Terms

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key political science terms and concepts from Unit 1A: Constitutional Foundations.

Amendment

A formal change or addition proposed or made to a legal document; in U.S. practice, a change to the Constitution following the Article V process.

Article

A numbered division of a legal document; in the context of the Constitution, one of its principal sections that sets out powers and structures of government.

Bicameralism

A legislative system with two chambers or houses.

Checks and balances

Constitutional mechanisms that give each branch of government some authority to limit or check the powers of the other branches.

Constitution

The fundamental principles and established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed; a written document that establishes the structure, powers, and limits of government.

Democracy

A system of government in which political power is exercised by the people, typically through elected representatives and free, fair elections.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority; heavily influenced the Founders’ political philosophy.

Factions

Groups of citizens united by a common interest or passion adverse to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units (such as states).

Grievances

Complaints or objections, especially those formally expressed about perceived injustices or wrongs; referenced in the Declaration of Independence as reasons for separation.

Judicial review

The power of courts to examine and invalidate legislative and executive actions that are inconsistent with the Constitution.

Limited government

A political system in which governmental power is restricted by law, usually in a written constitution, to protect individual rights.

Loose constructionism

A judicial or constitutional interpretation approach that views the Constitution as a broad framework whose meaning can adapt to changing circumstances, evolving constitution reinterpreted by each generation.

Natural rights

Rights believed to be inherent and not contingent on laws or governments; typically including life, liberty, and property.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that political power resides with the people, who can create, alter, or abolish government; the consent of the governed.

Republic

A form of government in which political power resides in the people and their elected representatives, with an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Separation of powers

The division of governmental responsibilities into distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent concentration of power.

Social contract

A political theory that individuals consent, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some freedoms to a governing authority in exchange for protection of remaining rights.

Sovereignty

Supreme authority within a territory; the full right and power of a governing body to govern itself without external interference.

Strict constructionism

A judicial or constitutional interpretation approach that emphasizes a narrow reading of the Constitution’s text and the intent of its framers, constitutional change is provided for in Article 5 of the original constitution.

Tyranny

The oppressive or unjust use of power, especially by a ruler or majority that violates rights and liberty.