AP Gov Unit 1 Study Guide

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens participate directly in making governmental decisions.

Representative Democracy

A system where citizens elect officials to make governmental decisions for them.

Republicanism

A system of government where citizens govern through elected representatives.

Participatory Democracy

A model emphasizing broad, direct citizen involvement in political decision-making.

Pluralist Democracy

A model emphasizing political decision-making through competition among organized interest groups.

Elite Democracy

A model emphasizing decision-making by powerful leaders and organized elites.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that ultimate political authority rests with the people.

Social Contract

An agreement where people accept government authority in exchange for protection and order.

Separation of Powers

Dividing governmental authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

System allowing each government branch to limit the powers of other branches.

Federalism

Constitutional division of power between national and state governments.

Thomas Hobbes

Philosopher who advocated a strong sovereign to prevent disorder in human nature.

John Locke's Natural Rights

Fundamental rights to life, liberty, and property that government must protect.

Locke's Right to Revolution

The principle that citizens may overthrow government if it fails to protect natural rights.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Philosopher who emphasized popular sovereignty and government based on the general will.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Pamphlet criticizing monarchy and advocating American independence.

Adam Smith's Free Market Concept

Advocated free enterprise guided by the 'invisible hand' rather than government mercantilism.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document written by Thomas Jefferson establishing independence from Great Britain.

Purpose of the Declaration of Independence

To justify separation from Britain based on natural rights and grievances.

Four Parts of the Declaration of Independence

Introduction, Statement of Principles, 27 Grievances, and Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government framework, creating a weak league of sovereign states.

Major Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

No power to tax, regulate commerce, enforce laws, or establish a national court.

Shays' Rebellion

An armed uprising that exposed national government weakness under the Articles of Confederation.

Virginia Plan

Constitutional plan favoring large states with legislative representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Constitutional plan favoring small states with equal state representation in legislature.

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with population-based House and equal-representation Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted three-fifths of enslaved populations for taxation and congressional representation.

Commerce Compromise

Allowed federal regulation of interstate commerce while restricting immediate ban on slave trade.

Electoral College

Constitutional mechanism created to select the U.S. President.

Federalists

Supporters of Constitution ratification who favored a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of Constitution ratification who feared strong national power and demanded rights protections.

Brutus No. 1

Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large republic threatens individual liberties and state sovereignty.

Federalist No. 10

James Madison essay arguing a large republic controls the dangers of factions.

Federalist No. 51

James Madison essay explaining separation of powers and checks and balances.

Federalist No. 39

Essay explaining the Constitution's combination of national and federal government features.

Gettysburg Address

Lincoln speech reaffirming commitment to equality and popular self-government.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties, added to satisfy Anti-Federalist concerns.

Originalism vs. Living Constitutionalism

Interpreting Constitution by original intent versus adapting principles to modern times.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Article I clause granting Congress implied powers to execute enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI provision establishing federal law as superior to conflicting state laws.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the national government to states or people.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers reasonably necessary to execute enumerated national powers.

Reserved Powers

Powers retained exclusively by state governments under the Tenth Amendment.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared simultaneously by both national and state governments.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress power to regulate interstate trade.

Dual Federalism

System where national and state governments operate in clearly defined, separate spheres.

Cooperative Federalism

System where national and state governments share powers and work together.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court case establishing the principle of judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Upheld national bank through implied powers and affirmed federal supremacy over state taxes.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Established broad federal control over interstate commerce, including navigation.

Lochner v. New York (1905)

Invalidated state labor regulation, reflecting an era of judicial economic deregulation.

NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel (1937)

Expanded Commerce Clause power to regulate local activities affecting interstate commerce.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Reaffirmed limits on federal Commerce Clause power to protect state regulatory authority.

NFIB v. Sebelius (2012)

Limited Commerce Clause expansion but upheld ACA individual mandate under federal taxing power.

Revenue Sharing

Federal tax revenue distributed to state and local governments with few or no restrictions.

Categorical Grant

Federal grant given to states for a specific, strictly defined purpose.

Block Grant

Federal grant provided to states with broad guidelines for general policy areas.

Funded Mandate

Federal requirement imposed on states that includes funding to cover compliance costs.

Unfunded Mandate

Federal requirement imposed on states without providing funding to carry it out.

Conditions of Aid

Requirements set by the federal government that states must fulfill to receive grant funds.

Shays' Rebellion & Constitutional Convention

Catalyzed calls to replace the Articles of Confederation, leading directly to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention.