AP U.S. Government & Politics Unit 1 Test Terms

Ratification

the action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petitioning of the government

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

restrictions on the quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner's consent

4th Amendment

protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government

5th Amendment

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury

6th Amendment

guarantees the rights of criminal defendants

7th Amendment

protects the right for citizens to have a jury trial in federal courts with civil cases where the claim exceeds a certain dollar value

8th Amendment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

9th Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people

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

Block Grant

A block grant is a grant-in-aid of a specified amount from a larger government to a smaller regional government body

Categorical Grant

money granted by the federal government to state and local governments, with strict limitations on how it is to be spent

Commerce Clause

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution , which gives Congress the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among states, and with the Indian tribes.”

concurrent powers

powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments

Enumerated powers

powers granted to the federal government of the United States by the United States Constitution

federalism

a system of government that divides power between a central government and regional governments

implied powers

political powers granted to the United States government that aren't explicitly stated in the Constitution

Necessary & Proper Clause

authorizes Congress to employ any means that are appropriate and plainly adapted to the permitted end

Article IV

establishes the relationship between the states and the federal government

Article VI

establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land