AP Gov Unit 1

Politics

debate /conflict between different groups or people on the running of the gov.

Judicial Review

ability to declare other branches actions unconstitutional, like impeachment trials.

Bill of attainder

a law that puts people directly in jail or execution, something we do NOT have.

Writ of Mandamus

judicial branch orders another branch to do something specific, and they have to do it.

Preemption

purchase of something by someone /thing /company before the opportunity is offered to others.

Social Contract

unwritten agreement, people give up certain rights for protection from the government (can never take life, liberty, property)

Popular Sovereignty

authority of a government is created /sustained by its people.

Jurisdiction

power to make legal decisions, usually in places or levels of government.

Writ of habeas corpus

court can not take you in without evidence.

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments, highly encouraged by anti- federalists.

Devolution

transfer of power to a lower level.

Equal Opportunity

everyone starts at the same place and has the same chance.

Anti-Federalist

doesn't support Constitution or centralization of government power.

Supremacy Clause

federal rulings /laws are the supreme law of the land.

Elite Democracy

small number of people influence decision making.

Federalist

supports Constitution and its ideals.

Appeals Court

somebody can appeal to the appeals court if they think their trial came to a decision with illegal evidence, jury, etc.

Block Grants

federal government gives money to someone /thing /company /state for a broad range, like public health.

3/5s Compromise

slaves will count as 3 /5 of a person for things like judging population and how many electoral college votes or House of Reps people a state gets

Social Contract

unwritten agreement, people give up certain rights for protection from the government (can never take life, liberty, property)

Natural Rights

rights the government cant take away from you (life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness

Direct Democracy

people participate directly in the government

Representative Democracy

people elect representatives to represent them in government

Constitutional Democracy

the government has limits laid out by a constitution

Participatory Democracy

people participate directly in government

Pluralist Democracy

multiple groups exert influence on the government, but none have complete control

Elite Democracy

small number of people influence decision making

Individualism

individuals and their thoughts are valued

Popular Sovereignty

the people have the power (people vote / choose stuff)

Equal Opportunity

everyone starts at the same place and has the same chance

Limited Government

government has limits

Economic Opportunity

capitalism, free market, laissez-faire

Checks and Balances

different branches of government limit each others powers, prevents individual branches from gaining too much power

Separation of Powers

branches of government have different powers and abilities, similar purpose to checks and balances

American Bicameral Legislature

legislative branch is split in two (Senate and House of Reps)

Judicial Review

ability to declare other branches actions unconstitutional, like impeachment trials

Federalism

relationship between different layers of government (espc federal and state)

Supremacy Clause

federal rulings/ laws are the supreme law of the land

Necessary and Proper Clause

gives Congress right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out their needs

Interstate Commerce Clause

the national government gets to make laws about interstate commerce (things like transporting food over state lines)

Nation

a bunch of people united by common beliefs, ancestry, history, culture, etc

State

centralized political organization

Politics

debate/ conflict between different groups or people on the running of the gov

Popular Sovereignty

authority of a government is created/sustained by its people

Federalist

supports Constitution and its ideals

Anti-Federalist

doesnt support Constitution or centralization of government power

Connecticut/Great Compromise

created House and Senate, compromising on representation in the legislative branch

3/5s Compromise

slaves will count as 3/5 of a person for things like judging population and how many electoral college votes or House of Reps a state gets

Writ of Mandamus

judicial branch orders another branch to do something specific, and they have to do it

Bill of attainder

a law that puts people directly in jail or execution, something we do NOT have

Writ of habeas corpus

court cannot take you in without evidence

Ex Post Facto Law

making a law and enforcing it in the past, changing a speed limit and sending fines for offenses before the law was changed

Jurisdiction

power to make legal decisions, usually in places or levels of government

Appeals Court

somebody can appeal to the appeals court if they think their trial came to a decision with illegal evidence, jury, etc

Enumerated Powers

powers specifically stated or written

Implied Powers

powers discussed, but not specifically stated

Block Grants

federal government gives money to someone/thing/company/state for a broad range, like public health

Categorical Grants

federal government gives money to someone/thing/company/state for something more specific, like Medicare programs

Formula Grants

federal government gives money to someone/thing/company/state based on a formula, like the COVID relief checks given out to the unemployed/struggling

Project Grants

federal government gives money to someone/thing/company/state for a specific project, like the Apollo missions

Preemption

purchase of something by someone/thing/company before the opportunity is offered to others

Devolution

transfer of power to a lower level

Mandates (Funded and Unfunded)

national gov telling the states they must do something, can give or not give money (funded, unfunded)

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments, highly encouraged by anti-federalists

Marbury v. Madison

gets rid of the writ of mandamus (too powerful) and replaces it with judicial review

McCulloch v. Maryland

decides that there can be a national bank, and that the supremacy clause can stick around

Foundational Documents

Dec of Independence, AoC, Constitution, Federalist Paper 10, Fed Paper 51, Brutus Paper 1

limiting majority control

stopping tyranny of the majority