AP US Gov Q1 Vocab Howell

National interest

Goals a nation pursues for security, prosperity, and values

Devolution

Transfer of power from federal government to states

Devolution revolution

1990s movement to return federal authority to states

Federal Regime

System where national and local governments share constitutional power

Federalist 10

Madison's argument that a large republic controls factions

Federalist 46

Madison arguing states and federal government balance each other

Full Faith Clause

States must honor other states' public acts, records, and court rulings

Privileges and Immunities Clause

States cannot discriminate against out-of-state citizens

Extradition Clause

States must return fugitives to the state where the crime occurred

Elastic Clause

Gives Congress power to pass necessary and proper laws

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress power to regulate interstate and foreign trade

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is superior to state law

Establishment Clause

Government cannot establish or endorse religion

Federalist 45

Madison argues federal powers are few; state powers many

Marshall Court

Supreme Court era that strengthened federal power

Taney Court

Supreme Court era emphasizing states' rights

McCulloch v. MD

Established implied powers; states cannot tax the federal government

Gibbons v. Ogden

Expanded federal authority over interstate commerce

Barron v. Baltimore

Bill of Rights applies only to federal government

Scott v. Sanford

Ruled enslaved people were not citizens; limited federal power

Nullification

Theory that states can invalidate federal laws

Dual Federalism

"Layer cake" federalism; separate powers

Cooperative Federalism

"Marble cake" federalism; shared powers

New Federalism

Shift of power from federal to state governments

Progressive Federalism

States innovate within broad federal guidelines

Special Act Charter

Charter created for one specific city

General Act Charter

Charter applying to all cities of a certain class

Home Rule Charter

Local governments govern themselves unless restricted

Dillon's Rule

Local governments only have powers granted by states

Interstate/Intrastate

Interstate = between states; intrastate = within one state

Police Power

State power to regulate health, safety, and morals

Initiative/Referendum/Recall

Citizens propose laws, vote on laws, or remove officials

Second order devolution

State → local transfer of power

Third order devolution

Government responsibilities shift to nonprofits

Political Subculture

Regional or group-based political beliefs

Americanism

Belief in core American values like liberty and democracy

Social Capital

Social trust and networks enabling cooperation

Orthodoxy

Belief in fixed moral rules

Political Attitude

Individual views on political issues

Class Consciousness

Awareness of class interests

Progressive

Favors reform, equality, and personal freedom

Culture War

Conflict between traditional and progressive values

Political Tolerance

Accepting others' political views

Social Tolerance

Accepting different lifestyles and identities

Civic Purpose

Desire to contribute to community and democracy

Fundamental

Basic or essential principle

Grants - Categorical

Federal funds for specific, narrow purposes

Grants - Land

Government land for public projects

Grants - Block

Broad-purpose federal grants

Grants - Project

Competitive grants for specific proposals

Grants - Formula

Funds awarded based on a formula

Revenue Sharing

Federal money given to states with no restrictions

Justice

Fairness under the law

Enlightenment

Movement stressing reason, rights, and liberty

Common Defense

Government duty to protect the nation

General Welfare

Government role in promoting well-being

Liberty

Freedom from government interference

Private

Owned by individuals

Public

Owned by government or shared by society

Formal Authority

Power granted by law

Participatory Democracy

Broad citizen involvement in decisions

Polis

Ancient Greek city-state

Aristotelian Ideal

Government should seek virtue and common good

Demagogue

Leader who gains power by exploiting emotions

Mercantilism

System where colonies serve the economic interests of the mother country

Social Contract

Agreement where people give up some freedoms for protection

Elite

Small group with major power or influence

Marxist

Belief that class conflict drives politics

Capitalist

Supports private ownership and free markets

Proletariat

Working class

C. Wright Mills

Sociologist who created the "power elite" theory

Power Elite

Small group controlling key institutions

Elitist Theory

Belief that policy is dominated by a small elite

Max Weber

Sociologist emphasizing bureaucracy and authority

Bureaucrat

Official who implements government policy

Pluralist

Belief that many groups compete to influence policy

Social Security

Federal program providing retirement and disability benefits

House of Commons

Elected lower house of the British Parliament

Stamp Act Congress

Colonial protest meeting against British taxation

Higher Law

Fundamental principles superior to ordinary laws

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all humans

Unalienable

Cannot be taken away

First Continental Congress

1774 colonial meeting responding to British policies

Second Continental Congress

Governed during the Revolution; declared independence

Common Sense

Pamphlet encouraging American independence

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring U.S. independence

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. constitution with a weak central government

Critical Period

Time under the Articles marked by instability

Constitutional Conventions

Meets to revise or draft constitutions

Franchise/Disenfranchise

Right to vote / denial of that right

Framer

Delegate who wrote the Constitution

Confederation

Loose union of sovereign states

Delegate

Representative sent to a meeting or assembly

Federalist Papers

Essays supporting the Constitution

Brutus

Anti-Federalist writer opposing strong central government

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation for all states

Bicameral

Two-house legislature

Great/Connecticut Compromise

Bicameral Congress: House by population, Senate equally

Electoral College

System for electing the president