AP Gov: Unit 1

Kahn Academy chapters 1 and 2

constitutional convention

Also called the Philadelphia Convention. A meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 states to revise or replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution featuring a stronger central government.

constitutional convention year

1787

limited government

A political system in which the government’s power is restricted by laws or a written Constitution.

natural rights

The right to life, liberty, and property, which no government may take away.

republicanism

The principle of governing through elected representatives.

social contract

An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.

John Adams

Massachusetts statesman and leader in the movement for American independence. Adams aided Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Ben Franklin

Pennsylvania statesman and leader in the movement for American independence. Franklin aided Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Alexander Hamilton

New York statesman who promoted replacing the Articles of Confederation with a stronger central government. He coauthored the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of ratifying the Constitution.

Thomas Jefferson

Principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

James Madison

Virginia statesman and major contributor to the US Constitution. He coauthored the Federalist Papers and wrote the Bill of Rights.

George Washington

Revolutionary War general who presided over the Constitutional Convention.

Declaration of Independence

This document explains the reasons why the Thirteen Colonies in North America desired independence from Great Britain. The ideals for government expressed in the Declaration, including popular sovereignty and social contract, serve as the inspiration for American democratic values.

where is this from

> *“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”*

Declaration of Independence quote

The US Constitution

The constitution is a blueprint for how American government functions. Establishes the three separate branches of US government (legislative, executive, and judicial) and describes the relationship between the states and the federal government. It demonstrates the principle of limited government in the United States by restricting the powers of government. It also establishes the principle of republicanism by establishing the process for citizens to elect representatives to the legislature.

where is this from

> *“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”*

The US Constitution quote

Participatory democracy

model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions.

Pluralist democracy

model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy.

Elitist democracy

model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making.

democracy

A system of government in which the power of the government is vested in the people, who rule directly or through elected representatives.

Federalist No. 10

An essay written by James Madison, in which he argued that a strong representative government would be able to control the effects of factions.

Brutus No. 1

 An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.C

Constitution (1787)

The fundamental laws and principles that govern the United States. The document was the result of several compromises between Federalists and Anti-Federalists surrounding the ratification of the Constitution.

years AoC

1776 until 1789

Shay’s Rebellion

an uprising of Revolutionary War veterans in Massachusetts that both the state and national governments struggled to address due to a lack of centralized military power, illustrated the need to create a stronger governing system.

Articles of Confederation

The first government system of the United States, which lasted from 1776 until 1789. The Articles placed most power in the hands of state governments. Government under the Articles lacked an executive or a judicial branch.

Confederation Congress

The central government under the Articles of Confederation, composed of delegates chosen by state governments. Each state had one vote in the Congress, regardless of its population. The Congress had difficulty legislating as the Articles required nine of the thirteen states to vote to approve any measure, and a unanimous vote in order to amend the Articles themselves.

Shay’s Rebellion

An uprising of Revolutionary War veterans in Massachusetts, who had not been paid for their military service as the federal government lacked the power to raise funds through taxation. Led by veteran Daniel Shays, the rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles, as it could neither raise the money to pay the veterans nor raise an army to put down the uprising.

Article V

describes the process for adding amendments

process for amendments

proposed by 2/3 of both houses in Congress and ratified by 3/4 of state legislatures

Article VI “nickname”

Supremacy clause, article 6 establishes national supremacy (and also promises to take on debts accumulated by the “old” USA)

Article VII

“The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Great Compromise

Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, a major compromise at the Constitutional Convention that created a two-house legislature, with the Senate having equal representation for all states and the House of Representatives having representation proportional to state populations.

3/5 compromise

An agreement added to the Constitution that would count each enslaved person as three-fifths of a white person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives.

Electoral college

A body of representatives from every state in the United States who formally cast votes to elect the president and vice president.

amendment

A change to the United States Constitution.

Federalist 51

An essay written by James Madison (under the pseudonym Publius) that explains how the structure of the new government under the Constitution will provide the necessary checks and balances to keep any part of the government from becoming too powerful.

commerce clause

Part of Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce (buying and selling of goods across state lines).

necessary and proper clause

Part of Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to create laws that they find “necessary and proper” for carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

categorical grants

funds the federal government gives to state and local governments to spend on specific activities within specific programs.

block grants

a grant from the federal government that a local/state government can allocate to a wide range of services. It is generally broad with what it can be used for, have few strings attached.

mandates

A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds. 

revenue sharing

Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states