AP Gov Unit 1

studied byStudied by 1 Person
0.0(0)
Get a hint
hint

Politics

1/211

Studying Progress

New cards
211
Still learning
0
Almost done
0
Mastered
0
211 Terms
New cards

Politics

the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.

New cards
New cards

Limited Government

Governing or controlling body whose power exists only within pre-defined limits that are established by a constitution or other source of authority

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

How is the U.S. government limited?

New cards
New cards

○ People have the power

New cards
New cards

○ Protected civil liberties

New cards
New cards

○ Prohibited powers for states and national government

New cards
New cards

○ Federalism: Division of powers between states and national government

New cards
New cards

Natural Rights

Rights that people supposedly have under natural law

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

○ The Declaration of Independence of the United States identifies life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inalienable rights.

New cards
New cards

Popular Sovereignty

Principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

○ Rule by the People, who are the source of all political power

New cards
New cards

Republicanism

Support for a republican system of government

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

Republic: a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

The Constitution requires a republican form of government for all states

New cards
New cards

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits for example by sacrificing some individual freedom for state protection

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

○ Theorists Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau explored the idea as a means of explaining the origin of government and the obligations of subjects.

New cards
New cards

Declaration of Independence

Formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

○ The Declaration of Independence was the document adopted at the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776.

New cards
New cards

U.S. Constitution

The Constitution of the United States established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens.

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. The Constitution, originally comprising seven articles, delineates the national frame of government

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government, the tasks these institutions perform, and the relationships among them. It replaced the Articles of Confederation before them.

New cards
New cards

participatory democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

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

New cards
New cards

Pluralist Democracy

Emphasizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

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

New cards
New cards

Elite Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

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

New cards
New cards

Federalists

Favored stronger central government

New cards
New cards

•Favored a large republic

New cards
New cards

•Supported the new Constitution

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

•The Federalists favored the ideas of a stronger federal (national) government.

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

•Opinions on how the government should be structured:

New cards
New cards

•Wanted to ratify the Constitution

New cards
New cards

Supported Strong National Government (take power away from States)

New cards
New cards

•Thought that Checks & Balances would protect peoples rights

New cards
New cards

•Don't need a BILL OF RIGHTS

New cards
New cards

•Wanted a strong Executive branch (President)

New cards
New cards

Anti-Federalists

Favored strong state governments

New cards
New cards

•Opposed ratification of the new

New cards
New cards

Constitution

New cards
New cards

•Feared a strong central government would render the states powerless

New cards
New cards

•Demanded a Bill of Rights

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

•The Anti-Federalists favored the ideas of a stronger state governments.

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

•Opinions on how the government should be structured:

New cards
New cards

•Most power should stay with States

New cards
New cards

•Wanted Legislative Branch more powerful than Executive Branch

New cards
New cards

•Refused to ratify without a BILL OF RIGHTS

New cards
New cards

•No National Bank

New cards
New cards

Federalist No. 10

Essay written by James Madison (Father of the Constitution)

New cards
New cards

•No. 10 addresses the question of how to guard against the "mischiefs factions" and advocates for a large republic

New cards
New cards

Faction

a small, organized, dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.

New cards
New cards

Brutus No. 1

-Opposite of Federalist Papers.

New cards
New cards

-Written by Anti-Federalists who had opposed the Constitution and a large central government.

New cards
New cards

-Purpose was to convince people that Constitution was bad

New cards
New cards

-Wanted a Confederacy and revealed problems of a large republic

New cards
New cards

Articles of Confederation

Basis of government for the 13 original states •Written in 1776, ratified by all states in 1781 •"League of friendship"

New cards
New cards

•Weak national government

New cards
New cards

• Congress with one vote for each state •Strong state governments

New cards
New cards

• Each state had sovereignty and complete control of their laws and affairs

New cards
New cards
New cards
New cards

WEAKNESSES OF ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

New cards
New cards

•Lack of a strong central government

New cards
New cards

•Congress had no power to tax or raise revenues

New cards
New cards

•No centralized or national military

New cards
New cards

• Each state had their own currency and it led to economic chaos • No means to regulate commerce

New cards
New cards

• No executive branch or President

New cards
New cards

• No plans for judiciary and authority of courts

New cards
New cards

• No national unity

New cards