AP Government: Unit 1 Vocabulary (Important List)

Federalism – System where power is divided between national and state governments.
Concurrent Powers – Powers shared by both federal and state governments (e.g. taxation).
Delegated (Enumerated) Powers – Powers explicitly given to the federal government by the Constitution.
Implied Powers – Powers not written but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.
Reserved Powers – Powers kept by the states under the 10th Amendment.
Police Powers – State authority to regulate health, safety, and morals.
National Supremacy (Supremacy Clause) – Federal law is the highest law of the land, overriding state law.
Commerce Clause – Gives Congress power to regulate interstate commerce; often expands federal authority.
Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause – Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out enumerated powers.
Compact Theory – Idea that states created the Union and can judge the constitutionality of federal actions.
Nullification – Belief that states can void federal laws they see as unconstitutional.
Selective Exclusiveness – Only Congress can regulate commerce requiring national, uniform rules.
Dual Federalism ("Layer Cake") – Federal and state governments remain separate with distinct powers.
Cooperative Federalism ("Marble Cake") – Federal and state governments share responsibilities and work together.
Fiscal Federalism – Federal government influences states through money (grants, aid, conditions).
New Federalism – Returning power from the federal government back to the states (popular under Nixon/Reagan).
Devolution – The process of transferring powers from the federal government back to the states.
Grants-in-Aid – Federal funds given to states to carry out programs.
Categorical Grants – Money given to states for specific, narrowly defined purposes with conditions attached.
Block Grants – Money given to states with more flexibility for broad policy areas.
Revenue Sharing – Federal money distributed to states with no strings attached (ended in the 1980s).
Conditions of Aid ("Strings") – Federal requirements states must meet to receive money.
Mandates – Federal requirements imposed on states, sometimes without funding ("unfunded mandates").
Full Faith and Credit Clause – States must recognize each other’s laws, records, and court rulings.
Privileges and Immunities Clause – Prevents states from discriminating against citizens from other states.
Tenth Amendment – Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – Upheld national supremacy and implied powers; states can’t tax the federal bank.
U.S. v. Lopez (1995) – Limited the Commerce Clause; Congress couldn’t ban guns in school zones.
Whiskey Rebellion (1794) – Showed federal government’s power to enforce laws, unlike under the Articles.
Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) – Federal mandate requiring public accommodations for people with disabilities.
Clean Air Act (1970) – Federal law regulating air pollution, with states carrying out enforcement.
No Child Left Behind Act (2002) – Federal education law requiring states to test students and meet standards.
USA PATRIOT Act (2001) – Expanded federal surveillance powers after 9/11, raising concerns over state and individual rights.
Federal Income Tax (16th Amendment) – Allowed federal government to directly tax income, giving it financial power over states.
Articles of Confederation – First U.S. government; weak central power, strong states.
Declaration of Independence – Document declaring separation from Britain, rooted in natural rights and consent of the governed.
Constitutional Preamble – Intro stating goals: unity, justice, defense, welfare, liberty.
Bill of Rights – First 10 Amendments protecting individual rights and limiting federal power.
Checks and Balances – Each branch limits the others to prevent abuse of power.
Separation of Powers – Government split into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Advice and Consent – Senate’s check on executive appointments/treaties.
Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison) – Court power to declare laws unconstitutional.
Two-Thirds Override – Congress can override a presidential veto with 2/3 vote in each chamber.
Veto – President’s power to reject a bill.
Pocket Veto – President lets bill die by not signing at the end of a session.
Impeachment – Process to charge and remove officials for misconduct.
Electoral College – Indirect system for electing the president.
Great Compromise – Created bicameral legislature: House by population, Senate equal representation.
Three-Fifths Compromise – Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation.
Virginia Plan – Strong national gov’t, representation based on population.
New Jersey Plan – Favored equal state representation.
Grand Committee – Delegates who brokered the Great Compromise.
Popular Sovereignty – Government power comes from the people.
Republicanism – Citizens elect representatives to govern for them.
Representative Republic – Blend of democracy and republicanism; elected leaders make policy.
Social Contract – Idea that government legitimacy comes from agreement between rulers and the governed.
Natural Law – Rights derived from nature and reason, not government.
Elite Democracy – Small number of powerful people influence government decisions.
Pluralist Democracy – Many groups compete for influence in politics.
Participatory Democracy – Direct involvement of citizens in decision-making.
Strict Constructionist – Believes Constitution should be interpreted literally, limiting federal power.
Federalists – Supported strong central government and Constitution.
Anti-Federalists – Feared central power; demanded Bill of Rights.
Federalist Papers – Essays (Hamilton, Madison, Jay) defending Constitution.
James Madison – Father of Constitution, key Federalist, author of Bill of Rights.
House of Representatives – Chamber based on population; closer to the people.
Senate – Chamber with equal representation for states; more insulated.
Unitary Government – All power held by central government; no division like in federalism.