AP U.S. Government and Politics-Unit 1

Word

Definition/Explanation

Liberty

Social, political, and economic freedoms that served as the foundation for American ideals of the 4 freedoms.

State of Nature

The hypothetical condition of humanity before the establishment of government, with no explicit laws or regulations. It was widely utilized by Locke and Hobbes to explain human nature and natural rights.

Natural Rights

Ideal created by John Locke during the Enlightenment, where Locke advocated that we all had unalienable, inherited, and universal rights such as life, liberty, and property.

Social Contract

Derived from Enlightenment thoughts, the concept aims to explain human nature and why we give up some of our rights to be governed. Hobbes argued in his work Leviathan that in the state of nature, without government, life would be "nasty, brutish, and short," with many conflicts between individuals. To resolve this chaotic state, people enter a social contract, agreeing to give up absolute freedom in exchange for security and protection. On the other hand, Locke viewed social contract differently. He believed that in the state of nature, people had natural rights to life, liberty, and property. According to Locke, the social contract is an agreement to form a government that protects these natural rights

Popular Sovereignty

The principle of authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their representatives. Essentially, it means that the people hold ultimate power in a democracy, and the government derives its legitimacy from the will of the governed. This is evident in many of the Federalist Papers and is one of the foundational ideals influenced by the Enlightenment.

Participatory Democracy

A type of democracy where citizens have ample and active participation in the government. It emphasizes the direct involvement of the people in not only making laws and voting but also shaping their community as they wish.

Pluralist Democracy

A type of democracy where the power is distributed among the many groups and organizations, rather than being concentrated in the hands of a single authority or elite. in this type of Democracy many such as interest groups, unions, business organizations, advocacy groups, and other factions, compete to influence government policy.

Elite (Elitist) Democracy

When only a certain group or those high in wealth have the power to participate in the government. E.g. only those who make >250k a year and own land can vote for an elective.

Unitary Government

A system of government where all the power and authority is centralized in a single national government. The government operates primarily as an administrative arm of the central authority, without any independent power of its own. (Ex: France, UK, and Japan)

Confederal Government

A system of government where power is primarily distributed among local or regional governments (Ex: States, provinces, etc.). In this system, the central authority typically exists only to handle matters that affect the entire nation, such as defense or foreign policy, but the majority of authority remains with the member states. (Ex: The government under the Articles of Confederation, or The Confederate States of America)

Federal Government

A system of government that consists where power is divided between a central (national) government and a regional (state or provincial) government. Each set of government has its own set of powers and responsibilities, which are typically defined by a constitution or legal framework. (Ex: the US, Germany, and Australia)

Shay’s Rebellion

A group of the revolutionary war veterans, that formed a faction, whom upon return, had to pay taxes in such large sums that they had to sell their land, leaving them with no right to vote, and little to no money. They decided to overthrow the courts, and the central government could do nothing other than speculate, causing the wealthy to take matters into their own hands and hire private militia.

Federalism

A system that divides powers between national and state governments.

Federalist

One who is a supporter of the central (federal) government holding most of the power in the nation.

Anti-Federalist

Wants the people to hold the power, power in the states rather than the central government ruling in absolute.

Republicanism

Political ideology advocates for a government in which the country is considered a “public matter”, and the head of state is elected or appointed, rather than a monarchy.

Authorship/Year/

Context

Text

Notes/Main Ideas/Claim

Written primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. It was a formal assertion of the colonies’ desire to separate from Britain and establish an independent government among themselves.

Declaration of Independence

Author: Thomas Jefferson

Purpose: To express to the British Crown why and how the 13 colonists were seceding from their empire. It outlined a preamble to explain why they were breaking up from the empire, a list of grievances against King George III, and a redress to express to King George their efforts to make the colonies better.

Main Ideas:

Jefferson mainly wanted to convey that all people have similar virtues, such as Natural Rights, Limited Government, Social Contract, and Popular Sovereignty. Those ideals were mainly laid on the foundational ideals of the Enlightenment.

Drafted by the Continental Congress, the Articles of Confederation were ratified by ~1780. It was a way to establish an early form of government after the Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

Author: the Continental Congress

Purpose: Created to serve as the first constitution of the United States, providing a framework for governance during and after the War for Independence. The Continental Congress aimed to unify the thirteen states while maintaining their sovereignty and independence.

Main Ideas: The Articles of Confederation emphasized state sovereignty and granted significant power to individual states, with a limited central government that lacked authority to tax, regulate commerce, and enforce laws. These limitations resulted in financial instability and recession, which highlighted the need for a stronger central government, leading to the Constitutional Convention.

The true identity of “Brutus” is unknown, but it is often attributed to Robert Yates, a New York delegate who was a prominent Anti-Federalist.

Brutus No. 1

Author: “Brutus”- unknown writer

Purpose: The purpose of Brutus 1 was to argue against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, expressing concerns that it would lead to an overly powerful central government at the expense of states’ rights and citizen’s liberties.

Main Ideas: The proposed Constitution gave excessive power to the central government, threatening the sovereignty of individual states and potentially leading to tyranny. It argues that a large republic would be unmanageable and incapable of effectively representing people’s diverse interests, favoring smaller, more homogeneous republics for better representation. It also raises concerns about the lack of sufficient protections for individual rights, warning that the central government’s powers could infringe upon personal freedoms.

James Madison wrote Federalist 10 in 1787 as a response to Brutus 1, where he argues why a new constitution should be ratified.

Federalist 10

Author: James Madison

Purpose: The primary purpose of Federalist 10 is to address concerns about factions and to argue for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution as an effort to control the negative effects of factions. Madison aims to demonstrate that a large republic under a strong Constitution is the best way to manage these factions and preserve democratic governance.

Main Ideas: Federalist 10 argues that factions, or groups of people with conflicting interests, are a crucial part of human nature and can be problematic for democratic governance. James Madison contends that a large republic is better suited to manage and mitigate the influence of factions compared to smaller republics. By mentioning a diverse array of interests, a large republic will prevent any single faction from dominating and ensure a more stable and just government.

Word

Definition/Explanation

Constitutional Convention 1787

Was originally called to amend the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weak national government. The delegates decided to draft a new constitution entirely, creating a stronger federal government with separated powers and a system of checks and balances.

The Virginia Plan

Plan outlined by the state of Virginia. It stated that representation should be based on population.

The New Jersey Plan

Plan outlined by New Jersey. It stated that representation should be equal, meaning that small states would have more power proportionally.

The Great Compromise

At the Constitutional Convention, large states like Virginia wanted representation based on population (the Virginia Plan), while smaller states like New Jersey wanted equal representation for all states (the New Jersey Plan). This compromise established a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate giving each state two representatives, regardless of size.

The Legislative Branch (Art. I)

Congress(two houses); creates laws

• Has the Power of the Purse: Commerce Clause

The Executive Branch (Art. II)

Presidential & bureaucracy; enforcing laws

The Judicial Branch (Art. III)

SCOTUS and other courts; interpret laws and the constitution

3/5ths Compromise

Southern states wanted enslaved individuals to count fully, increasing their political power, while Northern states opposed this. The compromise allowed states to count 3/5ths of their enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.

Slave Trade Compromise

The North wanted to end the slave trade. Congress passed the 3-fifths compromise 20 years from the ratification of the Constitution; the IMPORTATION of slaves would be illegal.

Article V

Outlines the process for amending the Constitution. Amendments can be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. To be ratified, amendments require approval by three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions.

Bill of Rights (Compromise)

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, added to protect individual liberties, were a compromise to satisfy Anti-Federalists who feared the new federal government would infringe on personal freedoms. These rights include freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, the right to a fair trial, etc.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into branches; legislative, executive, and judicial. It is designed to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power. Each branch has unique functions: Congress makes laws, the president enforces them, and the courts interpret them.

Checks and Balances

System that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches. For example, the president can veto laws passed by Congress, Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote, and the judiciary can declare laws unconstitutional.

Amendment IX

This amendment states that the rights listed in the Constitution are not the only rights people have. It was included in the Bill of Rights

Amendment X

This amendment clarifies that powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the states or the people. This reinforces the principle of federalism by ensuring that states retain some authority.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that are granted solely to the federal government, such as the power to coin money, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as the power to tax, build roads, and create lower courts.

Reserved Powers

Powers that the Constitution does not grant to the federal government are reserved for the states. These powers include conducting elections, establishing local governments, and overseeing education.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution. These include the powers to tax, regulate commerce, declare war, and raise an army.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but implied through the Necessary and Proper Clause. For example, creating a national bank is considered an implied power because it helps Congress carry out its enumerated powers (McCulloch v. Maryland)).

Commerce Clause

A clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, between the states, and with Native American tribes. (U.S v. Lopez)

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the Elastic Clause, it grants Congress the authority to pass all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out its enumerated powers. This allows for implied powers.

Supremacy Clause (Art. VI)

This clause establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are within the government’s power to interpret, meaning that federal law takes over state laws and constitutions when there is a conflict.

Full Faith and Credit Clause (Art. IV)

Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states. This ensures that legal agreements (such as marriages) are respected across state lines.

Extradition

(Art. IV)

A process by which one state or country returns a person accused or convicted of a crime to the state where the crime was committed, ensuring that fugitives are returned for prosecution or punishment.

Privileges and Immunities Clause (Art. IV)

Prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states, ensuring that citizens can travel freely and enjoy the same rights and protections as local residents.

Mandates

Directives issued by the federal government that states must follow, often without providing sufficient funds to carry out the requirements (AKA as unfunded mandates).

Unfunded Mandates

Federal requirements impose obligations on state or local governments without providing federal funding to cover the costs. (Shown in No Child Left Behind)

Categorical Grants

Federal funds that are given to states for a specific purpose, such as Medicaid or highway construction and maintenance. These grants come with strict guidelines on how the money should or should not be spent.

Block grants

Federal funds given to states for more broad purposes, such as community development or social services, with fewer restrictions than categorical grants, unlike Categorical Grants.

Authorship/Year/

Context

Text

Notes/Main Ideas/Claim

Written by James Madison. It was written to explain and defend the structure of the government proposed by the U.S Constitution

Federalist 51

Author: James Madison

Purpose: To explain and defend the system of checks and balances in the Constitution and argue for the ratification of the Constitution

Main Ideas: Madison argued that the separation of powers into three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) is necessary to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful(like factions). He emphasizes that each branch must have mechanisms to control the others, ensuring that the government is structured to protect liberty(Checks and Balances). Federalism is also an important theme, as the division of power between state and federal governments provides another layer of protection against tyranny. Madison also revisits the ideals and causes of factions.

McCulloch v Maryland

Facts: Congress created the 2nd Bank of the United States, which faced opposition from many states, including Maryland. Maryland passed a law taxing the national bank’s Baltimore branch. James McCulloch, an employee of the bank, refused to pay the tax, and Maryland sued. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues/Clause: Should the state of Maryland be allowed to tax such institutions as the BUS? And if yes, does Congress have the right to use the Necessary and Proper clause to excuse their actions?

Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of McCulloch and the federal government.

Impact: It strengthened the power of the federal government by affirming that it had implied powers beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution and confirmed that federal laws take precedence over state laws. This set a significant precedent for future cases regarding the balance of state and federal power.

U.S. v Lopez

Facts: Lopez was charged under the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act for bringing a firearm to school.

Issues/Clause: Does the Commerce Clause give congress the authority to regulate gun possession in schools?

Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that the law exceeded Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause, as gun possession in a local school zone was not an economic activity that affected interstate commerce.

Impact: The ruling limited the extent of power of the Commerce Clause and reasserted the principle of federalism, affirming that some powers are reserved for the states.