AP GOV VOCAB

Term

Definition/Explanation

Example (if applicable)

Popular 

sovereignty

The people beneath the government are truly the ones who control it and give it power. Run by the people.

Our Govt.

State of nature

A philosophical idea of how the world would run if there were no govt./ when there was no govt. Anarchy? John Locke, Hobbes, and others.

Natural rights

-life, liberty, and property, as outlined by John Locke

Freedom of speech and religion our classified as this in our country

Social contract

The foundation of political order that exists between civilians and their govt. that is beneficial for all.

U.S. Constitution

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of freedom for the US colonies from the motherland. A form of social contract. Also broke another social contract with the king.

Limited 

government

A form of government that is kept in check via laws to ensure it remains equal and that citizens ' rights are protected from abuses of power.

Contrasts Totalitarianism, checks and balances, bill of rights

Representative democracy

A system of governance where citizens elect those in power in order to have the vote cast on their behalf.

US government

Autocracy

Government where one person holds all power

North Korea under Kim Jong Un

Oligarchy

Government controlled by a small group

Ancient Sparta

Participatory democracy

Citizens directly influence decisions

Town hall meetings

Pluralist 

democracy

Many groups compete to influence policy

Interest groups lobbying Congress

Elite

democracy

Small wealthy/educated group has most power

Electoral College influence

Federalist #10

Essay by Madison arguing that a large republic prevents the dangers of factions.

Used to support Constitution ratification.

Brutus #1

Anti-Federalist paper warning against strong central government overpowering states.

Written in 1787 against Constitution ratification.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution and a strong central government.

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution; wanted stronger state governments and a Bill of Rights.

Patrick Henry, George Mason.

Faction

Group of people united by shared interests that may oppose the rights of others.

Political parties

Republic

Government where representatives are elected to make decisions for citizens.

United States system.

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government framework, with weak central power.

Congress couldn’t tax or raise an army.

Confederation

Alliance of states with weak central authority.

U.S. under the Articles of Confederation

Shay’s

Rebellion

Farmers’ uprising showing weakness of the Articles.

Led by Daniel Shays in 1786.

Ratification

Formal approval of a document.

Constitution ratified in 1788.

Electoral College

System where electors chosen by states vote for president.

Winner-take-all system in most states.

Three fifths compromise

Agreement that enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation.

Boosted Southern states’ power.

Slave Importation Compromise

Congress couldn’t ban importation of enslaved people until 1808.

Allowed slave trade for 20 more years.

Philadelphia convention

1787 meeting to fix the Articles of Confederation.

Resulted in U.S. Constitution

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on population.

Favored large states.

New Jersey 

Plan

Proposal for equal representation for each state.

Favored small states.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Created bicameral Congress—House by population, Senate equal.

Still used today.

Separation of powers

Division of government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Congress makes laws, president enforces, courts interpret.

Checks and 

balances

Each branch limits the power of the others.

President can veto Congress; Congress can override veto.

Federalist #51

Madison essay arguing checks and balances prevent tyranny.

Ambition must counteract ambition.’

Federalism

System dividing power between national and state governments.

U.S. divides federal and state power.

Exclusive powers

Powers only the federal government has.

Declaring war.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by state and federal governments.

Power to tax.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is above state law when there’s conflict.

Article VI of Constitution.

Tenth 

Amendment

Powers not given to federal government belong to states or people.

States control education policy

Fourteenth Amendment

Guarantees equal protection and due process to all citizens.

Used in Brown v. Board.

Commerce 

clause

Gives Congress power to regulate trade between states.

Civil Rights Act justified under commerce clause.

Necessary and proper clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its powers.

Creating a national bank.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for Congress.

Power to coin money

Implied Powers

Powers not listed but allowed under necessary and proper clause.

Establishing the IRS.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Based on 14th Amendment equal protection.

United States v. Lopez

Limited Congress’s use of commerce clause; struck down gun-free school zones law.

Restricted Congress for first time in decades.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Upheld federal implied powers and said states can’t tax federal institutions.

Bank of the U.S. couldn’t be taxed by Maryland.