AP GOV UNIT 1 VOCABULARY
Bicameral legislature: two-house legislature.
Block grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).
Categorical grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).
Centralists: those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.
Checks and balances: system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law.
Commerce clause: gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
Concurrent powers: those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.
Confederation: system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.
Decentralists: those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.
Direct democracy: system in which the people rule themselves.
Elastic clause: states that Congress can exercise those powers that are"necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States.
Enumerated powers: those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers.
Federalism: constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. Different varieties:
Dual federalism: system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere.
Cooperative federalism: system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems.
New Federalism: system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.
Federalist Papers: group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution
Formal amendment: a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states. Implied powers: those that are "necessary and proper to carry out Congress enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.
Indirect democracy. system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.
Inherent powers: foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national goverment by virtue of its being a national govemment.
Informal amendment: a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown . Board.
Judicial review: power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.
Mandates: requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding.
Marbury v. Madison, 1803: established the power of judicial review.
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.
Police powers: powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.
Popular sovereignty: principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.
Reserved powers: powers held by the states through the 10" Amendment. Any power not granted to the US govemment is "reserved" for the states.
Separation of powers: principle in which the powers of goverment are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.
Shays' Rebellion: 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
Supermajority: a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half e.g.: 3/5, 2/3
Unicameral legislature one-house legislature
Bicameral legislature: two-house legislature.
Block grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program).
Categorical grant: money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation).
Centralists: those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority.
Checks and balances: system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law.
Commerce clause: gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution.
Concurrent powers: those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies.
Confederation: system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation.
Decentralists: those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority.
Direct democracy: system in which the people rule themselves.
Elastic clause: states that Congress can exercise those powers that are"necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States.
Enumerated powers: those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers.
Federalism: constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments. Different varieties:
Dual federalism: system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere.
Cooperative federalism: system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems.
New Federalism: system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states.
Federalist Papers: group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution
Formal amendment: a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states. Implied powers: those that are "necessary and proper to carry out Congress enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause.
Indirect democracy. system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic.
Inherent powers: foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national goverment by virtue of its being a national govemment.
Informal amendment: a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown . Board.
Judicial review: power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803.
Mandates: requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. Some are unfunded mandates, i.e., they are imposed by the national government, but lack funding.
Marbury v. Madison, 1803: established the power of judicial review.
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers.
Police powers: powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public.
Popular sovereignty: principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people.
Reserved powers: powers held by the states through the 10" Amendment. Any power not granted to the US govemment is "reserved" for the states.
Separation of powers: principle in which the powers of goverment are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial.
Shays' Rebellion: 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention.
Supermajority: a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half e.g.: 3/5, 2/3
Unicameral legislature one-house legislature
