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Ap Government Unit 1 Flashcards

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6669244647ElitismA belief that certain groups hold disproportionate power in a political system0
6669244648PluralismA theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. Because many groups compete, there is not an elite group that dominates. Compromise is common. (good)1
6669244649Articles of Confederation1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) Each state retained sovereignty, the ability to act independently of the Confederation. Each state had equal representation in a unicameral (single house) legislature.2
6669244650Shays' rebellionRebellion led by farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.3
6669244651Checks and BalancesA system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power4
6669244652Separation of powersA way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch to prevent tyranny.5
6669244653Popular sovereigntyA government in which the people rule by their own consent.6
6669244654BicameralA legislature consisting of two parts, or houses with separate rules7
6669244655FederalistsThose who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments. Supported the ratification of the Constitution.8
6669244656Anti-FederalistThose who favored strong state governments and a weaker national government. Advocated for a bill of rights to formally address individual and state rights. Concerned about the concentration of power in a central government under the Constitution.9
6669244657FederalismA system of government in which power and responsibilty is divided between the federal and state governments10
6669244658Supremacy clauseArticle VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits. (ex. McCulloch v. Maryland)11
6669244659Virginia PlanInitial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.12
6669244660New Jersey PlanProposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.13
6669244661Connecticut or Great CompromiseCompromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.14
6669244662Republican DemocracyFormat chosen by Founding Fathers. People vote for representatives who then make laws. People do not vote directly on legislation.15
6669244663Three fifths clauseslave counted as 3/5 of a person for population counts to determine how many representatives.16
6669244664Federalist PapersA collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.17
6669244665Federalist Paper #10Written by James Madison to convince people to support the ratification of the constitution. Argued that factions were inevitable but were best controlled by a large republic that employed a Federalist structure. Argued that competition among factions would limit their negative impacts.18
6669244666Bill of RightsA formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution as Amendments 1-10. Satisfied Anti-federalist concerns.19
6669244667Elastic clauseAKA the "Necessary and Proper Clause" Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution. Has allowed the federal government to expand its power over time.20
6669244668Commerce clauseThe clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations. Has helped the Federal government expand its power over time.21
6669244669Concurrent powersPowers held jointly by the national and state governments. For example, the powers to tax, pass laws and borrow funds22
6669244670Cooperative FederalismA system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government.23
6669244671Dual FederalismA system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.24
6669244672Expressed Powers/Enumerated powersPowers the Constitution specifically granted to one of the branches of the national government. Listed explicitly in the Constitution. Ex: right to coin money, declare war, regulate foreign and interstate trade, tax, etc.25
6669244673Implied powersPowers not specifically mentioned in the constitution; Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions. Has Constitutional basis in Necessary and Proper/Elastic Clause26
6669244676Reserved Powersbelong to the states and the people; Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states. Granted by the 10th Amendment. For example, regulating voting and administering elections at the state level.27
6669244678Block grantsFederal money given to the states with limited spending guidelines. Allows the states power to decide how to spend funds within relatively loose guidelines. Ex: funds for transportation and state chooses how to allocate.28
6669244679Categorical GrantsFederal money given to the states with specific spending guidelines. Gives the federal government the power to decide how funds are spent within the state. Ex: funds for highway repairs, cannot be used for other purposes.29
6669244680DevolutionThe transfer of power from a high level political office to a lower level; central government to regional, state, or local governments. Example-Welfare Reform Act of 199630
6669244682The 10th AmendmentReserves powers to the states. Has been used successfully by the states to get the federal courts to strike down federal laws that violate this principle.31
66692446831st AmendmentGuarantees many individual rights including the right to expression and freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to petition the government, and the right to peaceful assembly.32
6669244685The Americans with Disabilities ActAn example of an unfunded mandate, an order given by the federal government that states must follow and pay for33
6669244686RatificationThe Constitutional process by which the states must approve amendments to the Constitution. Three-quarters of the states must approve an amendment before it is ratified and officially becomes part of the Constitution. Another example of federalism in the Constitution's structure.34
6669244688Constitutional ConventionMeeting held in 1787, originally meant to revise the Articles of Confederation but created a new plan of government instead35
6669244689Intrastate commerceCommerce WITHIN A STATEcommercial activity regulated at the state level36
6669244690Interstate commerceCommerce between different states, can be regulated by Congress.37
6670133072MandateAn order or requirement from the National (federal) government to the states38
6670138499Unfunded MandateAn order or requirement from the federal government to the states that is not funded by a by a grant39
6670155538Hyperpluralismto many groups compete and have to many resources so that government can't make decisions. (Bad)40
6670180938Federalist paper 51advocates for a government with checks and balances. Also called for separation of powers inside the government.41

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