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Ap Government Unit 1 Flashcards

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5866388926Elite ThoeriesA belief that certain groups hold disproportionate power in a political system0
5866388927Pluralist TheoryA 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.1
5866388928Articles 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
5866388929Shays' 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
5866388930Checks and BalancesA system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power4
5866388931Separation of powersA way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch to prevent tyranny.5
5866388932Popular sovereigntyA government in which the people rule by their own consent.6
5866388933BicameralA legislature consisting of two parts, or houses with separate rules7
5866388934FederalistsThose who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments. Supported the ratification of the Constitution.8
5866388935Anti-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
5866388936FederalismA system of government in which power and responsibilty is divided between the federal and state governments10
5866388937Supremacy 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
5866388938Virginia 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
5866388939New 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
5866388940Connecticut 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
5866388941Republican DemocracyFormat chosen by Founding Fathers. People vote for representatives who then make laws. People do not vote directly on legislation.15
5866388942Three fifths clauseslave counted as 3/5 of a person for population counts to determine how many representatives.16
5866388943Federalist 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
5866388944Federalist 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
5866388945Bill 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
5866388946Elastic 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
5866388947Commerce 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
5866388948Concurrent powersPowers held jointly by the national and state governments. For example, the powers to tax, pass laws and borrow funds22
5866388949cooperative federalismA system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government.23
5866388950Dual 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
5866388951Expressed 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
5866388952Implied 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
5866388953Inherent powerspowers that exist for the national government because the government is sovereign. Ex: The Louisiana Purchase27
5866388954McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)The court ruled that the states did not have the power to tax the national bank. Used the backing of the Supremacy Clause to argue that states could not interfere with legitimate federal laws28
5866388955Reserved 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.29
5866388956Unitary SystemA government that gives all key powers to the national or central government30
5866388957Block 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.31
5866388958Categorical 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.32
5866388959DevolutionThe 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 199633
5866388960Gibbons v. OgdenCommerce clause case (1824). Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate commerce clause power by broadly defining the meaning of "commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.34
5866388961The 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.35
58663889621st 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.36
5866388963The Motor Voter LawAn example of a mandate, an order given by the federal government that states must follow.37
5866388964The Americans with Disabilities ActAn example of an unfunded mandate, an order given by the federal government that states must follow and pay for38
5866388965RatificationThe 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.39
5866388966Conditions of AidFederal rules attached to the grants that states receive. States must agree to abide by these rules in order to receive the grants.40
5866388967Constitutional ConventionMeeting held in 1787, originally meant to revise the Articles of Confederation but created a new plan of government instead41
5866388968Intrastate commerceCommerce WITHIN A STATEcommercial activity regulated at the state level42
5866388969Interstate commerceCommerce between different states, can be regulated by Congress.43
5866388970Welfare Reform ActAn example of devolution, giving states the authority to determine how to implement Welfare Programs and determine eligibility locally. Still use federal money.44
5866388971Political EfficacyThe belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference45
5866388972Political Culturea set of attitudes and practices held by a people that shapes their political behavior. It includes moral judgments, political myths, beliefs, and ideas about what makes for a good society.46

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