APGov Unit 1: Constitutional Underpinnings

169352252	Bill of Attaidner	Congress can regulate trade between nations, between states, and among Indian tribes.
169352253	Contracts Clause	No state can interfere with the execution of contracts. For example, a state could not pass a law that declares all debts to be null and void.
169352254	Due Process Clause 5th Amendment	The national government must observe fair procedures when it denies a person life, liberty, or property.
169352255	Due Process Clause 14th Amendment	State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person life, liberty, or property.
169352256	Elastic Clause	Congress can exercise powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution if those powers are "necessary & proper" for carrying out its expressed powers that are specifically stated.
169352257	Equal Protections Clause 14th Amendment	States cannot unreasonably discriminate against individuals. They must treat people "equally"
169352258	Establishment Clause	Congress cannot establish an "official" religion. This is the reason why the U.S. has a separation of church and state.
169352259	Ex Post Facto Clause	Congress cannot pass a law that punished a person for something that was not a crime when it was committed.
169352260	Extradition Clause	An accused person who flees to another state must be returned to the state in which he/she allegedly committed the crime.
169352261	Free Exercise Clause	Congress cannot pass a law that bans the freedom of worship.
169352262	Full Faith and Credit Clause	A state must recognize the validity of the public acts, records, and court decisions of other states. For example, a state must recognize the validity of a birth certificate issues in another state.
169352263	Privileges and Immunities Clause	A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states
169352264	Reserved Power Clause	Any power that is not granted to the national government, or denied to the states, automatically reverts to the states.
169352265	Search & Seizure Clause	This protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures.
169352266	Supremacy Clause	Federal law is supreme over state law
169352267	Takings Clause	A government can take private property for a public purpose, but it must provide fair compensation to the owners of that property
169352268	Bicameral Legislature	two-house legislature
169352269	Block Grant	Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose rather than for a narrow purpose
169352270	Categorical Grant	Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose. These come with strings attached (ie. nondiscrimination provisions)
169352271	Centralists	those who favor national authority over state authority
169352272	Checks and Balances	system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches
169352273	Concurrent Powers	those held by both Congress and the states
169352274	Confederation	system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government
169352275	Enumerated Powers	those that are specifically granted to Congress (also known as expressed powers)
169352276	Federalism	constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments
169352277	Dual Federalism	system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere
169352278	Cooperative Federalism	system in which both federal government and state government cooperate in solving problems
169352279	New Federalism	system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states
169352280	Federalist Papers	anthology of 85 essay written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution
169352281	Formal Amendment	a change in the actual wording of the constitution (proposed by 2/3 votes of Congress/national convention and ratified by 3/4 votes of state legislatures/conventions )
169352282	Implied Powers	those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress enumerated powers and are granted to Congress through the Elastic Clause
169352283	Indirect Democracy	system in which the people rule by their representatives
169352284	Inherent Powers	foreign policy powers held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government
169352285	Informal Amendment	a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution through court decisions such as Brown v. Board
169352286	Judicial Review	power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions
169352287	Mandates	requirements imposed by the national government upon the states (unfunded mandates are imposed by the national government but lack funding)
169352288	Marbury v. Madison	the court case that established judicial review
169352289	McCulloch v Maryland	the court cast that established the principle of national supremacy and the validity of implied powers. In this case, Maryland's state government tried to tax the national bank.)
169352290	Police Powers	powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public
169352291	Popular Sovereignty	principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people
169352292	Reserved Powers	powers held by the states through the 10th amendment. Any power not granted to the U.S. government is "reserved" for the states
169352293	Separation of Powers	Principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches
169352294	Shay's Rebellion	1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention
169352295	Supermajority	a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half (ie. 3/5, 2/3)
169352296	Uni-cameral Legislature	single-house legislature
169352297	Majoritarian Theory	a democratic theory which satisfies the following: what the majority wants, the will of the people
169352298	Elite Theory	a democratic theory in which followers believe that the power should rest with the 1%-5% of people with wealth
169352299	Pluralist Theory	a democratic theory which believes in healthy competition, and that different groups all have power
169352300	Hyperpluralist Theory	a democratic theory that is the opposite of the pluralist theory. Followers of this believe that good decisions cannot be made because there are too many strong, influential groups.