AP Civics Key Concepts Flashcards
Politics
The process of influencing the actions and policies of the government
Government
The rules and institutions that make up the system of policymaking
Democracy
Power is held by the people
Natural Rights
A God-given right to be king and have absolute power.
Social Contract
People give to their governments the ability to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.
American political culture
The ideas of liberty, equality and rights shape the shared set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship of Americans to their government.
Popular sovereignty
The idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people.
Republicanism
The authority of the government comes from the people.
Inalienable rights
Rights the government can’t take away (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are evident).
Liberty
Social, political, and economic freedoms
Participatory demoncracy
Theory that widespread participation is essential for a democratic government
Civil Society groups
Independent associations outside of the governments control
Pluralist theory
Theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of multiple groups in the policymaking process
Elitist theory
Small minority with most economic power control the government and politics
Political institutions
Structure of our government, including legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
Constitutional republic
A democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution becomes laws
Federalists
Supported the ratification of the Constitution
Antifederalists
Was in opposition to the Constitution
Federalists Papers
The Federalist Papers were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. This influenced the ratification of the Constitution.
Federalists No. 51
Madison talked about the structure of the government. This explains the separation of powers between the branches and the national/state governments, plus the checks and balances.
Faction
A group of self interest individuals who form groups to use the government to get what they want.
Federalists No. 10
Touches on the topics of factions, which are groups of people who use the government to get what they want. He claimed the Constitution would eliminate factions.
Brutus No. 1
Papers by anti-federalists who who were worried about representations of the people’s interests wouldn’t be maintained as the country grew.
