AP Government Unit 1 Study Guide Flashcards
Republic
Form of government where people elect leaders to represent them and elected officials make laws.
What are the forms of representative democracy
Participatory, pluralist, and Elite democracy.
Limited government
the power of the federal govt is limited only to delegated powers from the constitution.
Social contract theory
People have natural rights and the government exists to protect them. If the govt abuses rights, the people have the right to dismantle the govt.
Declaration of Independence
a document explaining why the United States declared independence from Great Britain.
Articles of Confederation
First attempt at a republic with no national executive, commerce power, or tax power.
-State sovereignty.
Shays Rebellion
A rebellion that showed the need for a stronger govt. The national govt needs the power to tax.
Constitutional Convention
Convention in 1787 that attempted to create a stronger central govt and a balance between liberty and order.
Compromises at conventions
Great compromise, 3/5 compromise, electoral college compromise
checks and balances
3 branches have control over each other.
federalism
The state and federal governments share government authority.
Article l
bicameralism, exclusive powers, commerce clause, necessary and proper clause.
bicameralism
House and Senate divide the Legislative branch into 2 houses.
exclusive powers
Powers that list what Congress can do.
commerce clause
Regulates trade between states and foreign nations.
necessary and proper clause
Congress can do what is necessary to uphold their implied powers.
Article ll
powers and duties of the President
powers and duties of the President
make treaties
veto and sign bills
enforce laws
act as commander in chief
Article lll
Supreme Court, inferior courts
Supreme court
the highest judicial court
Inferior courts
courts that are below the Supreme Court
Article lV
Full faith and credit clause
Full faith and credit clause
states have to respect laws, judicial acts and processes of all other states.
Article V
Amendment Process
Amendment Process
an amendment can be proposed with a 2/3 vote in congress and then get ratified with a 3/4 of state legislature votes.
Article Vl
supremacy clause
Supremacy clause
The federal government is supreme over the state governments.
Article Vll
ratification process
Ratification
the process of amending the constitution
Federalists
group of people who believe in a stronger central govt.
Anti- Federalists
group of people who opposed a stronger central government
Federalist papers
A collection of papers written by James Madison to promote the ratification of the constitution.
Delegated powers
powers granted to the govt under the constitution
Concurrent powers
powers shared between the state and federal govt.
Reserved powers
powers that are reserved for the states
Block grants
federal grants of money for general purposes
Categorical grants
federal grants of money for specific purposes
Federal mandates (funded)
federal mandates that come with funds
Federal mandates (unfunded)
federal mandates that don’t come with funds.
Implied powers
powers granted to the govt but aren’t explicitly stated in the constitution.
10th Amendment
Police powers, reserved powers
Police powers
the power states and the federal govt have to protect against threats to public safety and health
Reserved powers
powers reserved to the states
14th Amendment
Equal protection clause, due process clause, citizenship clause
Participatory democracy
broad participation in politics and civil society
Pluralist Democracy
group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making.
Elite Democracy
limited participation in politics and civil society
Separation of powers.
Constitutional authority divided amongst 3 branches
Elastic clause
Congress can pass laws to uphold their listed powers.
