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AP Government > Unit 1 Vocab > Flashcards

Unit 1 Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

Checks and Balances

A

Allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another branch to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power

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2
Q

Commerce Clause

A

Gives Congress the power “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes.”

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3
Q

Electoral College

A

The number of electors each state gets is equal to its total number of Senators and Representatives. A total of 538 electors form the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote following the general election. The candidate who gets 270 votes or more wins.

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4
Q

Elite Democracy

A

A political system in which elites acquire the power to rule as they see fit

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5
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

Powers expressly granted to the Federal government by the Constitution

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6
Q

Extradition

A

One jurisdiction delivers a person accused or convicted of committing a crime in another jurisdiction, over to the other jurisdiction

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7
Q

Federalism

A

The same territory is controlled by two levels of government. State and Federal governments go hand in hand

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8
Q

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A

Requires states to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of the other states court.

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9
Q

Grand Committee

A

The constitutional convention; representatives from each of the former colonies, except Rhode Island, helped frame the Constitution

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10
Q

Great Compromise

A

states have equal representation in one house by the legislature and representation based on population in the House or Representatives

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11
Q

Impeachment

A

Formal accusation against a president or other public official, the first step in removal from office

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12
Q

Judicial Review

A

The power of the court to rule on the constitutionality of laws, acts, statues, executive order

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13
Q

National Supremacy

A

state judges must follow federal law when a conflict arises between federal law and the state law of any state

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14
Q

Natural Law

A

society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and can be understood by reason. Life, Liberty, and property- John Locke. Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness- Under Jefferson.

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15
Q

Necessary and Proper Clause

A

Allows Congress to pass laws, where the constitution doesn’t give it authority to act, that they believe are necessary in order to perform their responsibilities

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16
Q

Participatory Democracy

A

Citizens participate individually and directly in political decisions and policies that affect their lives, rather than through elected representatives

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17
Q

Pluralist Democracy

A

A political system where there is more than one center of power, power is dispersed

18
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

government is created by and subject to the will of the people

19
Q

Representative Republic

A

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws

20
Q

Reserved Powers

A

All powers not specifically delegated by the Federal government, reserved for the state governments

21
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Division of government responsibilities into branches limiting each branch from exercising the functions of another. Prevents concentration of power and provides checks and balances

22
Q

Social Contract

A

Agreement between a government and the people, the people consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural right

23
Q

Supremacy Clause

A

Makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits

24
Q

3/5 Compromise

A

Agreement that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives

25
Q

USA Patriot Act

A

Strengthens the federal government’s power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, and detain individuals in order to combat terrorism

26
Q

Block Grants

A

A large sum of money offered to the states by the federal government without a specified purpose

27
Q

Categorical Grants

A

A large sum of money offered to the states with particular Congressional guidelines or requirements

28
Q

Compact Theory

A

The theory that states came together to form the nation.

29
Q

Concurrent Powers

A

Powers that are held by both the state and federal government

30
Q

Cooperative Federalism

A

The intermingled relationships among the national, state and local governments to deliver services to citizens

31
Q

Delegated Powers

A

Powers that the states have delegated to the federal government

32
Q

Dual Federalism

A

National and state governments remain supreme in their own spheres

33
Q

Grants-in-aid

A

General term for money or other resources given by congress to state and local governments

34
Q

Implied Powers

A

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but derived in the elastic clause

35
Q

Mandates

A

Order from the federal government that all state and local governments must follow

36
Q

Marble Cake Federalism

A

Characterized by the federal government becoming more intrusive in what were originally states’ powers

37
Q

Nullification

A

The right to declare null and void any federal law if a state thought it violated the Constitution

38
Q

Privileges and Immunities Clause

A

A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states.

39
Q

Strict Constructionist

A

Black and white interpretation of the constitution.

40
Q

Unitary Government

A

single governing authority in a central capital with uniform law throughout the land.

AP Government (2 decks)

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