AP American Government Review

Sovereignty

The supreme(or ultimate) authority to govern within a certain geographical area

Elite and Class Theory

The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state's democratic elections process.

Bills of Attainder Laws

Laws that dictated prison sentences for accused who were NOT given a trial. These laws cannot be made!

Federalist Paper No. 10

Led by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison that argued that a "tyranny of the majority" could threaten the economic fiber of the nation.

Strict Constructionists

Legal philosophy of judicial interpretation that limits or restricts judicial interpretation.

Article IV

"full faith and credit" is used to describe the mutual respect and legality of laws, public records, and judicial decisions made by states. THIS ALSO ESTABLISHED THE "REPUBLICAN" FORM OF GOVERNMENT!

Fiscal Federalism

A concept of federalism where funding is appropriated by the federal government to the states with specific conditions attached

Qualifications to Member of the House

- 2 yr terms - 25 years old - American citizen for 7 years - Inhabitant for 2 years in that state of representation

Qualifications to be a member of the Senate

- 6 yr terms - 30 yrs old - 9 yrs a citizen of the united states - Resident of state of representation

Qualifications to be a member of the Executive Branch

- Natural born citizen - 35 yrs old - A resident of the United States for 14 years at least. - 4 yr terms(can get reelcted for another term)

Preamble To The Constitution

- The establishment of a more perfect union - The establishment of justice - The insurance of domestic tranquility - The promotion of the general welfare - The security of individual liberty

Necessary and Proper Clause

A clause that states Congress has the power to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying the foregoing powers". Also known as the elastic clause. IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE STATES TO INTERPRET ITS LAWMAKING ABILITY IN A BROAD MANNER!

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles and essays written (under the pseudonym Publius) by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise worked out at the 1787 convention between northern states and southern states. Each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of federal taxation and congressional apportionment(number of seats in the House of Representative)

New Jersey(small-state) Plan

A constitutional proposal for a strengthened Congress but one in which each state would have a single vote, thus granting a small state the same legislative power as a large state. EX: Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention in 1789

A convention in 1789 to ratify the articles of confederation due to the states having no money.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy in which people decide policy initiatives directly.

Checks and Balances

A key aspect of the Constitution of the United States protecting the balance of power among the three branches of government. The concept was first promoted by James Madison in the Federalist Papers

Ex post facto laws

A law that makes illegal an act that was legal when committed, increases the penalties for an infraction after it has been committed, or changes the rules of evidence to make conviction easier. THE CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS THE MAKING OF THESE LAWS!!!

Liberty Bell

A long time symbol of democracy

Trustee Model

A model for how we should understand the role of representatives, and is frequently contrasted with the delegate model of representation. Constituents elect their representatives as 'trustees' (or 'entrust' them) for their constituency.

Delegate Model

A model of a representative democracy. In this model, constituents elect their representatives as delegates for their constituency. These delegates act only as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituency, and have no autonomy from the constituency.

Modern Day Tea Party

A party that consists of the founders, Republicans who served in the House of Representatives, and grassroots movement of people who believed in less government, lower taxes, and lower government spending.

Recess Appointments

A presidential appointment made when the Congress is not in session that usually lacks enough votes in the Senate for confirmation

Federalist No. 47

A series of check and balances are outlined and a structure of government that stressed a separation of powers became the fiber of the new constitution.

Policy Agenda

A set of issues, problems, or subjects that gets the attention of/is viewed as important by people involved in policymaking

House Judiciary Committee

A standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is charged with overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement entities.

Constitutional Republic

A state where the officials are elected as representatives of the people, and must govern according to existing constitutional law that limits the government's power over citizens. EX: US government

Public Policy

A system of laws, regulatory measures, courses of action, and funding priorities concerning a given topic promulgated by a governmental entity or its representatives.

Anti-Federalist

A term used to describe opponents of the Constitution during the debate over ratification.

Federalist

A term used to describe proponents of the Constitution during the debate over ratification

Pluralism

A theory of American politics that holds that society's interests are substantially represented through power exercised by groups

Representative Democracies

A type of democracy founded on the principle of elected officials representing a group of people, as opposed to direct democracy.

Government

A working definition is those institutions that create public policy. Constitutionally defined as the formal institutions of government on a national level are the executive branch, headed by the president, the legislative branch consisting of congress, and judicial branch made up of the supreme court and lower courts.

Marble Cake Federalism

Also known as cooperative federalism, it developed during the New Deal and is characterized by the federal government's becoming more intrusive in what was traditionally states' powers

Shay's Rebellion

An uprising led by a former militia officer, Daniel Shays, which broke out in western Massachusetts in 1786. Shays's followers protested the foreclosures of farms for debt and briefly succeeded in shutting down the court system.

Commerce Clause

Article I Section 8 Clause 3 of the Constitution giving Congress the authority to regulate interstate commerce and commerce with foreign countries

Inherent Powers

Assumed powers of the president not specifically listen in the Constitution (derived from president's role as chief executive)

Competitive Federalism

Begun under Richard Nixon and known as the new federalism, this approach stressed the downsizing of the federal government and more reliance on revenue sharing and grants

Conservative

Believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

Supremacy Clause

Clause that states "the Constitution and the laws of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land"

Electoral College

Consists of presidential electors from each state. The number of electors is based on the state's population. The states with the greatest population have the most electoral votes. When the voters casts a vote for president, in reality, the vote goes to one of the presidential electors designated by the candidate in that state. The number of electors for each state equals the number of senators and representatives that state has in Congress. The candidate with a majority of the electoral votes is elected to office. If no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives will determine the outcome of the election

Virginia(large-state) Plan

Constitutional Convention, urged the delegates to create a legislature based on the population of each state.

The Electorate

Crucial in determining the means with which individuals get involved. Combination of how voters perceive a candidate position on issues, way ppl feel about a party, the comfort level of the voter in relation to the candidate and the party. The media also plays an influence in how these ppl get involved, etc.

Two Treatises of Government

Defended the claim that men are by nature free and equal against claims that God had made all people naturally subject to a monarch. - Wrote by John Locke

Creative Federalism

Developed during President Lyndon Johnson's administration it was characterized by the Great Society programs, which placed a major responsibility on federally funded programs

Cooperative Federalism

Developed during the New Deal, it's characterized by their federal government's becoming more intrusive in what were traditionally state powers

Federalist No. 44

Essay by James Madison, the forty-fourth of The Federalist Papers. ... This essay addresses the Constitution's limitation of the power of individual states, something strongly decried by the Anti-Federalists, who sought a greater degree of sovereignty for the states.

Unalienable Rights

Examples of these rights are life, liberty, and pursuit to happiness.

Block Grants

Federal grants-in-aid that permit state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general, area , such as education or health

Categorical Grants

Federal grants-in-aid to states and localities that can be used only for designated projects

Layer Cake Federalism

Federalism characterized by a national government exercising its power independently from state governments

Liberal

Freedom of the individual and governmental guarantees of individual rights and liberties.

Formula Grants

Grants associated with formulas developed by Congress.These grants have an impact on families with dependant children and nitrition programs.

Loose Constructionists

One favoring a liberal construction of the Constitution of the U.S. to give broader powers to the federal government

Executive Orders

Order signed by the president that has the effect of law, even though it's not passed by Congress. These are aimed at federal agencies.

Political Parties

Organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.

Separation of Powers

Originally developed by Montesquieu in The Spirit of Natural Laws written during the Enlightenment and used by James Madison in Federalist #48; resulted in the establishment of 3 branches

Article 1, Section 8

Outlines the common powers of the Congress. Enumerated or Delegated Powers include: - Collect taxes, pay debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare. - Borrow money - Coin money - establish post office etc.

Full Faith and Credit

Phrase used to describe the mutual respect and legality of laws, public records, and judicial decisions made by states

Executive Actions

Policy directives that are ordered by the President without any congressional authorization. These actions change existing federal policies that are under the jursidiction of the federal government.

New Federalism

Political philosophy of devolution, or the transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government back to the states.

Devolution

Political theory of returning power to the states

Concurrent Power

Power shared by the state and federal government, such as the power to tax

Habeas Corpus

Right that safeguards a person from illegal imprisonment; refers to the writ requiring that a person be brought before a court to determine whether he is being detained legally

Marybury v Madison(1803)

SCOTUS case that established judicial review.

Baker v Carr

SCOTUS case that established the "one man, one vote" principle. This case also created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts, and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state.

Roe v Wade(1973)

SCOTUS case that ruled abortions are constitutionally protected under the rights of women.

Texas v Johnson(1989)

SCOTUS case that ruled flag burning is a legal form of political protest. Burning of the U.S. flag was a constitutionally protected form of speech under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

McCullough v Maryland(1819)

SCOTUS case that ruled implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to create the Second Bank of the United States and that the state of Maryland lacked the power to tax the Bank.

Brown v Board of Education(1954)

SCOTUS case that ruled state-sanctioned segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.

Thorton v Arkansas(1995)

SCOTUS case that ruled that state-imposed term limits were unconstitutional, indicating that the only way congressional term limits could be altered was through an amendment.

United States v Lopez(1995)

SCOTUS case that ruled that the Federal Gun Control Act prohibts a gun 1,000 ft away from a school zone.

Connecticut Compromise(Great Compromise)

The agreement at the constitutional convention to create a two-chamber Congress with the House apportioned by population and the senate apportioned equally by state.

Federalism

The division of power between the federal government and state governments.

Dual Federalism

The earliest type of relationship established between the federal government and the states where the federal government's powers were defined as delegated and the state government's powers were reserved

The House of Representatives

The first body most directly responsible for the people.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of this document by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781. - Its downfall is directly because it was not strong enough to enforce their laws, therefore, had no power. - 2 levels of government: a weak national government with one-house congress and dominant state governments. - Congress gave limited power to declare war, make peace, and sign treaties. - National government could borrow money, but it had no power to tax the individual states - Created national army and navy - Gave no power draft soldiers - No chief executive or national court system - Legislation had to be passed by 2/3rds majority

Declaration of Independence

The formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain

Privileges and Immunities

The guarantees that the rights of a citizen in one state will be respected by other states

Politics

The means by which individuals and groups get involved, results in the formal election in official . Characterized by conflict and resolution, compromise, and interrelationship of individuals and groups.

Linkage Institutions

The means which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy. EX: Political Parties, media, special interest groups 2010 midterm elections specifically with the tea party.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to decide whether a governmental institution has acted within its constitutional powers and, if not, to declare its action null and void. Example: Marbury v Madison(1803)

10th Amendment- Reserved Powers

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Article I

This article defines legislative powers of congress, and rules of impeachment are outlined.

Article II

This article determines the nature of the chief executive, giving responsibility to a president and Vice President. Also outlines the elctoral college system.

Article III

This article outlines the nature of the judicial branch and is the vaguest regarding qualifications of its members. The scope of the court system is defined here.

The Constitution

This document provides the basic framework of government. This describes the relationship of the branches of government to each other, to the states, and to the individual.

Article II, Section I

This gives the source of power of the president by "The executive power shall be vested in a president of the United states of America"

Supreme Court

This has a direct impact on public policy through its interpretations of the constitutions and how it relates to specific issues brought before the court.

Democratic-Republicans Party

This opposition party against the Federalist party was led by Thomas Jefferson after his return to France where the United States ambassador, was characterized as the party of the "common man" Believe in a more limited role of central government and strict constructionist.

The Senate

This part of congress is makeup is based on equal representation, and joins in representation with the House with passing laws.

Federalist Party

This party is headed by Alexander Hamilton and made up of the country's upper class, supported by a strong national government and set policy agenda that would solve the nation's economic problems. This party's agenda would appeal to the business interests such as manufacturing and trade.

Implied Power

Those powers in the Constitution that are not listed or delegated (elastic clause)

Funded Mandates

Those regulations passed by Congress or issued by regulatory agencies to the states with federal funds to support them

Unfunded Mandates

Those regulations passed by Congress or issued by regulatory agencies to the states without federal funds to support them

Natural Rights(also known as inalienable rights)

Those rights that persons theoretically possessed in the state of nature, prior to the formation of governments. These rights, include those of life, liberty, and property, are considered inherent and, as such, are inalienable. Since the government has the responsibility to preserve these rights. EX: People's life, liberty, and property rights

Unitary System

Type of government that centralizes all the powers of government into one central authority

An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution(1913)

Wrote by the constitutional historian Charles Beard that argued that the founding fathers were concerned with protecting the wealth of the property class.

Government(2)

____________ is essential because it has an impact on your everyday life.