AP Gov Chapters 1-2
ratification
formal approval of the constitution
civil society
people join in groups (government) for own protection
social contract theory
people surrendur freedom and give authority to leader in exchange for protection of rights, mutual benefit, govt and ppl are joined in contraact
elite theory
small minority holds power independent of state democratic elections, representative democracy is a myth
rosseau
social contract, society corrupts, authority/legitmacy come from will of community, general will
faction
special interest group, try to advance their interests at the expense of others, mobocracy in small government, ally together in coalitions (interests come together, part of large government)
marbury v. madison
started judicial review, truely independent judiciary, marshall
bill of rights
wanted by anti-federalists, first 10 amendments to Constitution, written by Madison
articles of confederation
weak constitution the governed the US during the revolution, loose friendship between states
authoritarian regimes
what the standard of the world was durnig the revolution, king/monarchy is in charge
Contractualists
why an how does individual join group? result is government, 3 parts of civilization, contract
realist
work with the world as it is, focus on how things actually are
federalist paper #51
written by Madison, gain support for NY ratification, shows how checks and balances and separation of powers will work (explanation) "ambition must be made to counteract ambition"
checks and balances
ability of all 3 separate branches of government to make sure that no single branch is able to abuse power, authority shared by all 3 branches
power
ability to get somebody to do what you want them to
amendment
addition to the constitution that has been ratified by the states
anti-federalist
against constitution, want weaker national government, states' rights, liberty only secure in small republics where rulers close to and checked by citizens
european enlightenment
age of reason, intellectuals (Locke Rosseau Hobbes), reform society through reason
great compromise
also Connecticut compromise, popularly elected house apportioned by population, state-selected Senate with equal representation (2 per state), proposed by Roger Shermann
separation of powers
authority shared by 3 branches, Montesquieu
full faith and credit clause
court decisions in one state affect all states
electoral college
created to protect from the whims of the masses, states elect electors who then vote for president
majoritarianism
government does whatever majority wants, result of direct democracy
social contract
group and government joined in contract, obliged to get benefits for association
general will
group interests dominate individual interests, communist
writ of mandamus
higher court can compell lower court or officer to perform manditory and other duties correctly
normative
how things SHOULD be
3 parts of civilization
individual/family, group/community/tribe, government (formal orginazation)
consent of the governed
justification of authority, basis of legitimacy, make government valid (Locke)
popular sovereignty
legitimacy of state is created and sustained by will of the people, social contract of government (contractualist)
simple majority
less than half but more than minimum required to win
thomas hobbes
leviathan, civil society, any governnment adequate if offers protection, security trumps individual rights
2nd treatise on government
locke, people form governments to protect natural rights, give up freedom to govern selves through social contract
implied powers
loose construction, powers authorized but not specifically stated, part of necessary and proper
publius
madison (jay and hamiltion), pseudonym of federalist papers
mischief of factions
madison, warns of the dangers of factions, federalist paper #10
judicial review
power of the court to legis/exec actions and declare them unconstitutional, part of checks and balances, started by marbury v. madison and john marshall
enumerated powers (location)
powers solely given to the national government, article 1 section 8
unicameral legisature
proposed in New Jersey plan, Patterson, equal representation, 1 vote for each state in legislative
pluralism
rep democracies based on group interests and protect interests by representing group in government
indirect democracy
representative democracy, leaders make decisions by winning popular vote
authority
right to use power
federalist paper #10
written by madison, under publius, gain support for constitution in NY, how to guard against facitons (large republic), "mischief of factions"
natural rights
Locke, life liberty and property, ppl join govt to protect, based on nature/God
nullification
state can declare act null and void if it thinks it violated the constitution
privileges and immunities clause
states cant discriminate against citizens
poitical science
study of the use of power
federalist
supporter of the constitution, favor stronger national government, nationalists
Machiavelli
the prince, realist, application of power might do good, end justifies means
Charles Beard economic interpretation of constitution
theory that the better-off classes (IOU holders) favored the Constitution because they would benefit from it
confederation
union of political bodies that take action which relates to all the bodies
bicameral legislature
upper and lower legislative (House and Senate), proposed in Virginia plan, enacted in Great (Connecticut) Compromise
critical period
post wars years of political/diplomatic/economic difficulty
Aristotle
1st political scientist, wrote politics, descriptive and normative understading of political power
formal amendment process
2/3 congress propose, 3/4 states legislatures (or conventions) approve, or 2/3 state legislatures (or national convention) propose 3/4 conventions (or legislatures) approve
john locke
2nd treatise of government, inalienable rights, join group to secure inalienable rights, govt function is to mediate between contending interests, authority legitimized because of consent of governed
advice and consent
Senate and be consulted by pres, can approve treaties and appointments to public office made by president
informal amendment process
change in constitution occurs through interpreting (broadly written), laws passed to increase congress power (commerce), pres makes treaties, judicial review
necessary and proper clause (location)
congress allowed to pass all laws "necessary and proper", gives powers not specifially stated (implied), article 1 section 8 (enumerated powers)
elastic clause
constitution allows anything that it does not specifically deny
supremacy clause (location)
constitution, treaties, and fed govt laws "supreme law of the land", states courts must follow federal laws
sovereignty
control your own land, nobody else tells you what to do, most important to nation, try to protect, supreme authority of land
shay's rebellion
encouraged delegates to attend Const. Convention, 1787 W. MA farmers try to stop forclosure of farms b/c of high interest and taxes, volunteers stop, fear of mobocracy
interstate commerce
enumerated power, federal govt can regulate trade between states and other countries
ligitimacy
feeling that use of power is righteous, authority given by law or state/national constitution
due process
have to be informed of all charges and heard before judge before able to lose LLP
super majority
more than 50/60%
state
organized political body underneath government, have own sovereignty
writ of habeas corpus
person arrested has to be brought before court
6 Principles of us goverment
popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, limited government, amendability