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