AP®︎ U.S. Government & Politics: Unit 1 Flashcards

Rights people possess by nature that government does not create and cannot legitimately take away

An implicit agreement in which people create and obey government, surrendering some freedom so it will maintain order and protect rights

The principle that ultimate political authority belongs to the people and legitimate government derives its power from their consent

Government whose power is legally and institutionally restricted rather than absolute

Representative government in which the people elect officials to exercise delegated authority on their behalf

A system in which citizens elect representatives to make laws and conduct government on their behalf

Division of national governmental responsibilities among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent concentrated power

Constitutional powers that allow each branch to restrain or influence the actions of the other branches

Division of governing authority between the national government and state governments

The 1776 document principally drafted by Thomas Jefferson that justifies independence through natural rights and popular sovereignty

The 1787 governing charter that acts as a social contract and creates limited government through divided, checked, federal, and representative institutions

Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Civil War speech reaffirming equality and popular sovereignty as the foundations of American democracy

A model of representative democracy emphasizing broad, active citizen involvement in politics and civil society

A model of representative democracy emphasizing competition among organized nongovernmental groups seeking to influence policy

A model of representative democracy emphasizing limited mass participation and disproportionate influence by a small group of leaders

Ratification-era coalition that supported the Constitution and a stronger but constitutionally limited national government with divided power

Ratification-era coalition that opposed the Constitution’s concentration of national power and favored state authority, smaller republics, and explicit protections for rights

Madison’s argument that representation and the many competing interests of a large republic best control faction and protect minority rights

A majority or minority united by a passion or interest adverse to others’ rights or the community’s lasting common interest

A republic covering a broad territory with a large, diverse population whose competing interests make an oppressive majority harder to form

Anti-Federalist essay arguing that the Constitution would produce consolidated national power and that liberty requires smaller, decentralized republics

The first U.S. national framework, in force from 1781 to 1789, that created a loose union while leaving most governing authority with the states

A 1786–1787 uprising of indebted western Massachusetts farmers; the Confederation government could not quickly fund and deploy a sufficient force, so Massachusetts suppressed it with a state militia

The 1787 Philadelphia meeting where delegates abandoned revising the Articles of Confederation and drafted a new Constitution with a stronger national government

Large-state proposal for a strong national government and a bicameral legislature with representation based on population or financial contribution

Small-state proposal retaining equal state representation in a unicameral national legislature similar to that under the Articles of Confederation

Created a bicameral Congress with population-based representation in the House and equal state representation in the Senate

A lawmaking body divided into two chambers, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate

Counted three-fifths of a state’s enslaved population when apportioning House seats and direct taxes, increasing slaveholding states’ congressional and electoral power

Prevented Congress from banning the international importation of enslaved people before 1808, after which Congress could prohibit it

Compromise system in which state-appointed electors formally choose the president; each state receives electors equal to its House seats plus two senators

The first ten amendments, ratified in 1791 to protect individual liberties and fulfill a major promise made during ratification

Required specially elected conventions in nine of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution, bypassing state legislatures and the Articles’ unanimity rule

Amendments are proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a convention called after applications from two-thirds of state legislatures, then ratified by three-fourths of states through legislatures or conventions

Madison’s argument that separation of powers and checks and balances make “ambition counteract ambition” and provide safeguards beyond elections

The House’s formal accusation of a federal official, approved by a simple majority; it does not itself remove the official

Loss of office following conviction by two-thirds of senators present at a Senate impeachment trial

Madison’s argument that the Constitution is partly national and partly federal, combining representation of the people with state-based features and divided authority

Powers that only one level of government may exercise, such as the national powers to coin money, declare war, and make treaties

Powers granted by the Constitution to the national government, including enumerated and implied powers

Powers expressly written in the Constitution, including many congressional powers listed in Article I, Section 8

Powers not expressly listed but reasonably inferred as means of carrying out constitutionally delegated powers

Powers belonging to the states or the people because they are neither delegated to the national government nor prohibited to the states

Powers exercised by both national and state governments, such as taxing, borrowing, making laws, establishing courts, and building roads

Reserves to the states or the people powers the Constitution neither delegates to the United States nor prohibits to the states

Clause authorizing Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers and other powers vested in the national government

Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce, including its channels, instrumentalities, and intrastate economic activity that substantially affects interstate commerce

Makes the Constitution, constitutional federal laws, and treaties superior to conflicting state law

The Reconstruction amendment that established national citizenship, prohibits states from denying due process or equal protection, and authorizes Congress to enforce its guarantees

Requires states to provide equal protection of the laws and permits national intervention against discriminatory state policies

Held that Congress could create a national bank through implied powers and that Maryland could not tax or obstruct that valid national institution

Held that Congress exceeded the Commerce Clause by banning local, non-economic gun possession near schools without a sufficient connection to interstate commerce

National influence over state and local policy through the collection and distribution of government funds

Federal funds for narrowly defined purposes that carry extensive restrictions and give the national government substantial control

Federal funds for broad policy areas that have fewer restrictions and give state and local governments greater spending flexibility

A national requirement directing state or local governments to act or comply with a national standard

A national requirement imposed on state or local governments without enough federal funding to cover compliance costs

Federal funding provided to state and local governments with almost no restrictions, giving recipients the greatest discretion; the least-used funding form

Transfer of policy authority or administrative responsibility from the national government to state or local governments

The many avenues created by divided authority through which stakeholders can influence policy, including Congress, the executive branch, agencies, and courts