Ap Government Unit One

Front 1

Advice and Consent

Back 1

The role of the Senate to confirm presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts and international treaties.

Front 2

Anti-Federalists

Back 2

Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in favor of small localized government

Front 3

Articles of Confederation

Back 3

the first constitution of the United States, written during the American Revolution and adopted in 1777. It established a weak central government with limited powers and a loose confederation of independent states.

Front 4

Bicameral

Back 4

The principle of a two-house legislature

Front 5

Bill of Rights

Back 5

first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, which were designed to preserve the individual rights and liberties of American citizens

Front 6

Checks and Balances

Back 6

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.

Front 7

commerce clause

Back 7

gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Front 8

Declaration of Independence

Back 8

The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence. Natural rights. Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property.

Front 9

Electoral College

Back 9

Established in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College is the formal body which elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Front 10

Elite democracy

Back 10

Model of democracy in which a small number of people usually those who are wealthy and well-educated influence political decision-making.

Front 11

enumerated democracy

Back 11

powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the constitution (powers listed in article 1 section 8)

Front 12

extradition

Back 12

An alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officals of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed

Front 13

The Federalist Papers

Back 13

(Factions) Hamilton, Jay, and Madison argued that the decentralization of power that existed under the articles of Confederation prevented the new nation from becoming strong enough to fight (ie. shays rebellion)

Front 14

Federalism

Back 14

The division and sharing of powers between the national and state governments

Front 15

Federalists

Back 15

Supporters of ratification of the constitution and of a strong central government

Front 16

Full faith and credit clause

Back 16

A clause in the constitution (article 1 section 1), requires each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.

Front 17

Grand Committee

Back 17

The committee organized at the constitutional convention was created to solve how to apportion representatives in the national legislature

Front 18

Great compromise

Back 18

The compromise was made by the constitutional convention in which states would have equal representation in one of the legislatures (senate) and representation based on population in the other house (house of Representatives).

Front 19

House of Representatives

Back 19

The lower chamber of congress in which the number of representatives per state is determined by the state's population, with 435 members total (members serve two terms)

Front 20

Impeachment

Back 20

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which may include the removal of a said official from office.

Front 21

James Madison

Back 21

Co-author of the federalist papers, influential delegate of the Constitutional Convention -- later called Father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Front 22

Judicial Review

Back 22

Power of the court to rule on the constitutionality of laws, acts, statutes, and executive orders

Front 23

National Supremacy

Back 23

Gives the federal government more power than the states because all state laws are inferior to federal or constitutional law.

Front 24

Natural Law

Back 24

A doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature.

Front 25

Necessary and Proper (elastic) clause

Back 25

A clause in the constitution states that "Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers..."

Front 26

New Jersey Plan

Back 26

Designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in congress, as under the Articles of Confederation.

Front 27

Participatory Democracy

Back 27

Individual citizens of a democracy participate in the formation of policies and laws through consistent engagement.

Front 28

Pluralist Democracy

Back 28

Describes a political system where there is more than one center of power.

Front 29

pocket veto

Back 29

formal decision to reject bill passed by congress after it adjourns -- if congress adjourns during the ten days that the president is allowed in order to sign or veto a law, the president can reject the law by taking no action at all.

Front 30

popular sovereignty

Back 30

idea that the power of a government is derived from the consent of its citizens.

Front 31

preamble

Back 31

the opening statement of the constitution -- to establish justice and ensure domestic tranquility (government manages conflict and maintains order).

Front 32

Representative Democracy

Back 32

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Front 33

Republicanism

Back 33

A form of government in which the power is held by the people, either directly or indirectly, or through elected representatives.

Front 34

reserved powers

Back 34

All powers not specifically delegated by the federal government are to be reserved or saved for the state governments. (10th amendment declares states are governments of reserved powers).

Front 35

Senate

Back 35

Upper house of the US Congress, small group of elected people who decide the laws of the country - every state elect two people to represent them in the senate (100 Senators), legislature branch.

Front 36

Separation of Powers

Back 36

constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, legislative making the laws, executive applying and enforcing the laws, and judicial interpreting the laws.

Front 37

Social Contract

Back 37

agreement between government and the people, in exchange for obedience to the laws and regulations established by the government.

Front 38

Supremacy Clause

Back 38

establishes that federal laws/united states constitution takes precedence over state laws/state constitutions.

Front 39

Three/Fifths Compromise

Back 39

Compromise between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in House of Representatives

Front 40

Two/Thirds Override

Back 40

Action taken by congress to reverse presidential veto requiring a 2/3rds majority in each chamber.

Front 41

USA Patriot Act (2001)

Back 41

Strengthens the federals governments power to conduct surveillance, perform searches, detain individuals in order to combat terrorism (enacted after 9/11).

Front 42

Veto

Back 42

A formal decision to reject the bill passed by congress

Front 43

Virginia Plan

Back 43

Initial proposal at the constitutional convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral (two chambers) legislature dominated by the states.