Ap Government Vocabulary

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natural law

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The laws of nature, laws that you were born with. (aristotle)

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unitary government

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system of government in which a central authority holds all power.

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confederation government

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system of government in which decentralized units, such as states, are clearly dominant.

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delegated (enumerated) powers

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specific list of Congressional powers included in Article I of the Constitution; system in which a constitution lists what a limited government is allowed to do.

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separation of powers

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idea that different governmental powers should be placed in separate branches (or institutions) so that no one interest can monopolize governmental authority.

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checks and balances

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system in which each branch of government has the ability to limit powers possessed by other branches.

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New Federalism

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Nixon's attempt to return authority to the states.

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dual federalism

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federal system in which national powers and state powers are sharply differentiated.

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inalienable rights

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an extension of belief that there is natural law, (a law that cannot be taken away.

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Republican Government

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representative or indirect government, run by elected and appointed officials who vote and propose legislation for the public interest.

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Reserved Powers

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those powers which could only be be excersized by the state government

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Necessary and or Proper(elastic) powers

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gave congress some discretion to do that which was necessary to carry out their delegated powers.

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No corruption of blood

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comcept that when a person commits a crime it does not effect his family

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Extended Sphere

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(James madison in federalist 10) national govt. would be less subjest to the effects of factions because it was large.

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privileges and immunities clause

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requires each state to treat citizens of all states on an equal basis.

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Popular Sovereignty

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idea that citizens elect government officials.

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Denied powers

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powers that the national and/or state government could not excersize

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bicameral

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a legislature with two chambers.

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unicameral

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a legislature with only one chamber.

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nationalization period

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marked a substatial growth of the power of the national government, dominated by federalist supreme court under leadership of John Marshall.

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Secular government

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the seperation between church and state

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Antifederalists

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leaders in the debate over ratification who opposed the Federalists; often wanted to protect the power of state governments and therefore opposed the proposed Constitution.

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block grant

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general federal grants for whole areas of public policy; gives the recipient flexibility.

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Federalists

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leaders in the debate over ratification who favored a strong national government and therefore supported the proposed Constitution.

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Admendment

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A change or addition to the constitution

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Compromise

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When a disagreement is settled, each side gets part of what they wanted and give up part of what they wanted.

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Federal government

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A type of government where the some of the power is at the national level and some of the power is at the state level.

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concurrent powers

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Powers shared and exercised jointly under the Constitution by both national and state governments. Examples include taxation and law enforcement.

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democracy

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Form of government in which political control is exercised by all the people, either directly or through their elected representatives.

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monarchy

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Government in which political power is exercised by a single ruler under the claim of divine or hereditary right.

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social contract theory

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Agreement among all the people in a society to give up part of their freedom to a government in return for protection of their natural rights. A theory developed by Locke to explain the origin of legitimate government.

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repeal

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to revoke or annul (a law, tax, duty, etc.) by express legislative enactment; abrogate.

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elite

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a group of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group

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abolish

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to do away with; put an end to; annul; make void

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oligarchy

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a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

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aristocracy

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a governing body composed of those considered to be the best or most able people in the state.

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charter

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a document defining the formal organization of a corporate body; constitution:

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theocracy

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a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.

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Ratify

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to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction:

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Full faith and credit clause

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the concept that each state will honor the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

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competitive federalism

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period in the 90's, there was an increased competition between states and the national government to exert influence and power.

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creative federalism

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the 5th period under president john F. kenedy's new frontier and president lyndon johnson's great society

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cooperative federalism

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president roosevelt, increased cooperation made necessary because of great depression

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classical republicanism

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is the form of republicanism that began in classical antiquity and was revived and revised during the Renaissance.

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categorical grant

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federal grants that the national government determines the purposes, or categories, for which the money should be used.

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popular consent (legitimacy)

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whether or not people accept the validity of a law or ruling or the validity of a governing regime.

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federal revenue sharing

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giving an annual share of the federal tax revenue to the States and their cities, counties, isthmuses and townships.

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Divine right of kings

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monarch owes his rule to the will of God, not to the will of his subjects, parliament, the aristocracy or any other competing authority.

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letters of marque and reprisal

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an official warrant authorizing the designated agent to search, seize, or destroy specified assets or personnel belonging to a party which had committed some offense under the laws of the nation