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AP Gov Unit 1
Term | Definition |
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American Institutions | an institution created or existing under the laws of the United States of America or of any state, district or territory thereof |
10th Amendment | The federal government only has the powers delegated to them in the constitution |
14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause) | Granted citizenship to everyone born or naturalized in the United States (including formerly enslaved people) and guaranteed equal protection under the law |
15th Amendment | Prohibits state and federal governments from denying a citizen’s right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude |
Commerce Clause (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 8) | Gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce |
Habeas Corpus (Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2) | Protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment by requiring a person to be brought before a judge or a court to secure their release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention |
Bill of Attainder (Article 1, Sections 9, Clause 3) | Prohibits Congress from enacting legislation that inflicts punishment on an individual basis without a judicial trial |
Ex Post Facto (Article 1, Sections 9, Clause 3) | Prohibits federal and state governments from punishing actions retroactively, thereby criminalizing conduct that was legal when originally performed. |
Supremacy Clause (Article 6, Paragraph 2) | Federal law takes precedence over state law |
Necessary and Proper Clause (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18) | Allows Congress to pass laws that they believe are necessary in order to perform their responsibilities |
Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) | Four Sections: the Preamble/Statement of Human Rights, Charges against Human Rights/Charged against the King and Parliament, Statement of Separation, Signatures A statement of philosophy, NOT a governing document Inalienable Rights |
Articles of Confederation (Benjamin Franklin) | A union of supreme sovereign states, a “league of friendship” Equal representation for all states, with 1 vote in the unicameral Congress Weak national government (little power given) |
Fed 10 (James Madison) | A strong federal government can protect liberty because it guards against the dangers of control by a narrow interests (political factions) |
Brutus 1 (Robert Yeates) | Argues that a free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the United States and that the constitution would overrule state governments and take away their power Necessary and Proper Clause: too vague and granted the fed gov. too much power |
Fed 51 (James Madison) | Addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government. |
Constitution (James Madison) | A document that sets the fundamental principles of governance and establishes institutions Separation of Powers among 3 branches, the national government, and the states Limited Government, some individual liberties Checks and Balances |
Supreme Court | the highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices and taking judicial precedence over all other courts in the nation. |
Inalienable Rights | life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness government cannot take these away |
Participatory Democracy | emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society, citizens vote on things directly |
Elite Democracy | emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society |
Bicameral | a type of legislature, one divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses |
Judicial Branch | Made up of courts (supreme, state, city and local) Interprets the laws and settle disputes between states |
Legislative Branch | Made up of the house and senate (congress) Powers: make laws, oversee elections, taxes, impeachment, common defense, declare war, establish post office, coin $, commerce, borrow $, immigration/naturalization process, necessary and proper clause |
Executive Branch | Made up of the President and his advisors Powers: enforces laws through departments, pardon, commander in chief, executive appointments, diplomacy/treaties, convene both houses, fill recess appointments, veto or sign laws |
Two-Thirds Vote | if the president vetoes a bill, Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds supermajority of both houses |
Expressed Powers | Specifically granted to the federal government in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution |
Three-Fourths Vote | a three-quarters supermajority of state legislatures is required for final adoption of any constitutional amendment |
Popular Sovereignty | government’s right to rule comes directly from the people |
Marbury v Madison | Supreme Court case that established the principle of Judicial Review |
McCulloch v Maryland | Congress established a national bank located in Maryland and the state decided to place a tax on it, which the cashier refused to pay McCulloch won While states retain the power of taxation, the constitution and the laws made under it are supreme |
US v Lopez | Lopez carried a concealed weapon into his school and was charged under the 1990 Gun-Free Zone Act Lopez won The law is a criminal statute that has nothing to do with “commerce” (carrying a gun into a school zone doesn't impact the economy) |
Roe v Wade | Jane Roe filed a lawsuit against Henry Wade challenging a Texas law making abortion illegal Roe won Inherent in the Due Process Clause (14) is a fundamental “right to privacy” that protects a woman’s choice whether or not to have an abortion |
Republic | Americans elect representatives to make most of the laws and policies in the nation (versus voting on them directly) and protect the needs of the majority and minority |
Double Jeopardy Clause (5th Amendment) | prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for substantially the same crime |
Judicial Review | The review by congress by the US supreme court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act or law |
Checks + Balances | Each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy. (Created to prevent the concentration of power in a single branch or person) |
Veto | A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by the law-making body. |
Connecticut Compromise | An agreement reached during the constitutional convention that provided the states with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives. |
Anti-Federalists | opposed the creation of a strong central government, and argued against the ratification of the Constitution |
Federalists | support a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority, and advocated for the ratification of the Constitution |
Shay’s Rebellion | an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts in response to a debt crisis and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes (showed the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation) |
Democracy | a system of government where the majority rules |
Enumerated Powers | the powers granted to the federal government, specifically Congress, in the Constitution |
Article I | Defines the roles and responsibilities of the legislative branch |
Article II | Defines the roles and responsibilities of the executive branch |
Article III | Defines the roles and responsibilities of the judicial branch |