all AP gov Flashcards
declaration of independence
natural rights, social contract, and popular sovererighty
US Constitution
established a limited government with ket features such as republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances
natural rights
fundamental rights of all humans not received from a government
popular sovereignty
people are the source of governmental power and authority
limited government
governmental power is restricted by the law
social contract
people create a government to protect rights of the people
republicanism
a representative form of government, people choose representatives to make public policy
participatory democracy
emphasizes broad participation and an active role for individuals citizens in politics and civil society
pluralist democracy
group based activism striving to impact political decision making, individuals become more powerful as part of a group
elite democracy
emphasizes limited, or filtered citizen participation in politics and civil society, skeptical of the ability of citizens to make good choices
Brutus 1
power should be held by the people, local governments are more democratic and allow citizens to more directly influence public policy
Federalist 10
multiple groups compete for power, its natural for people to form groups and in a large republic there will be so many that no single group will dominate policymaking
Congress powers through AOC
declare war
make treaties
raise an army
coin and borrow money
Congress powers not given in AOC
tax
regulate interstate commerce
shays rebellion
weak federal response began shifting public opinion towards favoring a strongest central government and a new constitution
great compromise
created a bicameral legislature, house and Senate
electoral college
selects president, some wanted direct election by citizens, others wanted Congress to select president
amendment process
2/3 both House of Congress propose
3/4 states ratify
Federalist 51
separation of powers, checks and balances, Madison argued that because Congress would be the strongest branch, having a bicameral legislature would serve as a check within a branch, leading to a slower more deliberate lawmaking process
separation of powers
each branch is assigned specific powers, so each branch has limited powers
checks and balances
each branch has the ability to limit/block/influence actions of other branches
federalism
division of power between national, state, and local governments
delegated powers
given to the federal government
ex) declare war, raise army, treaties, interestate commerce, coin money
concurrent powers
held by both federal and state government
ex) tax, borrow money