AP Government Unit 1 Study Guide

Question 1

Republic

Answer 1

Form of government where people elect leaders to represent them and elected officials make laws.

Question 2

What are the forms of representative democracy

Answer 2

Participatory, pluralist, and Elite democracy.

Question 3

Limited government

Answer 3

the power of the federal govt is limited only to delegated powers from the constitution.

Question 4

Social contract theory

Answer 4

People have natural rights and the government exists to protect them. If the govt abuses rights, the people have the right to dismantle the govt.

Question 5

Declaration of Independence

Answer 5

a document explaining why the United States declared independence from Great Britain.

Question 6

Articles of Confederation

Answer 6

First attempt at a republic with no national executive, commerce power, or tax power.
-State sovereignty.

Question 7

Shays Rebellion

Answer 7

A rebellion that showed the need for a stronger govt. The national govt needs the power to tax.

Question 8

Constitutional Convention

Answer 8

Convention in 1787 that attempted to create a stronger central govt and a balance between liberty and order.

Question 9

Compromises at conventions

Answer 9

Great compromise, 3/5 compromise, electoral college compromise

Question 10

checks and balances

Answer 10

3 branches have control over each other.

Question 11

federalism

Answer 11

The state and federal governments share government authority.

Question 12

Article l

Answer 12

bicameralism, exclusive powers, commerce clause, necessary and proper clause.

Question 13

bicameralism

Answer 13

House and Senate divide the Legislative branch into 2 houses.

Question 14

exclusive powers

Answer 14

Powers that list what Congress can do.

Question 15

commerce clause

Answer 15

Regulates trade between states and foreign nations.

Question 16

necessary and proper clause

Answer 16

Congress can do what is necessary to uphold their implied powers.

Question 17

Article ll

Answer 17

powers and duties of the President

Question 18

powers and duties of the President

Answer 18

make treaties
veto and sign bills
enforce laws
act as commander in chief

Question 19

Article lll

Answer 19

Supreme Court, inferior courts

Question 20

Supreme court

Answer 20

the highest judicial court

Question 21

Inferior courts

Answer 21

courts that are below the Supreme Court

Question 22

Article lV

Answer 22

Full faith and credit clause

Question 23

Full faith and credit clause

Answer 23

states have to respect laws, judicial acts and processes of all other states.

Question 24

Article V

Answer 24

Amendment Process

Question 25

Amendment Process

Answer 25

an amendment can be proposed with a 2/3 vote in congress and then get ratified with a 3/4 of state legislature votes.

Question 26

Article Vl

Answer 26

supremacy clause

Question 27

Supremacy clause

Answer 27

The federal government is supreme over the state governments.

Question 28

Article Vll

Answer 28

ratification process

Question 29

Ratification

Answer 29

the process of amending the constitution

Question 30

Federalists

Answer 30

group of people who believe in a stronger central govt.

Question 31

Anti- Federalists

Answer 31

group of people who opposed a stronger central government

Question 32

Federalist papers

Answer 32

A collection of papers written by James Madison to promote the ratification of the constitution.

Question 33

Delegated powers

Answer 33

powers granted to the govt under the constitution

Question 34

Concurrent powers

Answer 34

powers shared between the state and federal govt.

Question 35

Reserved powers

Answer 35

powers that are reserved for the states

Question 36

Block grants

Answer 36

federal grants of money for general purposes

Question 37

Categorical grants

Answer 37

federal grants of money for specific purposes

Question 38

Federal mandates (funded)

Answer 38

federal mandates that come with funds

Question 39

Federal mandates (unfunded)

Answer 39

federal mandates that don't come with funds.

Question 40

Implied powers

Answer 40

powers granted to the govt but aren't explicitly stated in the constitution.

Question 41

10th Amendment

Answer 41

Police powers, reserved powers

Question 42

Police powers

Answer 42

the power states and the federal govt have to protect against threats to public safety and health

Question 43

Reserved powers

Answer 43

powers reserved to the states

Question 44

14th Amendment

Answer 44

Equal protection clause, due process clause, citizenship clause

Question 45

Participatory democracy

Answer 45

broad participation in politics and civil society

Question 46

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 46

group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making.

Question 47

Elite Democracy

Answer 47

limited participation in politics and civil society

Question 48

Separation of powers.

Answer 48

Constitutional authority divided amongst 3 branches

Question 49

Elastic clause

Answer 49

Congress can pass laws to uphold their listed powers.