AP Gov Review

• Social contract


  The people give up some freedoms in trade for the government's protection
• Popular sovereignty


  The government rules at the consent of whom they govern
• Natural rights


  Rights that one is born with. Locke believed these rights were life, liberty, and pursuit of property
• Republicanism


  The people elect leaders to represent them in government. They can re-elect leaders they like, and remove leaders they don't by voting for someone else
• Federalism


  Division of power between the national, state and local governments
• Limited government


  A government system that is not as involved in citizens' lives. For example, they might spend less money on welfare programs like Social Security
• Factions


  Groups of people that do things for their own benefit and not for the best interest of the country. This concept is evident in Madison's Federalist 10
• John Locke


  A philosopher who believed that all people are entitled to natural rights and the rulers who do not provide these rights for the people should be removed. He supported democracy, political equality, majority rule and individual liberty
• Thomas Hobbes


  A philosopher who believed a government was necessary because life without it would be "nasty, brutish and short." He supported a monarchy
• Declaration of Independence


  Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin wrote it. It supported national rights, equality, and the idea that the government must protect individual rights. It listed reasons that the British King was abusing their power
• Articles of Confederation


  Benjamin Franklin wrote the original draft. It had a small central government and gave power to the states, it was the first government system for Americans after becoming free from the British. There was no executive or judicial branch
• Federalist Papers


  James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay wrote them
• Federalist 10


  James Madison wrote it. It was about how the government can control factions by getting groups to compete against each other
• Federalist 51


  James Madison wrote it. It was about the necessity of checks and balances and separation of powers and how they keep one branch from getting too powerful
• Federalist 70


  Alexander Hamilton wrote it. It was about how energy in the executive branch is needed so that the single executive can make quick decisions. This is why a single executive is better than multiple rulers
• Federalist 78


  Alexander Hamilton wrote it. The judicial branch will be the weakest branch without judicial review. The executive branch has the "power of the sword" (commander in chief of the military) and the legislative has the "power of the purse" (power of taxing and spending money). Since the judicial branch has neither, they will be unable to check the powers of the other branches without judicial review
• Brutus 1


  A small national government and more power given to the states is necessary to keep the national government from infringing on people's liberties. Also, the states can serve better direct needs for citizens
• Constitution


  James Madison wrote it. It gave power to the central government instead of the states, had checks and balances + separation of powers
• Article 1


  Establishes the legislative branch
• Article 2

  Establishes the executive branch
• Article 3


  Establishes the judicial branch
• Article 4


  Describes federalism
• Separation of powers


  Division of power between judicial, executive and legislative branches. For example, the President is Commander in Chief and Congress can declare war. Another example is Congress creates laws and the President enforces them
• Checks and balances


  Ways to check the powers of the other branches to make sure one branch doesn't become too powerful. For example, the Supreme Court can strike down congressional laws if they find them unconstitutional. Another example is that the President can veto a bill that Congress passes
• Participatory democracy


  A democracy where citizens can directly vote for policy (referendums and ballot measures)
• Pluralist democracy


  Groups fighting against each other for power or to influence policy (interest groups)
• Elitist democracy


  The wealthy/educated have more influence in democracy/public policy than the average citizen (electoral college)
• Direct democracy


  Citizens control the government and there are no representatives. This is not shown in the US government
• Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: The Congress did not have enough power to make decisions and were not able to enforce tax collection from states. Congress was unable to pay back war debts. It was also too difficult to amend the articles (13/13 states needed to confirm)
• Significance of Shays' Rebellion: It proved that the national government could not defend the nation from attacks. The event helped people realize that the articles were not a good government system and a new one was needed as soon as possible
• The electoral college solved the problem of how to elect the President
• Virginia Plan


  Showed representation based on population and a bicameral legislature
• New Jersey Plan


  Showed equal representation with all the states and an unicameral legislature
• Great/Connecticut Compromise


  Decided that one house of Congress will be represented by population (House) while the other will be equal representation (Senate)
• 3/5s Compromise


  Slaves will be counted as 3/5s of a person for taxation and representation purposes
• Amending the Constitution


  Either a congressman can propose an amendment or 2/3s of the states propose together. 2/3s of both chambers of Congress and 3/4s of the states have to agree to amend
• Federalists


  People who supported the ratification of the Constitution. They believed in a strong central government and a single executive
• Anti-Federalists


  People who did not support the ratification of the Constitution. They believed in a restricted federal government as a strong federal government could infringe on an individual's liberties
• The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution because though Federalists believed it was unnecessary, they agreed to add it to the Constitution as Anti-Federalists would agree to ratify it if the Bill of Rights was included
• Impeachment process


  The House impeaches with a simple majority, the Senate convicts with ⅔ vote