AP Government Unit 1

French philosopher developed the idea of three branches of government to act as "checks and balances"

section of the Constitution that requires states to honor one another's licenses, marriages, and other acts of state courts

theory that policy making is the result of interest group competition

a political ideology that tends to favor defense spending and school prayer and to disapprove of social programs, abortion, affirmative action, and a large active government

powers that belong only to the national government (delegated or expressed powers). Found in Article 1 Section 8

term used by Madison to denote what is now called interest groups

the section of the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to the performance of its duties (allows Congress to stretch its powers beyond those specified by the Constitution)

consisting of two legislative houses (House of Representatives and Senate)

Congress cannot single out a person for punishment without a trial

addition to the Constitution that require approval by two-thirds of both house of Congress and three-quarters of the states

system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful by requiring the approval of more than one branch for all important acts

principle of government that states that government powers must be confined to those allowed it by the nation's Constitution

form of government under which citizens vote for delegates who in turn represent citizens' interests within the government

federal money given to states with only general guidelines for its use with states deciding how it will be spent

term describing a system under which the national government and local governments share powers (United States and others including Canada, Switzerland, and Australia)

Constitutional powers that belong solely to the states, according to the Tenth Amendment, these powers include any that the Constitution does not either specifically grant the national government or deny the state governments

form of government in which all enfranchised citizens vote on all matters of government

agreement between Southern and Northern states stating that three-fifths of a state's slave population would be counted toward both congressional apportionment and taxation

if allowed, these laws would punish people for actions that occurred before such actions were made criminal

the Republican Party

form of U.S. federalism during the nation's early history, during this period the federal and state governments remained separate and independent (layer cake)

1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure

Federal/State relationship proposed by President Reagan during the 80's, marked by returning power to the states

Madison warned about factions and suggested a strong, big Republic would be safer than smaller Republics

Madison discussed how checks and balances will be created to ensure political safety

a collection of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to defend the Constitution and persuade Americans that it should be ratified, they presented concerns and issues the framers faced as they created a blueprint for the new government

an effort to reduce the size of federal government by returning power to the states

federal aid given to states with strings attached, to receive it, the states must agree to adhere to federal mandated guideline for spending it

first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee personal liberties and limits the power of the government

section of the Constitution that requires conflicts between federal and state law to be resolved in favor of federal law; state constitutions, federal laws, international treaties and unconstitutional laws can be invalidated through this clause

the first US constitution, the government lasted from 1781-1789 under this because it didn't have the power to collect taxes from states and regulate foreign trade to generate revenue from import/export tariffs

preeminent form of U.S. federalism since the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, national and state governments share many powers

the theory that the upper class exercises greater influence over public policy

an untried method by which the Constitution may be amended, two-thirds of all state legislatures must petition the federal government (do not confuse with Constitutional Convention or when the Constitution was written)

section of the Constitution stating that a state may not refuse police protection or access to its courts to U.S. citizens because they live in a different state

political party of the late 1800s that primarily represented farmers and working-class Americans; sought inflationary economic policies to increase farm income

process by which governments return fugitives to the jurisdiction form which they have fled

Constitutionally established body created for the sole purpose of choosing the president and vice president

the power of the government to take away property for public use as long as there is just compensation for property taken

the removal of government rules from industries

process through which voters may propose new laws, one of several Progressive Era reforms that increased voters' power over government

a political ideology that promotes civil liberties, free-market economics, and is skeptical of government

belief that the Constitution should be interpreted loosely when concerning the restrictions it places on federal power, broad constructionists emphasize the importance of the elastic clause, which allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to the performance of its duties

those political issues are specifically directed at the daily concerns of most working-class Americans, such as job security, tax rates, wages, and employee benefits

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1 section 8