AP Gov #1

Federalism

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Government

the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens

Unitary System

a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

Federal System

a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

Confederal System

A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.

Pluralism

A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.

Limited Power

limits the actions of the government by listing the powers they do not have

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

Federalist Papers

a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution

Checks and Balance

Each branch has the power to make sure no one branch overpowers the other

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution

Gibbons v. Ogden

steamboat case". interstate commerce & transportation is dealt by Congress.

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

Elitism

the attitude that society should be governed by an elite group of individuals

Reserved Powers

powers saved for the states

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

Concurrent Powers

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

Politics

the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs

Virginia Plan

Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population

Federalist

a member of a former political party in the United States that favored a strong centralized federal government

Federalist # 10

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Bicameral

composed of two legislative bodies

Marbury v Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Democracy

a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Constitution

law determining the fundamental political principles of a government

Articles of Confederation

this document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control co

Shay's Rebellion

a rebellion by debtor farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays, against Boston creditors. it began in 1786 and lasted half a year, threatening the economic interests of the business elite and contributing to the demi

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

New Jersey Plan

Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to

Anti-Federalist

a person who opposed a strong national government

Ferderalist #51

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Separation of Powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

McCulloch v. Maryland

attempt by maryland to destory a brach of the bank of the US by imposing a tax on its notes, most famous marshall decison..no national bank, upheld bank rights to exist and be free from taxes