AP GOPO Dictionary
Unit 2: Constitutional Underpinnings
Term
1
government
2
politics
3
power
4
policymaking system
5
political issue
6
policy agenda
7
policymaking
institutions
8
public policy
9
linkage institutions
10
democracy
11
republic /
representative
democracy
12
direct democracy
13
majority rule
14
minority rights
15
individualism
16
constitution
17
Declaration of
Independence
Definition
Institutions and officials with the authority to make decisions
that apply to all of society
The process and method of making decisions for groups.
Politics determines whom we select as governmental leaders
and what policies they pursue.
The ability to cause others to behave as they might otherwise
not choose to.
The process by which political problems are communicated
by citizens and acted upon by government policymakers.
An issue that arises when people disagree about a problem or
a public policy solution.
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials
and other people actively involved in politics at the time.
The branches of government charged with taking action on
political issues.
A course of action that government makes in response to a
political issue.
The channels, methods, and or access points connecting
citizens to policymaking institutions and through which issues
and people’s policy preferences get on the government’s
policy agenda.
A system of making government decisions so that policy
represents and responds to the public’s preferences.
A form of democratic government in which people give
public officials authority to make laws by electing them.
Contrasts with direct democracy in which all the people
participate directly in lawmaking.
A form of democratic government in which people decide
(e.g. vote on, form consensus on, etc.) policy initiatives
directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which
people vote for representatives who then decide policy
initiatives. In the U.S. the referendum (plebiscite), initiative, and
recall are examples of forms of direct democracy operating
within our representative democracy.
A basic principle of democratic theory that, in a democracy,
choosing among alternatives requires that the majority’s desire
be respected.
A principle of democratic theory that guarantees rights to
those who do not belong to majorities.
The attitude that citizens are responsible for taking care of
themselves with minimal government assistance.
A nation’s basic law that creates political institutions, assigns
powers to different parts of the government, and often
provides certain guarantees to citizens.
The document approved by representatives of the American
colonies in 1776 that states their grievances against the British
monarch and declared their independence.
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18
natural rights
unalienable rights
individual rights
According to John Locke, rights all people have as human
beings, not dependent on governments, which include life,
liberty, and property.
19
consent of the
governed
John Locke’s idea that governments may only rule with the
agreement of those ruled, or else be illegitimate.
20
limited government
21
Articles of
Confederation
22
decentralized power
23
Shays’ Rebellion
24
U.S. Constitution
25
Framers
Founding Fathers
26
New Jersey Plan
27
Virginia Plan
28
Connecticut
Compromise
29
unicameral
legislature
30
bicameral legislature
31
House of
Representatives
32
Senate
33
Three-Fifths
Compromise
The idea, according to John Locke, that certain things are out
of bounds for government because of the natural rights of
citizens.
The first constitution of the U.S., adopted by Congress in 1777
and enacted in 1781. It established a national legislature but
most authority rested with the state legislatures.
A form of government in which individual state or local
governments have most decision-making authority, such as
the Articles of Confederation.
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers
led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block
foreclosure proceedings.
The document written in 1787 to replace the Articles of
Confederation as the basic law of the U.S. It established the
institutional structure of the U.S. Government and the roles and
powers of these institutions.
The writers of the U.S. Constitution
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for
equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of
the state’s population.
The proposal at the Constitutional convention that called for
representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that
state’s share of the U.S. population.
The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention
that established two houses of Congress: the House of
Representatives, in which representation is based on a state’s
share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each
state has two representatives.
A one-house legislature
A two-house legislature (e.g., the House and the Senate in the
U.S.)
The chamber in Congress in which representation is based on
a state’s share of the U.S. population.
The house in Congress in which each state has two
representatives.
A provision in the original U.S. Constitution to count enslaved
Africans as 3/5 of a person to ensure that Southern slaveholding states would have more representatives in Congress.
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34
Madisonian model
35
“tyranny of the
majority”
36
separation of powers
37
checks and balances
38
Federalists
39
Anti-Federalists
40
Federalist Papers
41
Federalist #10
42
Federalist #51
43
Marbury v. Madison
(1803)
44
judicial review
45
rule of law
James Madison’s plan to prevent the “tyranny of the majority.
It is the basis of the U.S. Constitution.
1. Place as much of the government as possible beyond the
control of the majority.
2. Create three branches to separate governmental power
and tasks.
3. Construct a system of checks and balances.
Remembering Shay’s Rebellion, the framers feared that a
group (primarily the non-wealthy masses) could gain majority
control of the government and tyrannize the minority (the
wealthy).
An important principle of the U.S. Constitution, developed by
Madison following Montesquieu, designed to limit the
government’s power by dividing powers among three
branches – legislative, executive, and judicial.
An important principle of the U.S. Constitution, developed by
Madison, designed to limit the government’s power by
enabling each branch of government to check the other two
branches’ authority.
Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were
considering its adoption.
Opponents of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were
considering its adoption. They argued that the Constitution
protected the wealthy, that it would erode fundamental
liberties, and that it would weaken the power of the states.
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamiltion, John
Jay, and James Madison under the pseudonym “Publius” to
convince state legislatures to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
The Federalist paper in which Madison argues that
representative democracy in a large territory could help
guard against "factions” and tyranny of the majority.
The Federalist paper in which Madison in which Madison
advocates for a separation of powers within the national
government and appropriate checks and balances on each
branch.
The Supreme Court case in which Chief Justice John Marshall
and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court
to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The
decision established the Court’s power of judicial review over
acts of Congress, in this case the Judiciary Act of 1789.
The power of the courts to determine whether acts of
Congress, the executive branch, and lower courts are in
accord with the U.S. Constitution. Established in Marbury v.
Madison (1803)
The principle that government is based on clear and fairly
enforced laws and that government officials are not above
the law
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social contract theory
47
John Locke
48
Montesquieu
49
Jean-Jacques
Rousseau
50
popular sovereignty
51
will of the people
52
Alexander Hamilton
53
James Madison
54
amendment
55
ratify
56
due process
57
Preamble
58
Article I
59
Article II
60
Article III
61
Bill of Rights
62
independent
judiciary
63
unitary system
64
confederal system
The idea, used by Enlightenment thinkers such as Locke and
Rousseau, that the legitimacy of a government stems from an
unwritten contract between the ruler and the ruled; that
government’s purpose is to protect people’s rights; and a ruler
who breaks this contract by abusing people’s rights loses
legitimacy and may be overthrown
A leading British philosopher who contributed many of the
core ideas of social contract theory, especially that
government should protect life, liberty, and property
A leading French philosopher who contributed to social
contract theory, particularly the notion that separation of
powers and checks and balances could restrain the power of
government
A leading French philosopher who contributed to social
contract theory’s main ideas, with a preference for direct
democracy over representative democracy.
The principle that the people are the ultimate source of
authority and legitimacy of a government
Founding father that was the main author of the Constitution.
Federalist.
Founding father that was the main author of the Constitution.
Federalist.
A written addition or modification of a law or constitution
To formally approve an agreement, treaty, amendment, or
constitution
The principle that no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or
property without fair legal procedures and safeguards.
Opening paragraph of the Constitution that explains the
purposes of the Constitution.
The part of the Constitution that establishes the Legislative
Branch
The part of the Constitution that establishes the Executive
Branch
The part of the Constitution that establishes the Judicial Branch
First ten amendments to the Constitution that establish basic
civil liberties. Added in response to objections by antiFederalists, key to ratification.
A system of judges and courts that is separate from other
branches of government
A system of government in which all power resides in the
central government rather than smaller territorial units, such as
states.
A system of government in which states or other territorial units
form a loose association for a common purpose, such that
little power is lodged in the central government.
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federal system
(federalism)
66
supremacy clause
67
delegated powers
68
reserved powers
69
concurrent powers
70
Tenth Amendment
71
enumerated /
express powers
72
73
Necessary and
Proper Clause /
Elastic Clause
implied powers
74
McCulloch v.
Maryland (1819)
75
Supremacy Clause
76
“supreme law of the
land”
77
Gibbons v. Ogden
(1824)
78
commerce clause
79
interstate commerce
80
intrastate commerce
81
full faith and credit
clause
A system of government in which governmental powers are
divided between a central government and smaller territorial
units, such as states.
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution,
national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the
national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
The powers given specifically to the national government by
the U.S. Constitution.
Powers kept by the states under the 10th Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution
Powers shared by the federal and state governments under
the U.S. Constitution
The Constitutional amendment stating that powers not
specifically delegated to the national government are
reserved for the states.
Delegated powers specifically listed or mentioned in the
Constitution as grants of authority to Congress.
A clause in Article 1, Section 8, which authorizes Congress to
pass “all laws which shall be necessary and proper” to carry
out its enumerated powers
Powers not listed or mentioned in the Constitution but that
Congress or the U.S. courts are deem to be implied from the
specifically enumerated powers of Congress.
1819 case in which S.C. (Marshall court) ruled that the Article
I’s Necessary and Proper clause implied that the federal
government had the power to establish a national bank,
which could not be taxed by a state. Significance: affirmed
supremacy of national government over the states and
upheld the implied powers of Congress under the Constitution.
A clause in Article VI (6) of the U.S. Constitution, stating that
federal law (the Constitution, national laws, and treaties)
suspersedes all state and local laws. When the laws conflict,
federal law has more authority.
The notion that federal law supersedes all state and local laws.
When the laws conflict, federal law has more authority.
A landmark case in which the S.C. interpreted very broadly
the interstate commerce clause, enabling Congress to
promote or regulate virtually every form of commercial
activity.
A clause in the Constitution’s Article I that gives Congress the
authority to regulate interstate commerce, trade with other
nations, and with Native Americans.
Trade that takes place between two states or among several
states
Trade that takes place within the borders of a state
A clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution requiring
each state to recognize the official documents and civil
judgments rendered by the courts of other states.
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extradition
83
privileges and
immunities
84
dual federalism
(“layer cake”
federalism)
85
cooperative
federalism (“marble
cake” federalism)
86
fiscal federalism
87
categorical grant-inaid
88
project grant
89
formula grant
90
block grant
91
devolution / new
federalism
92
federal mandate
93
unfunded mandate
94
U.S. vs. Lopez (1995)
95
U.S. v. Morrison (2000)
A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is
surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state
in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
A clause in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution granting
citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other
states.
A type of federalism in which both the states and the national
government remain supreme within their own spheres, each
responsible for some policies.
A type of federalism in which powers and responsibilities are
shared between states and the national government. They
may also share costs, administration, and even blame for
programs that work poorly.
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the
federal system; it is the financial core of cooperative
federalism.
Federal grant to states that can be used only for specific
purposes, or “categories,” of state and local spending. They
come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination
requirements.
A type of federal categorical grant given for specific purposes
and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.
A type of federal categorical grant distributed according to a
formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations,
such as percentage of population in poverty.
A federal grant given more or less automatically to states or
communities to support broad programs in areas such as
community development and social services.
The transference of responsibility for policies from the central
government to state or local governments.
Federal requirements that direct state or local governments to
comply with federal rules under threat of penalties or as a
condition of receiving a federal grant.
A federal government mandate to the states without
adequate federal funds to carry out the policy.
Case in which the SCOTUS held that the federal Gun-Free
School Zones Act of 1990, which forbid the possession of
firearms in public schools, exceeded Congress’ constitutional
authority to regulate commerce. The first S.C. case since the
Great Depression to set limits to Congress's power under the
Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. (part of
devolution)
Landmark case in which the S.C. ruled that the power to
regulate interstate commerce did not provide Congress with
the authority to enact the 1994 Violence Against Women Act,
which gave the victims of gender-motivated violence a
federal civil remedy. Reflected a growing trend in the S.C. to
set limits to Congress's power under the Commerce Clause of
the United States Constitution. (part of devolution)