Question 1

What is a government?

Accepted Answer

The system that controls an organized community, and administers public policy

Question 2

What is politics?

Accepted Answer

Activities associated with governing a country/area

Government is the game, and politics is how you play it

("Who gets what, when, and how")

Question 3

What is public policy?

Accepted Answer

Whatever the government does to maintain control and authority over society

Question 4

What is the difference between autocracy, oligarchy, and democracy?

Accepted Answer

Autocracy: rule by one (a single person has all the power; autos=self/alone)

Oligarchy: rule by a few (a small group of elites have all the power; oligos=few)

Democracy: rule by the people (people have the power; demos=people)

Question 5

What is democracy?

Accepted Answer

A type of government consisting of the people, or representatives elected by the people

The people have the power

(demos=people, kratos=power)

Question 6

What is direct democracy?

Accepted Answer

A type of democracy where citizens discuss and directly make decisions about public policies

No representatives as proxies

Question 7

What is representative democracy?

Accepted Answer

A type of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions about public policy

(used in the US and most democratic nations)

Question 8

What is participatory democratic theory?

Accepted Answer

A model of democracy where citizens can influence policy decisions

Different from direct democracy, as citizens can only influence decisions rather than make them

(e.g., town hall meetings, initiatives, popular referendums)

Question 9

What is a pluralist democracy?

Accepted Answer

A model of democracy where organized groups compete to influence policy

People can influence government (like in participatory democracy), and they can also form groups around common causes

(e.g., interest groups like the National Rifle Association)

Question 10

What is elite democracy?

Accepted Answer

A model of democracy where only a small number of wealthy/educated elites influence public policy

(supported by Framers such as Hamilton; the Electoral College is an example)

Question 11

What is bureaucratic theory?

Accepted Answer

The idea that an organization (like a government) should be structured in a rigid hierarchy with strict rules

(can lead to great efficiency, but gives lots of power to bureaucrats and can leave people feeling detached)

Question 12

What is hyperpluralism?

Accepted Answer

The idea that too many strong and competing factions causes a democracy to be ineffective

Each faction "pulls" the democracy in a different direction, resulting in no progress

Question 13

What is the social contract?

Accepted Answer

A voluntary agreement between the people and their government

Government is created through the consent of the people

(supported by Enlightenment philosopher John Locke)

Question 14

What did Locke believe about natural rights?

Accepted Answer

People are born with natural rights to life, liberty, and property

Governments are created to support these rights

Question 15

What is separation of powers?

Accepted Answer

Dividing a government into branches, so that each branch is independent

(Montesquieu believed this could help prevent corruption)

Question 16

What is limited government?

Accepted Answer

The idea that the government's power is limited by the law, rather than being all-powerful

(separation of powers helps achieve this)

Question 17

What is popular sovereignty?

Accepted Answer

The idea that people are the source of the government's power, and all power must come from "we the people"

Question 18

What is republicanism?

Accepted Answer

A system where people elect representatives, while also having protection for the minority group

(similar to representative democracy, but also has protection for minority voter groups)

Question 19

Why did the colonies want to separate from Britain?

Accepted Answer

Britain increased taxes on the colonies to pay for the French and Indian War

Colonists protested, resulting in violence, and eventually the colonies united to rid themselves of Britain

Question 20

What were the Continental Congresses?

Accepted Answer

The first organized attempts to unite the colonies and provide leadership during the American Revolution

The Second Continental Congress was the US's first real government and was responsible for creating the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation

Question 21

What was the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

The document passed by the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from Britain

Question 22

What were the main principles of the Declaration of Independence?

Accepted Answer

"All men are created equal"

People are born with inalienable rights of "life, liberty, & the persuit of happiness"

Governments are formed by the "consent of the governed"

People have a duty to "alter or abolish" a tyrannical government

(heavily inspired by Locke's ideas)

Question 23

What were the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

The first national constitution for governing the American states

Favored strong state governments over a strong national government

Question 24

What was the focus of the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

Giving the states strong individual power, and limiting national power

(Congress could not tax, draft soldiers, regulate commerce, and there was no executive/judicial branch; each state had equal votes, legislation required 9/13 votes, and amendments required 13/13 votes)

Question 25

Why did the writers of the Articles of Confederation emphasize state governments?

Accepted Answer

They had just escaped Britain, and wanted to avoid replicating Britain's tyrannical national government

Question 26

What was the primary weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

The central government was far too weak

(States could do almost whatever they wanted, and the central government's inability to tax or enact powers led to economic chaos and violence)

Question 27

What was Shays's Rebellion?

Accepted Answer

An armed farmer uprising that occurred due to aggressive debt collection

(highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, and led to the Constitutional Convention)

Question 28

What was the Constitutional Convention?

Accepted Answer

A meeting in 1787 that intended to create a new Constitution that would fix the issues in the Articles of Confederation

Question 29

What is a federal system?

Accepted Answer

A government that uses federalism (dividing powers between national and state governments)

(at the Constitutional Convention, delegates decided the constitution would be a federal system)

Question 30

What were the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?

Accepted Answer

Two proposals at the Constitutional Conventions for the new government

(the Virginia Plan (Madison) called for a strong national government; the New Jersey Plan (Paterson) was more similar to the AoC, but with a bit more power)

Question 31

What was the Great Compromise?

Accepted Answer

An agreement in the Constitutional Convention that defined the structure of state participation

Congress would be bicameral, with representation in the lower house based on population (Virginia Plan), and representation in the upper house all equal (New Jersey Plan)

Question 32

How did the Constitution attempt to fix the Articles of Confederation?

Accepted Answer

It created a stronger national government, with the ability to tax and regulate commerce, and executive/judiciary branches to enforce/interpret laws

Question 33

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Accepted Answer

Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for a state's representation and taxation

(this gave slave states more legal representation, but also meant they needed to pay more taxes)

Question 34

What was the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise?

Accepted Answer

An agreement between Northern and Southern states that Congress couldn't tax exports or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years

Question 35

What is the Electoral College?

Accepted Answer

A compromise between direct and elite democracy, where the President is chosen by electors rather than the popular vote

Question 36

What was the ratification of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The process of officially signing it and bringing it into action

(citizens were divided over this, and split into Federalists and anti-Federalists)

Question 37

Who were the Federalists?

Accepted Answer

People who believed in a stronger central government favored the Constitution and opposed the Bill of Rights

(James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay)

Question 38

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Accepted Answer

People who favored strong state governments rather than a strong national government, opposed the Constitution, and favored a Bill of Rights to protect liberties

Question 39

What were the Federalist Papers?

Accepted Answer

A collection of 85 essays in support of the Constitution

(written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay under the name Publius)

Question 40

What is the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, which ensure basic rights and civil liberties

Anti-Federalists strongly supported the Bill of Rights, while Federalists opposed it

Question 41

What were the opinions on the Bill of Rights?

Accepted Answer

Federalists opposed it because they thought it was unnecessary (people/states already had all powers not given to the Fed. Govt.)

Anti-Federalists favored it because it clearly outlined and safeguarded individual civil liberties

Question 42

What were the opinions on the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Federalists favored it because it created a strong national government (see the Federalist Papers)

Anti-Federalists opposed it because it took away power from local (state) governments

Question 43

What is Federalist No. 10?

Accepted Answer

An essay in the Federalist Papers that argues the Constitution stops dangerous factions and insurrection

(factions=groups of people that have a common goal; written by James Madison)

Question 44

How did Fed. #10 believe the Constitution would stop factions?

Accepted Answer

By extending the sphere of democracy, it is less likely for any one group to gain too much power

More diverse voices from a greater number of people will result in better policy

Question 45

What was Brutus No. 1?

Accepted Answer

An anti-Federalist essay that argued having a large and diverse republic would prevent effective action (believed effective republics were small and homogenous)

Allowing a large government (like the Constitution does) would take away liberties from the people

Question 46

What is Federalist No. 51?

Accepted Answer

An essay in the Federalist Papers that emphasizes the need for checks and balances, and the separation of powers

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself."

Question 47

What is Federalist No. 84?

Accepted Answer

An essay by Hamilton in the Federalist Papers that argues against the Bill of Rights

Including the BoR would be dangerous because including some liberties but not others allows the other liberties to be taken

"[The] bills of rights... are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and, on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why, for instance, should it be said that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretense for claiming that power."

Question 48

What compromise did the Federalists and anti-Federalists make?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution was adopted, creating a strong central government (Federalists)

It included a Bill of Rights, ensuring civil liberties (anti-Federalists)

Question 49

What was the issue with the AoC's amendment process?

Accepted Answer

It required unanimous approval (this almost never happened, making changes very slow)

Question 50

What is federalism?

Accepted Answer

Dividing the government between a central authority (Federal Government) and local powers (State Governments)

Question 51

What are the basic principles of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Limited Government

Popular Sovereignty

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances

Federalism

(also sometimes individual rights, judicial review, and republicanism)

Question 52

Why are checks and balances important?

Accepted Answer

Each branch keeps the other branches in check so that none of them become too powerful

(Federalist No. 51 believes it is human nature to seek power, and that checks and balances protect against this)

Question 53

Why are there three branches of the Federal Government?

Accepted Answer

To ensure separation of powers and so that power isn't concentrated in too few hands

Question 54

What are the three parts of the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Preamble (opening paragraph that states goals)

Articles (seven articles that explain the branches, amendments, and other things)

Amendments (additions to the Constitution)

Question 55

How did the Constitution attempt to fix the AoC's amendment process?

Accepted Answer

By providing an easier process to propose and ratify amendments

Usually: 2/3 of each house of Congress votes to propose and 3/4 of the state legislatures vote to ratify

(there are other methods, but they are almost never used)

Question 56

What are formal amendments?

Accepted Answer

Written changes to the Constitution (add/modify/delete parts of the Constitution)

(only 27 formal amendments in total, the first 10 being the BoR)

Question 57

What are the three branches of the Fed. Govt.?

Accepted Answer

Legislative: makes laws (Congress)

Executive: carries out laws (president, vice president, Cabinet, and other fed. agencies)

Judicial: evaluates laws (Supreme Court and other courts)

Question 58

What is the Legislative Branch?

Accepted Answer

Congress, which represents the people and...

makes laws

declares war

regulates commerce

controls taxing

Question 59

What is the Executive Branch?

Accepted Answer

The President and their cabinet, who are responsible for enforcing and enacting laws

Question 60

What is the Judicial Branch?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court and all other courts, which interpret laws

Decide whether federal laws are constitutional and resolved all other disputes about federal laws

Question 61

What checks does the Legislative Branch have?

Accepted Answer

Over Executive: can override President's veto with 2/3 vote from each house and can impeach the president

Over Judicial: Creates lower federal courts, can refuse judicial appointments, and can impeach judges

Question 62

What checks does the Executive Branch have?

Accepted Answer

Over Legislative: may veto acts of Congress, call special sessions of Congress, and recommend legislation

Over Judicial: appoint federal judges and refuse to follow court decisions

Question 63

What checks does the Judicial Branch have?

Accepted Answer

Over Legislative: can rule legislative acts as unconstitutional

Over Executive: can rule executive acts as unconstitutional

Question 64

What are informal amendments?

Accepted Answer

Changes in the way the government works, without changing the constitution

(e.g., legislative actions, executive actions, judicial review, custom and usage)

AP U.S. Government and Politics Flashcards