AP Government Unit 1 Terms List

Government, Politics & Globalization

Pillars of the State
Government, Territory, Population,
Sovereignty, Legitimacy, Loyalty, Distribution
Nation v. Regime v. State
Strong v. Weak States
Government v. Politics
Power v. Authority
Systems of Government
Unitary v. Confederate v. Federal
Presidential v. Parliamentary
Dictatorship v. Direct Democracy v. Republic
Social Contract

Globalization
Interdependence
Transparency, Corruption

Supranational Organizations
G-8, United Nations, World Trade
Organization, IMF, World Bank
Democracy
Constitutionalism
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Oligarchy
Autocracy
Theocracy
Majority Rule
Fragmentation

Foundations of American Government

 What are the foundations (institutions & documents) that have supported the United States in one of the longest uninterrupted political traditions of any nation in the world?

 How are the theoretical Concepts of Democracy and the Principles of the Constitution seen in governmental practice in the United States?

 How has federalism been a persistent source of political conflict?

 How have Supreme Court precedents shaped the evolution of federalism?


Terms to Know

Articles of Confederation
Constitution
Declaration of Independence
Anti-Federalists
Federalists
Federalist Papers
Federalism
Democratic Theory – Republic, Pluralism, Elitism
Concepts of Democracy
Bicameral
Bill of Rights
Checks and balances
Elastic Clause
Rights of Society v. Rights of Individual
Enumerated Powers
Judicial Review
Preamble
Amendment process
Reserved Power Amendment
Separation of Powers
Supremacy clause
Block grants
Categorical grants
Layer cake federalism
Supreme Court precedents
Loose construction
Strict construction
Incorporation cases

9/11 2010: Are we out of Balance, out of Bounds?

London's Daily Mail has a great piece that shows the many personalities weighing in on the Florida pastor's plan (maybe now put off?) to burn a Koran on Saturday, 9/11. Ironically he says this is not about him, but will back off his plan if he gets a personal call from the President. Really?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1310444/Obama-Terry-Jones-9-11-Koran-burning-al-Qaeda-recruitment-bonanza.html

Then, for Monday read this article by Stuart Taylor, "Rights, Liberties and Security: Recalibrating the Balance after September 11:

http://www.brookings.edu/articles/2003/winter_terrorism_taylor.aspx

Answer the following questions for discussion. You could answer in the comment section of this post, or turn in a hard copy on Monday.

(1) Should the rules for pursuing terrorists be different than those for persuing drug dealers or bank robbers? Why/Why not? What are the dangers in taking a more aggressive approach, even when it may be essential?

(2) Taylor advocates the limited use of "preventive detention" for suspected international terrorists. Can thisexteme measure be squared with the ordinary constitutional guarantees of speedy trial, due process, and protection against self-incrimination?

(3) This article was written in 2003, in your opinion has the balance of policy been weighted on the side of liberty or security in the last several years? Is this a good/bad thing?