AP U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
UNIT 1 VOCABULARY
Foundations of American Democracy
34 essential terms, organized by topic and aligned to the official College Board framework.
Foundational Principles & Ideals of Democracy
Term Definition
Natural rights Rights (life, liberty, property) that Locke argued exist independent of government and
cannot be legitimately taken away.
Social contract The idea that government's authority comes from an agreement with the governed,
who consent to give up some freedom for protection of their rights.
Popular The principle that government's power comes from the consent of the people.
sovereignty
Republicanism A system in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf,
rather than governing directly.
Limited The principle that government's power is restricted by law, typically through a
government constitution.
State of nature Hobbes's term for the condition of life without government, which he described as
chaotic and dangerous.
Participatory A theory emphasizing broad citizen participation in politics and civil society.
democracy
Pluralist democracy A theory holding that competition among organized interest groups is the primary
way citizens' interests are represented.
Elite democracy A theory holding that power is really concentrated among a small, wealthy, well-
educated elite.
The Articles of Confederation & Ratification
Term Definition
Articles of The first U.S. government (ratified 1781); deliberately weak, with no power to tax,
Confederation regulate commerce, or enforce laws on states.
Shays' Rebellion An armed uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers (1786–87) that exposed the
Articles' weaknesses and spurred the Constitutional Convention.
Great (Connecticut) Created a bicameral Congress: equal state representation in the Senate, population-
UNIT 1 VOCABULARY
Foundations of American Democracy
34 essential terms, organized by topic and aligned to the official College Board framework.
Foundational Principles & Ideals of Democracy
Term Definition
Natural rights Rights (life, liberty, property) that Locke argued exist independent of government and
cannot be legitimately taken away.
Social contract The idea that government's authority comes from an agreement with the governed,
who consent to give up some freedom for protection of their rights.
Popular The principle that government's power comes from the consent of the people.
sovereignty
Republicanism A system in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf,
rather than governing directly.
Limited The principle that government's power is restricted by law, typically through a
government constitution.
State of nature Hobbes's term for the condition of life without government, which he described as
chaotic and dangerous.
Participatory A theory emphasizing broad citizen participation in politics and civil society.
democracy
Pluralist democracy A theory holding that competition among organized interest groups is the primary
way citizens' interests are represented.
Elite democracy A theory holding that power is really concentrated among a small, wealthy, well-
educated elite.
The Articles of Confederation & Ratification
Term Definition
Articles of The first U.S. government (ratified 1781); deliberately weak, with no power to tax,
Confederation regulate commerce, or enforce laws on states.
Shays' Rebellion An armed uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers (1786–87) that exposed the
Articles' weaknesses and spurred the Constitutional Convention.
Great (Connecticut) Created a bicameral Congress: equal state representation in the Senate, population-
