Ch 1 Test Flashcards
Federalism
states delegate power to the federal government, share some, and reserve the rest for themselves
Block grant
large chunks of money given to local governments by the federal government with few strings attached
Categorical grant
chunks of money given by the federal government to state and local governments must comply with or risk losing other federal funds
Federal revenue sharing
during 1972-85, money collected in federal taxes was given to state and local governments
Necessary and proper clause
also known as the “elastic” clause, it state that Congress can exercise those powers that are “ necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers
Commerce Clause
gives congress the right to regulate interstate commerce
Supremacy clause
states may not make laws that undermine federal law
Linkage institutions
institutions that connect people to their government(Special interest groups, elections, the media, and political parties
Checks and balances
individual powers each branch has to check another branch to balance their overall power
Separation of powers
dividing the jobs each branch has so no branch will become too powerful
Cooperative federalism
the federal government provides grants to states in order to influence them in areas beyond enumerated federal power
Exclusive power
powers belonging to either the states or the federal government
Concurrent powers
powers shared by both the state and federal government
Implied powers
powers open to interpretation
Enumerated powers
powers clearly defined in the Constitution
Project grant
a grant given for a specific project in a sate
Devolution
using block grants to move power out of the hands of the federal government and back to the states
Formula grant
a grant given based on a need formula to any state that qualifies
Mandate
a requirement or an order from the central government that all state and local government must comply with risk of losing other federal funds
Natural rights
natural born rights
life liberty and pursuit of happiness
popular sovereingty
the power to govern is in the hands of the people
social contract
in order to protect their natural rights, people willingly give some of that power away to a government
republicanism
people elect leaders to represent them and create laws in the public interest
limited government
a government that is prevented from tyranny through a system of checks and balances and the distribution of power among several acting members
participatory democracy
emphasizes broad participation in the political process by most, if not all, members of society
pluralist democracy
groups of people associate with interest groups who then compete to influence policy
Elite democracy
emphasizes more limited participation in policymaking on the assumption that government is complicated and therefore the most educated people
articles of confederation
first frame of government
federal government was weak, state governments were really strong
Issues of articles of confederation
one branch in federal government
no president and no federal court
congress had no power to raise revenue thru taxes
congress had no power to raise an army
Shays rebellion
veterans weren’t paid by congress because they had no moeny but the verterans still got prosecuted because they couldn’t pay their taxes
When was the constitutional Convention
1787
Great/Connecticut Compromise
house of representatives - people represented by population
senate - two votes per state
Virginia Plan
congressional representatives should be apportioned by population
big states would have more representatives and thus have more power
New Jersey Plan
each state should be represented equally with one vote per state
small states have a disproportionate amount of power
Electoral college
each state is given the number of electors that corresponds to the number of congressional representatives that they have in the House
state legislatures have all the power to decide who those people are
3/5 compromise
3/5 of the enslaved population would count towards representation
congress wont touch slave trade for 20 years after ratification of constitution
1st amendment
assembly
press
establishment clause
speech
petition
exercise clause
2nd amendment
right to bare arms
3rd amednment
government can’t use home without permission
4th amenment
warrant
list
5th amendment
self incrimination
double jeopardy
just compensation
grand jury indictment
due process
6th Amendment
confront
location
obtain
attorney
know the charge
speedy trial by jury
7th amendment
in civil cases, you have right to jury trial
8th amendment
no cruel or unusual punishment
9th amendment
rights exist outside constitution
10th amendment
all powers not listed in the constitution are reserved by the states and the people
14th amednment
equal protection under the law
Federalist No 10
issue: factions
how to fix:
large republic
elected representatives
disperse power
by James Madison
Federalist 51
issue: with strong central government is the problem of tyranny
solutions:
federalism
separation of powers
by James Madison
Federalist 70
executive branch is an ingredient for both energy and safety
a single executive is necessary to:
ensure accountability
provide unity
ensure energy
by Alexander Hamilton
Federalist 78
Justices are appointed by the president and have lifetime terms
key points:
least dangerous branch
life tenure
judicial review
by Alexander Hamilton
Brutus No 1
issue: argue against a strong central government
key points:
country too big for one central government
too many opinions
people wouldn’t know their leaders
B - leads to bill of rights and broad participatory democracy
R - resists a strong central government
U - U.S. too big for one government
T - too much power for the government
U - U.S. too large = people would be detached from leaders
S - Supremacy Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause gives too much power
