Chapter 1: Constitutional Democracy Flashcards
Direct democracy
Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly
Democracy
Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.
Representative democracy
Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic
Constitutional democracy
A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections
Constitutionalism
The set of arrangements including checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a Bill of Rights that requires our leaders to listen, think, bargain, and explain before the act or make laws. We then hold them politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers
Statism
The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation
Popular consent
The idea that a just government must derived its powers from the consent of the people it governs.
Majority rule
Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority
Majority
The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election
Plurality
Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half
Theocracy
Government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the Confederated states drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by the present constitution in 1789.
Annapolis convention
The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States
Shay’s rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786–1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional convention went out
Bicameralism
The principle of the two – house legislator.
Virginia plan
Initial proposal at the governmental convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with the bicameral legislature dominated by the big states
New Jersey plan
Proposal at the Constitutional convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single – house legislator in which each state would be represented equally.
Connecticut compromise
Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional convention for a bicameral legislature with the lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have to Senators
3/5 compromise
Compromise between Northern and Southern states at the Constitutional convention that 3/5 of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the house of representatives
Federalists
Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government
Anti-Federalist
Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.
The Federalist
Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, in 1787 and 1788.
