F Unit 1 Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) Each state retained sovereignty, the ability to act independently of the Confederation. Each state had equal representation in a unicameral (single house) legislature.
Shays’ Rebellion
Rebellion led by 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.
Popular Sovereignty
A government in which the power starts with the people and rules only by the consent of the people.
Federalists
Those who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments. Supported the ratification of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists
Those who favored strong state governments and a weaker national government. Advocated for a bill of rights to formally address individual and state rights. Concerned about the concentration of power in a central government under the Constitution.
Federalism
A system of government in which power and responsibilty is divided between the federal and state governments
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Connecticut / Great Compromise
Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.
Republican Democracy
Format chosen by Founding Fathers. People vote for representatives who then make laws. People do not vote directly on legislation.
Federalist Paper 10
Written by James Madison to convince people to support the ratification of the constitution. Argued that factions were inevitable but were best controlled by a large republic that employed a Federalist structure. Argued that competition among factions would limit their negative impacts.
Elastic Clause
AKA the “Necessary and Proper Clause” Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers of the Constitution. Has allowed the federal government to expand its power over time.
Commerce Clause
The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations. Has helped the Federal government expand its power over time.
Cooperative Federalism
A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. Involves fiscal federalism when both governments are providing funding for a project.
Dual Federalism
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
Expressed/Enumerated Powers
Powers the Constitution specifically granted to one of the branches of the national government. Listed explicitly in the Constitution. Ex: right to coin money, declare war, regulate foreign and interstate trade, tax, etc.
Implied Powers
Federal government powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution
McCulloch v Maryland
The court ruled that the states did not have the power to tax the national bank. Used the backing of the Supremacy Clause to argue that states could not interfere with legitimate federal laws
Reserved Powers
belong to the states and the people;
Block Grants
Federal money given to the states with limited spending guidelines. Allows the states power to decide how to spend funds within relatively loose guidelines. Ex: funds for transportation and state chooses how to allocate.
Categorical Grants
Federal money given to the states with specific spending guidelines and federal rules attached to the grants that states receive. States must agree to abide by these rules in order to receive the grants. Gives the federal government the power to decide how funds are spent within the state. Ex: funds for highway repairs if the state passed a certain law
Devolution
The transfer of power from national govt. to state govt.. Example-Welfare Reform Act of 1996
10th Amendment
Reserves powers to the states. Has been used successfully by the states to get the federal courts to strike down federal laws that violate this principle.
Confederation
an alliance of independent states
Americans with Disabilities Act
An example of an unfunded mandate, an order given by the federal government that states must follow and pay for
Ratification
The Constitutional process by which the states must approve amendments to the Constitution. Three-quarters of the states must approve an amendment before it is ratified and officially becomes part of the Constitution. Another example of federalism in the Constitution’s structure.
Intrastate commerce
Commerce WITHIN A STATE; commercial activity regulated at the state level
interstate commerce
Commerce between different states, can be regulated by Congress.
Welfare Reform Act
An example of devolution, giving states the authority to determine how to implement Welfare Programs and determine eligibility locally. Still use federal money.
Social Contract
An agreement between the people and their government in which government protects the rights of the people.
United States v Lopez
The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause when it passed a law prohibiting gun possession in local school zones. This increased state powers to regulate such matters while decreasing federal power
Participatory theory
Broad participation in politics and civil society
Elite theory
theory that upper class elites exercise great influence over public policy
Pluralist theory
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
