Foundation of Democracy Vocab Flashcards
A government in which the people govern themselves and individually vote on matters of policy
Direct (Participatory) Democracy
A model of Democracy in which the people are represented by leader they elected
Indirect (Representative) Democracy
Model of Democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy or have a large share of influence, control political decisions
Elite Democracy
The belief that effective public policy is the result if competition among multiple different interests and groups
Pluralism
Rights inherent to all people that are not dependent upon the government
Natural Rights
The constitution that administered America’s first government, which was characterized by a loose league of friendship between states and a weak central government
Articles of Confederation
Meeting delegates in 1787 that was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately led to the formation of the nation’s current Constitution
Constitutional Convention
An upraising that brought attention to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
Constitutional convention proposal to create a stronger national government with a bicameral legislature
Virginia Plan
Agreement to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state selected Senate, with equal membership for each state
Great Compromise
Constitutional convention proposal that maintained an unicameral legislature and was preferred by smaller states
New Jersey Plan
Agreement that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation
Three-fifths Compromise
Agreement in which the government derives their power from consent of the governed and in exchange, the people agree to limit their rights and participate in an ordered society
Social Contract
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial Review
A collection of essays/articles designed to rally support the ratification of the Constitution
Federalist Papers
System in which is divided between national and state or local government
Federalism
A group with distinct political interests; highlighted in federalist #10
Faction
Constitutional principle that grants each branch some ability to limit the authority of the other branches
Checks and Balances
Those citizens who favored a stronger national government and generally supported the ratification of the Constitution
Federalists
Those citizens who favored a weaker national government and generally opposed the ratification of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
The Constitutional principle that divides the powers of government into three distinct branches
Separation of Powers
The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people
Popular sovereignty
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
Bill of Rights
A new addition to the Constitution that has been proposed by Congress and ratified by the states
Amendment
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge so that reason may be given as to why that person is in custody
Writ of habeas corpus
The government is restrained in their lawful use of power and may only exercise those empowers assigned to it in the Constitution
Limited Government
