Foundations of government review Flashcards
social contract
a sacrifice of rights for the betterment of society
judicial review
review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act.
Popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives
Federalism
combines a general government with regional governments in a single political system, dividing the powers between the two.
limited government
A limited government is one whose legalized force and power is restricted through delegated and enumerated authorities.
shays rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government’s increased efforts to collect taxes both on individuals and their trades.
declaration of independence
the formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.
revolutionary war
was initiated by delegates from thirteen American colonies of British America in Congress against Great Britain. The war was fought over the issue of American independence from the First British Empire.
constitutional convention
The Constitutional Convention was a formal meeting held in 1787 for the purpose of creating a constitution for the United States.
articles of confederation
an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of America that served as its first constitution.
state of nature
the hypothetical life of people before societies came into existence.
natural rights
Natural rights are those that are not dependent on the laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government, and are therefore universal and inalienable
concurrent powers
Concurrent powers are powers of a federal state that are shared by both the federal government and each constituent political unit, such as a state or province.
reserved powers
the powers that are neither prohibited nor explicitly given by law to any organ of government.
unitary government
a state governed as a single entity in which the central government is ultimately supreme. Unitary states stand in contrast with federations, also known as federal states.
expressed powers
specifically granted to the federal government in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. This includes the power to coin money, to regulate commerce, to declare war, to raise and maintain armed forces, and to establish a Post Office.
the supreme law of the land
The U.S. Constitution calls itself the “supreme law of the land.” This clause is taken to mean that when state constitutions or laws passed by state legislatures or the national Congress are found to conflict with the federal Constitution, they have no force.
Federal government
a system of dividing up power between a central national government and local state governments that are connected to one another by the national government.
legitimate
make legitimate; justify or make lawful.
legislative branch
The legislative branch is made up of the House and Senate, known collectively as the Congress. Among other powers, the legislative branch makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies.
judicial branch
the branch of government charged with the interpretation of laws and the administration of justice; the judiciary.
executive branch
The executive is the part of government that enforces law, and has responsibility for the governance of a state.
confederate government
each member to govern itself but agreeing to work together for common causes.
direct democracy
forms of direct participation of citizens in democratic decision making.
representative democracy
a form of democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives
