gov unit 1 vocab Flashcards
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3/5 compromise
where a slave counted as 3/5 of a person, which would go towards a state’s appointing
of representatives, electors, and taxes
10th amendment
powers not delegated to federal government (or denied to the states) are reserved for the states or people
anti-federalists
opponents of the Constitution in the ratification era
articles of confederation
enacted in 1781; had a national legislature, Continental Congress, but gave most of the power to states over federal government
Baron de Montesquieu
wrote the Spirit of Laws, originator of checks and balances between three branches of government
bicameralism
division of legislative branch (Congress) into two chambers (House and Senate)
Bill of Attainder
law that declares a person without trial to be guilty; not allowed under Constitution
Bill of Rights
first ten amendments to Constitution, in response to anti-federalist concerns; focuses on basic liberties of the people
block grants
federal grants given “automatically” to states to support broad programs
categorical grants
federal grants that can only be used for specific purposes, “categories”, in State/local spending; strings attatched
checks and balances
Constitutional system that limits the government’s power by dividing government and allowing each branch to restrain the others
Civil War amendments
13, 14, 15. Abolished slavery, guaranteed citizenship to former slaves, made it unable to deny a voter based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Constitutional Convention compromise; denied Congress power to tax the export of goods from any State, and also the power to act on the slave trade for 20 years
Commerce Clause
Article 1, Section 8. Gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations
concurrent powers
powers that both the National government and State governments have and use (taxes etc)
Confederation
original 13 states
cooperative federalism
powers and policy assignments are shared between states and federal; may also share costs, administration, and blame for failures
dual federalism
a style of government in which both the states and national government remain supreme/separate in their own spheres with separate responsibilities
Elastic Clause
Article 1, Section 8. Congress has the right to make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers expressed in the rest of Article 1. National Bank
electoral college
a group selected by the states (delegates) to elect the president and VP. Number of electors is equal to a state’s number of senators and representatives in Congress
elite and class theory
big businesses run politics, not politicians; policies benefit corporate interest and the wealthy
Eminent Domain
the power of the government to take private property away for public use (highways etc)
enumerated powers
powers of the federal government that are specifically written in the Constitution
Ex Post Facto Law
a law which makes a criminal an act that was legal when it was committed, or that increases penalty for a crime after the crime has happened, or changes rules to make conviction easier. Such laws are forbidden in Congress and state legislatures (Article 1)
extradition
a legal process whereby an alleged “criminal” offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to the officials of the state where the crime has been “committed”
faction
interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth. Fed 10
federalism
a way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people; system of shared power
Federalist Papers
a collection of 85 articles written by “Publius” defending the Constitution
federalists
supporters of the Constitution at the time of pending ratification
fiscal federalism
the pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; the way the federal government maintains relations with state and local governments
formula grants
federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or regulation
Full and Faith Credit Clause
Article 4, Section 1. Requires each state to respect the laws and judgments from other state courts and accept their public records and acts as valid.
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House
hyperpluralism
too many interest groups with unequal power and access and notoriety; too fragmented, no one wins
implied powers
powers of the federal government that go beyond enumeration. Necessary and proper clause.
interstate commerce
commerce between two or more states which can be federally regulated
interstate compact
formal agreement entered with Congressional consent among states or a state and a foreign state
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
human beings are naturally good, free, and can rely on their instincts; government should exist to protect the common good and be democratic
John Locke
government serves the people; people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property
judicial review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state or national governments unconstitutional
limited government
the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens
Madison Model
James Madison; where the government is separated into three branches: executive, legislative, judicial
mandate
a command from a superior court down, authoritative command; a command to act a particular way on a public issue
natural rights
inherent rights; life, liberty, property
nullification
state’s rights; a state can refuse to recognize or enforce a federal law passed by Congress.
pluralism
theory of government where politics is mainly a competition among groups, each pressing for it’s own preferences with bargaining and compromise; best policy emerges, both sides win
political systems model
input is from citizens, policies made by lawmakers in response is output
popular sovereignty
political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government; people express themselves through free participation
privileges and immunities clause
Article 4, Section 2. Accords citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states
project grants
federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on merit of applications
reserved powers
powers that the Constitution does not give to the federal government which are there by kept by the states
separation of powers
Constitution requires each of the three branches to be relatively independent so that one cannot control the others; power is split but shared
social contract theory
people set up rulers/governments for certain purposes, and therefore have the right to resist or remove rulers who act upon those purposes
state
a politically organized body of people under a single government
super majorities
requirement for proposal above simple majority (2/5 and 3/5 majority)
supremacy clause
Article 6. National laws and treaties are supreme over state laws when within Constitutional limits
Thomas Hobbes
anti-Rousseau. Absolute sovereignty, more power to the ruling authority over people
unimeralism
political system consisting of one legislative chamber
unitary governments
way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government
writ of habeas corpus
a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
