unit 1 Flashcards
natural rights
god given rights
popular sovereignty
people are the ultimate ruling authority, govt carries out the laws
judicial review
the actions of the executive and legislative branches of govt are subject to review and possible invalidation by the judiciary
social contract
between people and sovereign; rights shall not be violated
federalism
a system of govt in which the same territory is ruled by two levels of govt
participatory democracy
direct vote for laws, not reps
pluralist democracy
interest groups. non govt. more than one center of power
elite democracy
elected reps make decisions as trustees for people who elected them
republic
a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected reps, and which has an elected or nominated pres rather than monarch
great (connecticut) compromise
gave states equal representation in senate and proportional representation in the house
electoral college
The Electoral college is the group of people (electors) chosen from each state and the district of Columbia to formally select the President and Vice President.
concurrent powers
powers shared by fed govt and state govts
reserved powers
political powers that constitution reserves exclusively to the jurisdiction of a particular political authority
separation of powers
guards against tyranny
checks and balances
prevents any branch from gaining too much power
federal revenue sharing
Revenue sharing is the distribution of tax money to the state governments.
block grants
use it for this, spend it specifically how you see fit
categorical grants
here’s money, you must meet these terms
shay’s rebellion
showed the failures of the articles of confederation. fed govt couldn’t intervene
supremacy clause
constitution clause giving us constitution and federal laws precedence over state constitutions and laws
commerce clause
congress has power to regulate foreign and domestic commerce
bicameral legislature
house of reps and senate make up congress
what democratic ideals are in dec of ind and constitution
- enlightenment thinking
- natural rights
-pop sovereignty - representative republic
- republicanism (rule of law)
- social contract
limitations of national govt under articles of confederation and why did they decide to revise?
- they couldn’t all agree so nothing changed
- congress could not directly tax
- amendments -> unanimous states
- no national army
- no regulation of states’ commerce
- no national court or currency
- shay’s rebellion led to revise bc they had no control
federalists’ views
strong federal government. reps, not direct
antifederalists’ views
protect peoples rights through direct involvement in govt
