unit 1: constitutional underpinnings

Question 1

limited government

Answer 1

keeping the government’s power limited and not absolute

Question 3

natural rights

Answer 3

god given rights that we’re born with
-john locke

Question 4

social contract

Answer 4

state serves the people and exists for that purpose
-jean-jacques rosseau

Question 5

republicanism

Answer 5

people elect leaders to represent them and create laws in the public’s interest
-baron-montesquieu

Question 6

popular sovereignty

Answer 6

the power’s in the hands of the people

Question 7

participatory democracy

Answer 7

citizens vote/contribute directly
-emphasized broad participation
-there’s no representatives
ex: the referendum

Question 8

elite democracy

Answer 8

emphasizes limited participation by a few well educated and informed states people who are qualified to direct the nation through lawmaking on behalf of the people
-ex: electoral college

Question 9

pluralist democracy

Answer 9

multiple interests contribute
-emphasizes group based activism by non governmental interests which work to impact decision making
-interests groups or the states all represent multiple interests

Question 10

exclusive/enumerated powers

Answer 10

powers the constitution gave to the federal government only

Question 11

reserved power

Answer 11

powers kept by the states

Question 12

concurrent powers

Answer 12

powers both state and federal gov hold
-ex: taxation

Question 13

federalism

Answer 13

the sharing of power between federal and state government

Question 14

categorical grant

Answer 14

gives federal money to state as long as they comply with specific federal standard

Question 15

block grant

Answer 15

gives federal money to state to spend in broad category but the state can determine how exactly the money is spent in the broad boundary

Question 16

mandates

Answer 16

states are required to follow federal directive with sometimes the feral government providing money to help states comply

Question 17

commerce clause

Answer 17

allows congress to regulate interstate commerce

Question 18

virginia plan

Answer 18

proposed
-bicameral legislature w both houses based on state population
-a single executive to be selected by congress

Question 19

new jersey plan

Answer 19

proposed
-unicameral legislature with each state having 1 vote and equal representation
-multiple executives would be selected by congress

Question 20

great compromise

Answer 20

created bicameral legislature with the house (state population) and the senate (equal representation)
-3 branch government

Question 21

3/5 compromise

Answer 21

3/5 of all slaves would count for representation in the house
-south wanted all slaves counted
-north wanted no slaves counted

Question 22

creation of electoral college

Answer 22

-one side proposed the general public should elect the president and the other that it should be selected by the legislative branch and so the electoral college was created as a compromise

Question 23

separation of powers

Answer 23

constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government

Question 24

confederation system

Answer 24

A system where the states hold all the power

Question 25

unitary system

Answer 25

A system where the national government holds all the power

Question 26

federation system

Answer 26

A system of government where power is shared between the national government and the state governments

Question 27

implied powers

Answer 27

Powers that the government has that aren’t explicitly listed

Question 28

dual federalism

Answer 28

The federal government and state governments operated under separate spheres and this view held that the constitution gave most of the power to the federal government

Question 29

cooperative federalism

Answer 29

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government.

Question 30

grants-in-aid

Answer 30

grants that are given for the purpose of funding a specific project

Question 31

line item veto

Answer 31

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package