Unit 1: Democracy and the constitution Flashcards

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1
Q

Natural rights

A

the right to life, liberty, and property which the gov cannot take away

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2
Q

Social Contract

A

People allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

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3
Q

American Political culture

A

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share

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4
Q

Popular sovereignty

A

The idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people

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5
Q

Inalienable rights

A

Rights the gov cannot take away

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6
Q

liberty

A

Social, political, and economic freedoms

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7
Q

Federalism

A

The sharing of power between the national gov and the setates

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8
Q

federal systems

A

A system where power is divided between the national and state governments

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9
Q

Enumerated (expressed) powers

A

Powers explicitly granted to the national government through the constitution

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10
Q

Implied Powers

A

Powers not granted specifically to the nat gov but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers

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11
Q

Commerce clause

A

Grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity

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12
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

Giving implied powers to Congress in addition to enumerated powers

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13
Q

Supremacy clause

A

Declares that the constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land

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14
Q

10th amdnement

A

Gives powers not given to the national gov to the states and the people

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15
Q

Reserved powers

A

Powers not given to the national government are retained by the states and the people

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16
Q

Concurrent powers

A

powers granted to both states and the federal government in the constitution

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17
Q

full faith and credit clause

A

Requires states to recognize the public acts, records and civil court proceedings from another state

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18
Q

extradition

A

The requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where the crime was commited

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19
Q

Privileges and immunities clause

A

constitutional clause; prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state

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20
Q

Delegate role

A

the idea that the main duty of a member of congress is to carry out constituents wishes

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21
Q

Trustee role

A

The idea that members of congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

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22
Q

Politico role

A

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

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23
Q

Bipartisanship

A

Agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation

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24
Q

Gridlock

A

Slowdown or halt in Congress’s ability to legislate and overcome divisions, esp those based on partisanship

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25
Q

divided goverment

A

control of the presidency and one or both chambers of congress split between the two major parties

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26
Q

Lame duck period

A

period at the end of a presidential term where congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees

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27
Q

Popular sovereignty

A

The concept that political pwoer rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government

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28
Q

Participatory democracy

A

Theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic gov

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29
Q

civil society groups

A

independent association outside the governments control

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30
Q

Elitist Theory

A

Theory that elites control gov and have a disproportionate amount of influence

31
Q

Political institutions

A

Structure of goverment including executive, legislative, and judicary

32
Q

Constitutional republic

A

System w/ elected representatives where constitution is the law

33
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

Created a union of sovereign states in which the states were the supreme, not the government

34
Q

Unicameral

A

Legislature that has only one chamber, or body, that makes decisions

35
Q

Shays Rebellion

A

Rebellion in MA in opposition to high taxes and economic conditions

36
Q

Constitutional Convention

A

Intended to revise the system of government under AOC,

37
Q

Writ of habeas corpus

A

Court order that demands a pubic official (such as a warden) deliver an imprisoned individual to the court and show a valid reason for that persons detention

38
Q

Bill of attainder

A

Legislation that imposes punishment on a specific person/ group without a judicial trial

39
Q

Ex post facto law

A

Law that punishes people for a crime that wasn’t a crime when it was commited

40
Q

Virginia plan

A

James madison: strong national gov w/ 3 branches and legislature divided into two bodies (senate and house of rep)

41
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

Give states equal representation in a one bodied legislature

42
Q

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

A

Utilized both NJ plan and Virginia plan to provide proportional representation in the House and in the Senate

43
Q

Grand committee

A

The Constitutional Convention; representatives from each of the former colonies, except Rhode Island, they helped frame the Constitution

44
Q

Bicameral

A

Congress has two houses; the House of representatives and Senate

45
Q

Three fifths compromise

A

three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxation

46
Q

Compromise on importation

A

The compromise was that imports would be taxed and exports would

47
Q

Separation of powers

A

Division of a state government into branches each with separate responsibilities so powers don’t conflict with one another

48
Q

Checks and balances

A

The ability of each branch to respond to the actions of other brances

49
Q

Executive branch

A

Part of the government that executes the law

50
Q

Judicial branch

A

Interprets, defends, and applies the law in legal cases

51
Q

Supremacy clause

A

Establishes that federal law will generally take precedence over state law

52
Q

Amendment

A

A formal revison to the U.S Constitution

53
Q

Federalist papers

A

Collection of 85 articles and papers writen by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton signed by the name “Publius”

54
Q

Fed 51

A

James Madison explains and defends checks and balance system in the constitution

55
Q

Faction

A

A smaller group within a political party that has different ideas than the party they belong to

56
Q

Fed 10

A

Federalist paper argues that a strong federal government can protect liberty

57
Q

Brutis 1

A

Brutis argues that a free republic cant exist in such a large territory as the US

58
Q

Unitary system

A

One central government that holds all the power

59
Q

Confederal (Confederate) system

A

power is shared by a central government, local, and state gov but power is primarily to the states

60
Q

federal system

A

Divides power between national and local forms of government

61
Q

13th amendment

A

Abolish slavery

62
Q

14th amendment

A

If you were born in the U.S, you are a U.S citizen

63
Q

15th amendment

A

You cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

64
Q

Dual Federalism (Layer cake federalism)

A

power is divided between federal and state governments with the state being able to exercise power without interference from the federal goverment

65
Q

Selective incorperation

A

case-by-case aproach of deciding which portions of the bill of rights apply to states

66
Q

Cooperative Federalism

A

The relationship between the national and state governments that began with the New Deal.

67
Q

Grand in aid

A

Grant from goverment to provide funding for public services, organizations, nonprofits, often given to states

68
Q

Fiscal Federalism

A

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system

69
Q

Categorical grants

A

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or “categories,” of state and local spending. They come with strings attached

70
Q

Unfunded mandates

A

National laws that direct states or local governments to comply with federal rules / regulations but contain little to no federal funding to defray the cost of meeting these requirement.

71
Q

Block grants

A

a grant from central government which a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.

72
Q

Revenue sharing

A

the distribution of a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.

73
Q

Devolution

A

the transfer of power by central government to local or regional administration.