UNIT 1: Foundations of American Democracy Flashcards
government
composed of the formal and informal institutions
public policy
an exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain authority over society.
democracy
Rule by the people
direct democracy
citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues
representative democracy
citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy
participatory democratic theory
government depends on the consent of the governed that can be given directly or through representatives; it emphasizes citizen participation
pluralist theory
interest groups compete in the political arena.
elite theory
small number of powerful elites(corporate leaders, top military officers) form an upper class, which rules in it’s own self interest.
bureaucratic theory
allows bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy
hyperpluralism
where government is often pulled in several different directions at the same time by many groups in democracy
social contract
a voluntary agreements between the government and the governed
natural rights
refers to life, liberty, and property.
Declaration of Independence
a document that declares independence for the colonies from Great Britain.
Articles of Confederation
it planned the structure of the new government for the colonies
federal system
where the same territory is controlled by two levels of government
Great(Connecticut) Compromise
a combination of both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan
a compromise that made Congress a bicameral legislature, with representation based on population in the lower house, and equal representation in the upper house.
Three-Fifths Compromise
each state would count three fifths of its slave population to determine both representation and taxation
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Congress was prohibited from taxing exports from the states and from banning slave trade for a period of 20 years
ratification
giving formal consent to an agreement
Federalists
they supported a strong central government with expanded legislative powers
Federalist Papers
defended the new government created under the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
believed that the new Constitution gave too much power to the national government, and wanted the Bill of Rights to be included for them to ratify it.
Bill of Rights
ensures fundamental liberties
constitution
details the structure of a government
limited government
belief the gov is not all powerful; gov has only those powers given to it
popular sovereignty
the people are the source of the gov’s authority
separation of powers
power is separated among three branches of gov(legislative, executive, and judicial)
checks and balances
each branch is subject to restraints by the other two branches.
federalism
a division of governmental powers between the nation gov and the states
amendments
they state the rights and restrictions of the government and the people
judicial review
the power of the court to rule on the constitutionality of congressional laws, executive actions, and state laws.
Maybury v. Madison(1803)
established judicial review
