Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy Flashcards
social contract
contract between people and the government where people give up some of their liberties (ex. right to revenge) in exchange for government protection
natural rights
rights that people are born with and can’t be taken away by the government. Described by John Locke: life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness; must be protected by the government.
republicanism
system where people vote for representatives
supports individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, encourages civic participation
representative democracy
elected officials representing a group of people
popular sovereignty
the idea that government power derives from the consent of the governed
participatory democracy
broad participation in politics/society by people at various statuses
pluralist democracy
group-based political participation
elite democracy
power to the educated/wealthy, discourages participation by the majority of people
federalism
the way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power
accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation
- created federalism
- ended the revolutionary war (on favorable terms for the US)
- established the northwest ordinance
weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- could not impose taxes
- no national military
- no national currency
- no supreme court
- no executive branch
- no control over taxes imposed between states
- no control over interstate trade
- needed unanimous votes to amend it
- 9 states to approve legislation before it was passed
the constitutional convention (1787)
a meeting of the framers in Philadelphia during which the government’s structure was debated and decided
unicameral legislature
legislature with one house
bicameral legislature
legislature with two houses
Virginia plan
bicameral legislature based on population size; supported by larger states
New Jersey plan
unicameral legislature with one vote per state; supported by smaller states
the great compromise (Connecticut compromise)
created a bicameral legislature with a house of representatives (based on population) and senate (equal representation)
three-fifths compromise
enslaved people would be counted as 3/5th of a person when deciding seats in the house of representatives
federalists
supporters of the constitution; advocated for a strong central government
anti-federalists
opponents of the constitution; preferred smaller state governments
the federalist papers
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; a collection of articles supporting the constitution
electoral college
composed of elected officials from each state based on population (each given 2 votes + 1 vote per member of house of representatives) with a total of 538
executive order
same effect as law, bypasses congress in policy-making, not mentioned in the constitution but used as part of the enforcement duties
executive agreement
similar to treaties between country leaders, bypass ratification power of the senate
judicial review
the power of the supreme court to overturn laws passed by legislature which are unconstitutional
necessary and proper clause (A1S8)
the elastic clause; allows congress to make any legislation that seems “necessary and proper” to carry out its powers
supremacy clause
supremacy of constitution and federal laws over state laws
confederation
a system in which decisions are made by an external member-state legislation; decisions on daily issues are taken by special majorities, consensus, or unanimity
delegated/enumerated powers
power that belongs to the national government
reserved powers
powers that belong to the states
concurrent powers
powers shared by federal and state government
federal government programs
paid for by federal government through grants-in-aid, mostly administered by state
categorical grants
aid with strict rules from the federal government about how it should be used
block grants
aid that lets the state use the money how it wants
separation of powers
assigns different talks to each branch of government
* legislative makes laws
* executive enforces laws
* judicial interprets laws
checks and balances
each branch checks the other; designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant, requires different branches to work together and share power
veto
the power of the president to reject laws
amendment
a provision to the constitution
ratifying convention
delegates elected to vote on an amendment
main amendment process
- proposed amendment approved by 2/3 of both houses
- 3/4 of state legislatures must ratify the amendment
