Unit 1: Foundations of Democracy Flashcards
Direct (Participatory) Democracy
Citizens vote directly for decisions
Indirect (Representative) Government
Citizens vote for representatives to make decisions for them
Natural Rights
Rights inherited by humans as they are born, not given by government
Articles of Confederation
Created as the first frame of government with a weak central government in 1781
Constitutional Convention
A convention called in 1787 to alter the Articles of Confederation and establish a new form of government
Shays Rebellion
An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts that created worry that the Articles of Confederation has too weak of a central government
Virginia Plan
*3 separate branches
*Bicameral legislature
*Representation based on population
*Congress would choose a national Executive and Judiciary
New Jersey Plan
*Unicameral Congress
*limited ability to tax and regulated interstate trade
*Equal state representation
*Plural Executive chosen by congress
Great Compromise
Defined representation and stricture each state would have under the Constitution
*Bicameral legislature
*Both houses must pass all legislation
Three Fifths Compromise
Counted slaves as 3/5ths of a person in terms of state representation
Social Contract Theory
People in a society agree with the government to protect them and their rights
Federalism
Division of power between national government and state government
Federalist Papers
A series of articles defending the Constitution
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Anti Federalists
Opposers of the Constitution
Checks and Balances
Management of limited power between branches of government
Separation of Powers
Government was split up into three branches to store different powers
Bill of Rights
First ten amendments of the Constitution
Amendment
A change to the constitution
Limited Government
The government is not all powerful, it has limitations
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A court order that requires an explanation to the judge why a person is to be imprisoned to ensure the prevention of unlawful imprisonment
Pluralism
A social philosophy that diverse people need to coexist and work together
Elite Democracy
A democracy where rich elites or a minority group make decisions
Judicial Review
The power of the court to determine government actions unconstitutional
Popular Sovereignty
Government can only rule with the consent of the people
Faction
A term the founders of the constitution use to refer to political parties and special political groups
