unit 1 - intro and federalism Flashcards
state of nature
the hypothetical conditions of what the lives of people might be like before government
natural rights
rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on government
consent of the governed
popular sovereignty
government derives its authority by sanction of the people
limited government
certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect natural rights of citizens
declaration of independence
philosophical rationale for indepdendence
list of grievances and abuses by the british king
john locke
english philosopher known as the father of liberalism
natural rights
consent of governed
limited government
articles of confederation
first national constitution of the united states; it was adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781
it established a confederation, a “league of friendship and prepared union” among 13 states and former colonies
weaknesses of the articles of confederation
- one vote for each state, regardless of size
- congress powerless to lay and collect taxes or duties
- congress can’t regulate foreign and interstate commerce
- no executive to enforce acts of congress
- no rational court system
- amendment only with consent of all states
- a 9/13 majority required to pass laws
james madison
wrote the us constitution
wrote federalist papers
fed 51
checks and balances and separation of powers among three branches of government
shays rebellion
series of attacks on courthouses by farmers
first large problem under articles that revealed its incompetency
helped birth of constitution
constitutional convention
took place in pennsylvania to draft the constitution
compromises in philadelphia conference
equality and representation of the states ( NJ plan = equal Virginia = population great comp = bicameral legislature)
slavery ( three fifths compromise)
voting (left to states to decide
brutus 1
thought the federal government was given too much power
a large republic is dangerous and undermines the states
federalist papers
85 articles written by alexander hamilton, john jay, and james madison to defend the constitution
fed 10
factions are dangerous and a large republic helps to control them since more representatives means more opinions are heard
factions will compete with one another and do a checks and balances
participatory democracy
emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society
most or all citizens participate in politics directly
pluralist democracy
-organized groups compete with each other to influence policy
- power is widely dispersed between groups
- individual interests are represented through responsive group leadershi[
elite democracy
- small number of people who are well-educated and wealthy influence decision making
- governing is limited to small group
antifederalists
small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers
strong state government
weak national government
direct election of officials
shorter terms
rule by the common mass
strengthened protection for individual liberties
brutus 1 participatory
federalists
large landowners, wealthy merchants
weaker state governments
indirect election of officials
longer terms
government by the elite
expected few violations of individual liberties
Fed 10 pluralist democracy
federalism
way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the land and people
unitary, confederal, and federal systems
unitary confederal and federal systems
unitary = all power resides in central government
confederal = spreads power among subunits ( weak central govt)
federal = divides power between central govt and subunits
why is federalism important
decentralizes our politics so more people can participate
decentralizes our policies so policy making is shared between levels and can be made separately
local action for local concerns and national action for wider concerns
enumerated powers
constitution grants the national government specific powers
reserved powers
those not given to national government are given to the states
10th amendment
concurrent powers
powers that belong to both the national and state governments
implied powers
congress has the power to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying into execution the existing laws
necessary and proper clause
elastic clause
allows congress to act on implied powers
supremacy clause
asserts the authority of national government over the states
mcCulloch v. Maryland
McCulloch worked for the federal bank in Maryland and refused to pay the tax that Maryland tried to put on the bank and said that the state could not tax the federal government
The supreme court upheld that maryland could not tax branches of the federal government
commerce clause
congress has the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce
gibbons v. ogden
commerce clause
Ogden had a license from the state of new york to navigate between nyc and new jersey shoes
gibbons had been given permission to use the same waterways by the federal government
gibbons was denied acces to the hudson bay by new york
supreme court ruled in favor of gibbons that new york couldn’t grant exclusive rights to navigate waterways
heart of atlanta motel v. us
commerce clause and civil rights
discrimination affects interstate commerce since hotel is next to interstates and received most of its business from that so congress ruled against it in this case
the heart of atlanta motel refused to accept black americans
united states v. lopez
lopez was arrested for bringing a gun to his high school and was charged under the gun-free school zones act
lopez argued that the law exceeded congress’s power under the commerce clause
supreme court agreed and struck down the law
two types of federalism
dual federalism
cooperative federalism
dual federalism
both the states and national government remain supreme within their own spheres
cooperative federalism
powers and policies are shared between states and national government
categorical grants
made for specific defined purposes
usually require states to match it
block grants
consolidate several categorical grants into a single block for broad activities
devolution
a transfer of responsibility from federal to state governments
mandate
official orders to carry something out
