Unit 1 Vocab Flashcards
Direct (Participatory) Democracy
A government in which the people govern themselves and individually vote on matters of policy.
Indirect (Representative) Democracy
A model of democracy in which the people are represented by leaders they elected.
Elite Democracy
Model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy or have a large share of influence, control political decisions.
Pluralist View/Pluralism
The belief that effective public policy is the result of competition among multiple different interests and groups.
Natural Rights
Rights inherent to all people that are not dependent upon the government.
Articles of Confederation
The constitution that administered America’s firstgovernment, which was characterized by a loose league of friendship between states
and a weak central government.
Constitutional Convention
Meeting of delegates in 1787 that was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately led to the formation of the
nation’s current Constitution.
Shay’s Rebellion
An uprising that brought attention to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Virginia Plan
Constitutional convention proposal to create a stronger national government with a bicameral legislature.
New Jersey Plan
Constitutional convention proposal that maintained a unicameral legislature and was preferred by smaller states.
Great Compromise
Agreement to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state selected Senate, with equal membership for each state.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Agreement that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.
Judicial Review
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
Social Contract
Agreement in which the government derives their power from the consent of the governed and in exchange, the people agree to limit their rights and participate in an ordered society.
Federalism
System in which power is divided between national and state or local governments.
Federalist Papers
A collection of essays/articles designed to rally support for the ratification of the Constitution.
Faction
A group with distinct political interests; highlighted in Federalist #10.
Federalists
Those citizens who favored a stronger national government and generally supported the ratification of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists
Those citizens who favored a weaker national government and generally opposed the ratification of the Constitution.
Checks and Balances
Constitutional principle that grants each branch some ability to limit the authority of the other branches.
Separation of Powers
The Constitutional principle that divides the powers of government into three distinct branches.
Popular sovereignty
The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
Amendment
A new addition to the Constitution that has been proposed by Congress and ratified by the states.
Writ of habeas corpus
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge so that reason may be given as to why that person is in custody.
Limited Government
The government is restrained in their lawful use of power and may only exercise those powers assigned to it in the Constitution.
Federalism
System in which power is divided between national and state or local governments.
Enumerated/Expressed Powers
Powers written into the Constitution that have been given to the national government.
Reserved Powers
Powers given to the state governments alone.
Concurrent Powers
Powers shared by both the national and state governments.
Implied Powers
Powers given to the federal government that have been reasonably inferred from the Constitution.
“Necessary and proper” clause
Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws essential to carrying out its expressed duties. This provision allows the national government to carry out implied powers.
Nullification
The doctrine that a state can void a federal law that, in the state’s opinion, violates the Constitution.
Commerce Clause
Constitutional provision that gives the federal government the power to regulate interstate and foreign trade.
United States v. Lopez
Ruling that declared the national government’s power under the commerce clause does not permit it to regulate matters not directly related to interstate commerce; in this case, banning firearms in a school zone.
McCulloch v. Maryland
Ruling that declared the federal government had the power to establish a national bank under the “necessary and proper” clause.
Unitary System
System in which power is centralized in one body. State or regional governments derive authority from the central government.
Confederal/Confederate System
System in which power is held by a loose union of independent states. The central government is weak in relation to the power of the states.
Initiative
Process that permits voters to put state legislative measures directly on the
ballot.
Referendum
Procedure that allows voters to reject a measure passed by the state
legislature.
Recall
Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office.
Federal Revenue Sharing
The distribution of a percentage of federal tax income to state and local governments.
Categorical grants
Federal grants given to states for specific purposes, often with strings attached, such as building an airport or a highway.
Block grants
Federal grants given to states for broader purposes, such as healthcare or education.
Conditions of aid
Strings attached by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds.
Mandates
Terms set by the national government that states are required to meet whether or not they accept federal grants.
14th Amendment
This constitutional provision provides a guarantee of citizenship, as well as equal protection and due process, which have been the sources of incorporation for key protections in the Bill of Rights.
10th Amendment
Provision that states all powers not given to the federal government in the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved for the states.
