Unit 1: Vocab

Question 1

Unalienable Rights

Answer 1

Human rights based on nature or god. It is a right you are born with.

Question 2

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 2

In Massachusetts, farmers seized control of court buildings preventing the state government from taking possessions of their farms. Their plan was to march to Boston and confront the Massachusetts government.

Question 3

Virginia Plan

Answer 3

The Virginia plan purposed a strong central government composed of three branches the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative would have two houses one elected by the people and the other elected by state legislature. This would give the bigger states more say in congress.

Question 4

New Jersey Plan

Answer 4

Was a proposal for a weak national government designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in congress.

Question 5

Great Compromise

Answer 5

An agreement made among the delegates at the constitutional convention to have two houses: the senate where each state has two senators (small states) and the house of representatives based on population (big states)

Question 6

Republic

Answer 6

A form of government where the people elect or chose their leaders. This is under the belief that government officials should mediate not mirror popular views and elected officials should represent not register majority sediments.

Question 7

Federalism

Answer 7

Government authority is shared by national and local government.

Question 8

Enumerated Powers

Answer 8

Powers given to the national government alone.

-authority to print money
-declare war and make treaties
-conduct foreign affairs
-regulate commerce among states and foreign nations

Question 9

Reserved Powers

Answer 9

Powers given only to the states

-issue licenses
-regulate fully in state commerce

Question 10

Concurrent Powers

Answer 10

Powers shared between the states and the federal government

-collect taxes
-burrowing money
-maintaining courts

Question 11

Checks and Balances

Answer 11

The constitutional ability of multiple branches to limit each others powers

Question 12

Separation of powers

Answer 12

The divisions of governmental responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any branch from exercising the core functions of another. Under the idea that everyone is always trying to take the upper hand.

Question 13

Federalist views

Answer 13

Called for a strong national government that promoted economic growth and fostered friendly relationships with great britain in opposition to revolutionary france.

Question 14

Anti-Federalist view

Answer 14

They opposed a strong central government and the ratification of the constitution. They believed that liberty could only be secured in a small republic in which the rulers were physically close to and checked by the ruled.

Question 15

Extended or Large Republic

Answer 15

The number of voters and candidates are greater which makes it more likely to elect a competent representative and stop negativity from spreading. It is also more diverse so there were be a wider range of opinions and it is easier to meet the needs of the whole.

Question 16

Habeas Corpus

Answer 16

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.

Question 17

The purpose of the Bill of Rights

Answer 17

To fulfill the promise of amending the document.

• Protect our most cherished freedoms
  -Protect our rights from the federal government

Question 19

1st Amendment

Answer 19

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, and assembly; the right to petition the government.

Question 20

2nd Amendment

Answer 20

The right to bear arms

Question 21

4th Amendment

Answer 21

No unreasonable searches and seizures

Question 22

5th Amendment

Answer 22

A grand Jury indictment is required to prosecute a person for a serious crime; no double jeopardy; no forcing a person to testify against themselves; no loss of life, liberty, or property without due process.

Question 23

6th Amendment

Answer 23

The right to a speedy, public, and impartial trial with a defense council and right to cross examine witnesses.

Question 24

10th Amendment

Answer 24

Powers not delegated to the national government or denied to the states are reserved to the states.

Question 25

Double Jeopardy

Answer 25

Being tried for the same crime twice.

Question 26

3/5 compromise

Answer 26

Slaves were valued as 3/5 of any free person.

-Slaves were able to be imported until 1808
-If a slave escaped to a free state they could be returned to their owners.

Question 27

Weaknesses of the articles of confederation

Answer 27

-Could not levy taxes or regulate commerce
-Each state maintained independence and sovereignty
-Each state got 1 vote, 9/13 votes were needed to pass, delegates were picked and payed for by the state
-There was little money and they had a small army.

Question 28

Growth in the role of the federal government

Answer 28

The federal government has taken on the responsibilities that traditionally were the province of state governments.

Question 29

Definition of Federalism in the U.S.

Answer 29

A political system in which the national government shares power with the local governments

Question 30

Founding Fathers reasons for choosing federalism

Answer 30

Federalism was the one device whereby personal liberty was to be protected

Question 31

Founding Fathers views on how federalism would work

Answer 31

State and Federal governments are in fact but different agents and trustees of the people constituted with different powers. A federation derives its powers directly from the people as do the state governments. Both levels of government would have certain powers but neither would have supreme authority over the other.

Question 32

Hamilton’s view on federalism

Answer 32

The people could shift their support between the federal and state government in order to keep the two in balance.

Question 33

Hamilton’s View on Sovereignty

Answer 33

Since the people had created the national government and since the laws and treaties made pursuant to the constitution were the supreme law of the land, and since the most pressing needs were the development of a national economy and the conduct of foreign affairs, Hamilton thought that the national government was the superior and leading force in political affairs and its power ought to be broadly defined and liberally construed.

Question 34

Jefferson’s views on sovereignty

Answer 34

The federal government though important was the product of an agreement among the states and though the people were the ultimate sovereigns the principal threat to their liberties was likely to come from the national government.

Question 35

Nullification

Answer 35

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the states opinion, violates the constitution.

Question 36

Dual Federalism

Answer 36

The doctrine holds that the national government is supreme in its sphere, that states are supreme in theirs and the two spheres should be kept seperate.

Question 37

Unitary System

Answer 37

One single central government has total power over all other political subdivisions

Question 38

Virtues of federalism

Answer 38

It creates separate self-sustaining centers of power, prestige, and profit. Political power is locally acquired by people whose careers depend for the most part on satisfying local interests.

Question 39

Vices of federalism

Answer 39

To some, it is allowing states to block action prevent progress, upset national plans, protect powerful local interests, and cater to the self interest of hack politicians.

Maintain racial segregation, protect vested interests, and facilitate corruption.

Can be dominated by a single faction.

Question 40

Effect of federalism on factions

Answer 40

Independent state and local governments means that different political groups pursuing different political purposes will come to power.

Question 41

Effect of federalism on political activity

Answer 41

People will more often participate in politics if they feel like they can make a difference. There is a greater chance of being able to make an impact if there are many elected officials and independent governmental bodies each with relatively small continuities.

Question 42

Grants-in-aid

Answer 42

money given by the national government to the states

Question 43

How grants-in-aid grew

Answer 43

Started as land grants given by the national government in order to finance education. Almost as early, cash grants were given to states to pay for their militias. Today, federal grants go to hundreds of programs.

Question 44

4 reasons why grants-in-aid grew

Answer 44

1. Helped state and local officials resolve dilemmas
2. For state officials the money was there due to high tariffs washington in the 1880s had a huge budget surplus.
3. The federal government, unlike the states, managed the currency and could print more at will but it was in no obligation to pay it all back. All the money states borrowed they would have to pay back
4. Politics - federal money to a state official was free money. Governors did not propose, collect, or take responsibility for federal taxes.

Question 45

Categorical Grants

Answer 45

Money given to the states for a specific purpose such as building an airport

Question 46

Block Grants

Answer 46

A chunk of money given to the states for them to decide what to spend it on

Question 47

Why categorical grants have grown more than block grants

Answer 47

1. the amount of money available did not grow as fast
2. The federal government increased the number of strings attatched to supposedly unrestricted money of block aid
3. Congress and the federal bureaucracy liked categorical grants for the same reasons that the states disliked them and because of the they grew more slowly. The specificity increased federal control over how the money was used.
4. Block grants were so broad that one single group had vital stake in pressing for their enlargement.

Question 48

Devolution

Answer 48

The transfer of power from the national government back to the state and local governments

Question 49

Reasons for devolution

Answer 49

Way to scale back the nation government.
congress liked voting for federal programs so they could take advantage of them.
there are times when the political ideas in a region vary too much to reside under the same laws and policies.

Question 50

Factions

Answer 50

A group of people with common interests.

Question 51

Republicanism

Answer 51

Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic with an emphasis on liberty and the civic virtue practiced by citizens.

Question 52

extended sphere of influence

Answer 52

a spatial region or concept division over which a state or organization has a level of cultural, economic, military or political exclusivity

Question 53

Dual Federalism

Answer 53

a political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government.

Question 54

Cooperative federalism

Answer 54

Recognizes overlapping functions of the national and state governments

Question 55

How does dual federalism work

Answer 55

Minimal Federal Role

10th amendment- reserved powers

A strict definition of interstate commerce

Question 56

How does cooperative federalism work?

Answer 56

Increasingly expansive view of interstate commerce

States increasingly reliant on federal money

Fed pushes National policy goals

Question 57

Conditions of aid

Answer 57

Government uses their money to make the states do something that they want like in wisconsin making them raise the drinking age to have their roads systems paid for.

Question 58

Unfunded mandates

Answer 58

Requirements from the government that they do not pay for

Question 59

New Federalism or Devolution

Answer 59

Returning the power back to the states

Question 60

How do they redefine federalism

Answer 60

Use block grants over categorical grants

Revenue sharing

Question 61

Revenue sharing

Answer 61

The federal government pays part and the state matches it.