Unit 1 Vocab

Question 1

Limited government

Answer 1

A political system in which the powers of the government are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights

Question 2

Natural rights

Answer 2

Human rights that we are born with. John Locke central ideals. Life liberty and property

Question 3

Popular sovereignty

Answer 3

The government gains power from the people, through way of elected officials.

Question 4

Republicanism

Answer 4

Limited government where the officials serve to the will of the people and based on their consent.

Question 5

Social Contract

Answer 5

The idea that society functions on an agreement between the people and the government, where the people give up some rights and freedoms in exchange for protection and services from the gov.

Question 6

Declaration of Independence

Answer 6

Document approved by the American Colony’s representatives in 1776. It states their outrage at the British government and states their independence from Britain.

Question 7

U.S. Constitution

Answer 7

A nations basic laws. It creates political structure and power and lays out the rights of the citizens.

Question 8

Philadelphia convention

Answer 8

1787 – Delegates from all states but Georgia met to discuss the Articles of Confederation and ended with a new constitution.

Question 9

Democracy

Answer 9

Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.

Question 10

Participatory democracy

Answer 10

A system of government where the ordinary people govern themselves rather than electing representatives to rule them

Question 11

Pluralist democracy

Answer 11

A system where there is no ruling group in politics and the groups all compete to influence policy changes.

Question 12

Elite democracy

Answer 12

A system in which a small group (usually wealthy) influence political changes

Question 13

Federalists

Answer 13

Someone in favor of the US Constitution and believes in a strong central government

Question 14

Anti-Federalists

Answer 14

Someone who opposed the new constitution of 1787, did not believe in strong central government

Question 15

Federalist #10

Answer 15

Madison– Factions are groups of citizens united by a cause or shared opinion. May be a threat to the gov

Question 16

Brutus #1

Answer 16

(Anti Fed) Laws can’t properly be enforced in a large republic where it’s difficult for a central gov to represent the people properly.

Question 17

Faction

Answer 17

Founders used to describe political parties and interest groups

Question 18

Articles of Confederation

Answer 18

Original constitution in 1777. Weak central government couldn’t levy taxes or control commerce

Question 19

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 19

Daniel Shay protested the debt crisis in Western Massachusetts, mortgage foreclosures, and the state’s increased demand on taxes. (1786-1787) Supported strong national government

Question 20

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Answer 20

Compromise at the constitutional convention that created the two house system. Senate would represent all states equally while the House of Representatives would be proportional to the state’s population

Question 21

Electoral College

Answer 21

A group of individuals from each state that elect the President and Vice President

Question 22

3/5 Compromise

Answer 22

Agreement between the north and the south that 3/5 of the slave population would be used to determine taxation and representation in the house

Question 23

Slave Trade Compromise

Answer 23

Denied congress the power to act on the slave trade until 1808

Question 24

Amendment Process

Answer 24

Two Ways: 2/3rds majority in both houses of congress then to States to ratify, or in constitutional conventions

Question 25

Ratification

Answer 25

The process in which an amendment or other document is put into place

Question 26

Central government

Answer 26

A system where a main government rules over all local governments. The local governments are limited to the powers laid out by the central gov.

Question 27

Separation of Powers

Answer 27

Agreement that divides gov into legislative, executive, and judicial branches which limits the powers of each

Question 28

Checks and Balances

Answer 28

A system that prevents branches of government from becoming too powerful by allowing the branches to "check" the others or override their decisions.

Question 29

Federalist #51

Answer 29

The document that originally addressed the need for checks and balances and created the separation of power

Question 30

Stakeholders

Answer 30

people who have invested interest in the policy in question

Question 31

Impeachment

Answer 31

First step to removing someone from office. This power is given to the House to charge the president or other official with high crime or something such as treason

Question 32

Exclusive power

Answer 32

powers given to the states

Question 33

Concurrent power

Answer 33

Powers given to both the national and state governments

Question 34

grants

Answer 34

the federal government giving money to the states for specific purposes, based on merit

Question 35

incentives

Answer 35

A benefit gained by joining a political org

Question 36

aid programs

Answer 36

A program funded by income taxes that gives benefits to poor citizens with no attatchments

Question 37

federal revenue sharing

Answer 37

The federal government sharing a fixed percent of their revenue with the states

Question 38

mandates

Answer 38

A requirement from the central government that all smaller governments must obey

Question 39

categorical grants

Answer 39

A grant with very strict guidelines for what the money can be used for. Specific purposes.

Question 40

block grants

Answer 40

a grant that local or state governments can use for a wide array of purposes. Broad uses.

Question 41

10th amendment

Answer 41

powers not given to the states but arent prohibited by the Constitution, become state delegated powers (or people)

Question 42

14th amendment

Answer 42

no state can take away a persons life, liberty, or property (natural rights 0-0) without due process

Question 43

the commerce clause

Answer 43

gives congress power to regulate business across or between more than one state/nation

Question 44

the necessary and proper clause

Answer 44

Sets the implied powers of congress. Encourages Congress to make all laws necessary for carrying out their other powers

Question 45

enumerated powers

Answer 45

powers of the fed gov specifically addressed in the Constitution

Question 46

implied powers

Answer 46

powers that Congress uses that are not explicitly laid out in the Constitution but are needed to execute enumerated powers (?)

Question 47

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Answer 47

Supreme Court case Maryland tried to tax a branch of the National Bank in Maryland. James McCulloch refused to pay it under the clause that the bank was necessary for congress to carry out enumerated powers like levying taxes. Example of the neccessary and proer clause being used.

Question 48

US v. Lopez (1995)

Answer 48

Lopez was found carrying a concealed weapon into a local Texas school. The cases were dropped at the state level and he was then charged at the federal level under the 1990 Gun Free Schools law. Lopez argued that the law was unprecedented because school laws were under state authorization. The gov argued that it was valid under the Commerce clause. Final: guns in school have nothing to do with interstate economics, and Congress was overstepping their commerce clause rights

Question 49

state sovereignty

Answer 49

ultimate power is shared between fed and state government

Question 50

policy making

Answer 50

the process that makes a policy, evolves over time. Interests and problems create issues for gov policy makers