Unit 1 Vocab Flashcards
Limited government
A political system in which the powers of the government are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights
Natural rights
Human rights that we are born with. John Locke central ideals. Life liberty and property
Popular sovereignty
The government gains power from the people, through way of elected officials.
Republicanism
Limited government where the officials serve to the will of the people and based on their consent.
Social Contract
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.
Declaration of Independence
Document approved by the American Colony’s representatives in 1776. It states their outrage at the British government and states their independence from Britain.
U.S. Constitution
A nations basic laws. It creates political structure and power and lays out the rights of the citizens.
Philadelphia convention
1787 – Delegates from all states but Georgia met to discuss the Articles of Confederation and ended with a new constitution.
Democracy
Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.
Participatory democracy
A system of government where the ordinary people govern themselves rather than electing representatives to rule them
Pluralist democracy
A system where there is no ruling group in politics and the groups all compete to influence policy changes.
Elite democracy
A system in which a small group (usually wealthy) influence political changes
Federalists
Someone in favor of the US Constitution and believes in a strong central government
Anti-Federalists
Someone who opposed the new constitution of 1787, did not believe in strong central government
Federalist #10
Madison– Factions are groups of citizens united by a cause or shared opinion. May be a threat to the gov
Brutus #1
(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.
Faction
Founders used to describe political parties and interest groups
Articles of Confederation
Original constitution in 1777. Weak central government couldn’t levy taxes or control commerce
Shay’s Rebellion
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
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
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
Electoral College
A group of individuals from each state that elect the President and Vice President
3/5 Compromise
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
Slave Trade Compromise
Denied congress the power to act on the slave trade until 1808
Amendment Process
Two Ways: 2/3rds majority in both houses of congress then to States to ratify, or in constitutional conventions
Ratification
The process in which an amendment or other document is put into place
Central government
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.
Separation of Powers
Agreement that divides gov into legislative, executive, and judicial branches which limits the powers of each
Checks and Balances
A system that prevents branches of government from becoming too powerful by allowing the branches to “check” the others or override their decisions.
Federalist #51
The document that originally addressed the need for checks and balances and created the separation of power
Stakeholders
people who have invested interest in the policy in question
Impeachment
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
Exclusive power
powers given to the states
Concurrent power
Powers given to both the national and state governments
grants
the federal government giving money to the states for specific purposes, based on merit
incentives
A benefit gained by joining a political org
aid programs
A program funded by income taxes that gives benefits to poor citizens with no attatchments
federal revenue sharing
The federal government sharing a fixed percent of their revenue with the states
mandates
A requirement from the central government that all smaller governments must obey
categorical grants
A grant with very strict guidelines for what the money can be used for. Specific purposes.
block grants
a grant that local or state governments can use for a wide array of purposes. Broad uses.
10th amendment
powers not given to the states but arent prohibited by the Constitution, become state delegated powers (or people)
14th amendment
no state can take away a persons life, liberty, or property (natural rights 0-0) without due process
the commerce clause
gives congress power to regulate business across or between more than one state/nation
the necessary and proper clause
Sets the implied powers of congress. Encourages Congress to make all laws necessary for carrying out their other powers
enumerated powers
powers of the fed gov specifically addressed in the Constitution
implied powers
powers that Congress uses that are not explicitly laid out in the Constitution but are needed to execute enumerated powers (?)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
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.
US v. Lopez (1995)
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
state sovereignty
ultimate power is shared between fed and state government
policy making
the process that makes a policy, evolves over time. Interests and problems create issues for gov policy makers
