Unit 2 Buzzwords Flashcards
inalienable rights
rights that cannot be taken
Articles of Confederation
compact between 13 colonies that created loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing power from states
The Federalists Papers
85 political essays in support of ratifying Constitution
Virginia Plan
bicameral legislature, executive and judicial chosen by legislature
New Jersey Plan
one house legislature with one vote per state, Congress with ability to raise revenue and Supreme Court appointed for life
Great Compromise
2 house legislature with lower house voted by people, powers divided between 2 houses. National law is supreme
judicial review
power of courts to review acts of other branches of government and the states
federalism
government derives power from people not states, federal government is supreme
separation of powers
way of dividing powers of government among legislative, executive, and judicial branches with equality and independence of each branch ensured by Constitution
checks and balances
constitutionally madated structure that gives each branch of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others
limited government
role of government and its limits are written down establishes legitimacy
ratification
action which a bill, law, amendment, or document is approved and brought into effect
Federalist #10
Madison argued that political factions are undesirable but inevitable. Madison believed that excesses of factionalism could be limited by the system of republican government created by the Constitution. Argued that a large republic would fragment political power and thus curb the threat posed by both majority and minority factions. (PLURALIST THEORY)
Federalist #51
argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group
Federalist #78
the complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited constitution. No legislative act contrary to the Constitution can be valid
Anti-Federalists
favor strong state government and weak national government, oppose Constitution
habeas corpus
petition requesting judge order authorities to prove prisoner being held lawfully and allows prisoner to be freed if the government’s case does not persuade judge
ex post facto
makes an act punishable as crime even if the action was legal at time committed
bill of attainder
act illegal without judicial trial
Bill of Rights
first 10 amendments, largely guarantee specific rights and beliefs
amendment
alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, Constitution
veto
formal constitutional authority of President to reject bills
sovereignty
government rests with those being governed
necessary and proper clause
gives Congress authority to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers specified in Constitution; also called the elastic clause
reserved powers
powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people. (10th Amendment)
nullification
right of state to declare void a federal law
dual federalism
belief having separate and equal powerful levels of government is best
cooperative federalism
intertwined relationship between national, state, local governments that began with New Deal
grants-in-aid
money given by the national government to the states
categorical grants
grants given to states by federal government for a specific purpose
block grants
large grant given to state by federal government with only general spending guidelines
revenue sharing
law providing for the distribution of a fixed amount or share of federal tax revenues to the states for spending on almost any government purpose.
mandates
command, indicated by electorates’ votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda
supremacy clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
commerce clause
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
full faith and credit clause
Constitution’s requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
devolution
effort to shift responsibility for a wide range of domestic programs from federal government to the states
