Unit 2 Buzzwords

Question 1

inalienable rights

Answer 1

rights that cannot be taken

Question 2

Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

compact between 13 colonies that created loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing power from states

Question 3

The Federalists Papers

Answer 3

85 political essays in support of ratifying Constitution

Question 4

Virginia Plan

Answer 4

bicameral legislature, executive and judicial chosen by legislature

Question 5

New Jersey Plan

Answer 5

one house legislature with one vote per state, Congress with ability to raise revenue and Supreme Court appointed for life

Question 6

Great Compromise

Answer 6

2 house legislature with lower house voted by people, powers divided between 2 houses. National law is supreme

Question 7

judicial review

Answer 7

power of courts to review acts of other branches of government and the states

Question 8

federalism

Answer 8

government derives power from people not states, federal government is supreme

Question 9

separation of powers

Answer 9

way of dividing powers of government among legislative, executive, and judicial branches with equality and independence of each branch ensured by Constitution

Question 10

checks and balances

Answer 10

constitutionally madated structure that gives each branch of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of the others

Question 11

limited government

Answer 11

role of government and its limits are written down establishes legitimacy

Question 12

ratification

Answer 12

action which a bill, law, amendment, or document is approved and brought into effect

Question 13

Federalist #10

Answer 13

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)

Question 14

Federalist #51

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Federalist #78

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Anti-Federalists

Answer 16

favor strong state government and weak national government, oppose Constitution

Question 17

habeas corpus

Answer 17

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

Question 18

ex post facto

Answer 18

makes an act punishable as crime even if the action was legal at time committed

Question 19

bill of attainder

Answer 19

act illegal without judicial trial

Question 20

Bill of Rights

Answer 20

first 10 amendments, largely guarantee specific rights and beliefs

Question 21

amendment

Answer 21

alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, Constitution

Question 22

veto

Answer 22

formal constitutional authority of President to reject bills

Question 23

sovereignty

Answer 23

government rests with those being governed

Question 24

necessary and proper clause

Answer 24

gives Congress authority to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers specified in Constitution; also called the elastic clause

Question 25

reserved powers

Answer 25

powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people. (10th Amendment)

Question 26

nullification

Answer 26

right of state to declare void a federal law

Question 27

dual federalism

Answer 27

belief having separate and equal powerful levels of government is best

Question 28

cooperative federalism

Answer 28

intertwined relationship between national, state, local governments that began with New Deal

Question 29

grants-in-aid

Answer 29

money given by the national government to the states

Question 30

categorical grants

Answer 30

grants given to states by federal government for a specific purpose

Question 31

block grants

Answer 31

large grant given to state by federal government with only general spending guidelines

Question 32

revenue sharing

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

mandates

Answer 33

command, indicated by electorates’ votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda

Question 34

supremacy clause

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

commerce clause

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

full faith and credit clause

Answer 36

Constitution’s requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Question 37

devolution

Answer 37

effort to shift responsibility for a wide range of domestic programs from federal government to the states