Unit 2 Vocab Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the U.S., drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced in 1789.
Shays’s Rebellion
A 1786-1787 rebellion by Massachusetts farmers protesting mortgage foreclosures, highlighting the need for a stronger national government.
Separation of Powers
The constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive branch applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law.
Federalism
A constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between federal and state governments
Federalist Papers
A series of essays written to persuade state legislators to ratify the US Constitution
US Constitution
The governing document of the United States written in 1781 that outlines the goals and powers of government, as well as the rights of its citizens.
Bicameralism
The principle of a two-house legislature
Federalists
Supporters of the ratification of the constitution and of a strong central government
Antifederalists
Opponents of ratification of the constitution and of a strong central government, generally
Judicial Review
The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law of a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the US constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution
Enumerated powers
Powers the Constitution specifically grants to Congress
Necessary and proper clause
A constitutional provision (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3) granting Congress the authority to pass laws essential for executing its enumerated powers.
Reserved Powers
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but not forbidden to states are held by the states; derived from the 10th Amendment.
Concurrent powers
Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.
National supremacy
A constitutional principle stating that when conflicts arise between federal and state or local laws, the federally authorized actions take precedence.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Order that requires law enforcement to produce a prisoner and explain why they are being held. The term comes from Latin and literally means “you should have the body”.
Ex post facto law
Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.
Bill of attainder
Legislative act inflicting punishment, including deprivation of property, without a trial, on named individuals or members of a specific group.
Initiative
A process where voters, through a petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment for public vote.
Referendum
A process for voters to approve or reject laws passed by the legislature or amendments to the state constitution.
Recall
A process where voters can remove elected officials from office before their term ends through a popular vote.
Preemption
Laws that strip local governments of authority over specific subjects, granting control to the state.
Commerce clause
he clause in the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other
nations.
Dual federalism (layer cake federalism)
A view of federalism where the national government has limited powers, mainly in foreign policy and defense, while states retain control over other areas. Each level operates independently, with the Supreme Court resolving disputes over authority.
Cooperative federalism (Marble cake federalism)
Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs, rather than a layer cake, or dual federalism, with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.
Devolution revolution
he effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.
Federal mandate
A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.
Categorical grants
Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose, such as school lunches or for building airports and highways.
Block grants
Broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare, child care, education, social services, preventive health care, and health services—with only a few strings attached.
Earmarks
Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.
