Constitution Vocabulary

participatory democracy

Form of democracy depends on direct participation of many, if not most, people in society, not only government but in public life as well. People vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them instead of voting for people to represent their interests.

pluralist democracy

nongovernmental groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision-making in this type of democracy. This type of democracy carries the believe that the ideas and viewpoint of the U.S. are so scattered and varied that no single view can control the shaping and administration of policy.

Elite democracy

elected representatives make decisions and act as trustees for the people who elected them. This type of democracy recognizes an inequality in the spread of power among the populace and that the people with resources and influence dominate.

Articles of Confederation

a series of statements that defined the initial weak national government and refined the former colonies as states.

extradition

states were expected to return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states they had fled.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution", author of the Bill of Rights, and author of Federalist Paper No. 10.

social contract

Jean- Jacques Rousseau's philosophy that an agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed.

Natural Law

John Locke's law of God, this law is acknowledged through human sense and reason. Under this law people were born free and equal.

Popular Sovereignty

People are the ultimate ruling authority.

Republicanism

A form of government in which people elect representatives to create and enforce laws.

Virginia Plan

plan to create a three branch system of government defined the national executive to administer business of state, a judiciary, and a bicameral (two house) legislature. Established a supreme national government and separation of powers between the branches. Representation in Congress would be determined by population. Plan benefits large states, while putting small states at a disadvantage.

New Jersey Plan

plan to ensure that states would retain their sovereignty, proposed national legislature would have only limited and defined powers, and had no provision for national courts. Representation in Congress would be equal for every state. Plan benefits small states, while putting large states at a disadvantage.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and equal representation in state-selected Senate, with two members for each state. This plan combined both the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Only three of every five slaves would be counted for the purpose of each state's representation in the House of Representatives; Congress could not stop the importation of slaves for 20 years.

Electoral College

States decide how their electors are chosen, with each state having the same number of electors as they had representatives in Congress.

Preamble

Constitutional mission statement that begins with "We the people" and outlines the purposes of the new government, such as "establishing justice" and providing for a "common defense".

Policy

the laws the government creates and the manner in which they are carried out.

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

Commerce Clause

Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.

necessary and proper clause/ elastic clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

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

National Supremacy

the point of view that the national government should have relatively more power than the states.

Supremacy Clause

clause of the Constitution that makes certain that all states must adhere to the Constitution. The federal government will be placed in power and importance of the the state governments.

Federalist Paper

a series of essays written to defend the Constitution and try to gain support for the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution. This group of people advocated for stronger state governments over a weaker national government. This group of people feared the proposed Constitution would violate individual's and state's rights.

Federalists

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution. This group of people advocated for weaker state governments under a stronger national government. This group of people was confident in the proposed Constitution and its establishment checks and balances and separation of powers.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that safeguard individual and state rights.

representative republic

a collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense.

Checks and Balances

limiting powers each branch can use on the other branches of the government.

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days.

two-thirds override

If the President vetoes a bill, the Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. The bill would then become law, the President's objections notwithstanding.

advice and consent

Senators right to formally approve on presidential appointments.

impeachment

accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing by a public official.

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws.

federalism

system of government that divides the power between the national and state government

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone