Studied by 6 people
politics
The process of influencing the actions and policies of government.
government
The rules and institutions that make up the system of policy making.
democracy
A form of government in which the governmental power is derived from the people through voting.
natural rights
Permanent rights endowed to every human by their creator, cannot be revoked.
social contract
The theory that individuals surrender power to the government to protect their natural rights.
American political culture
The social ideas and constructs related to how the government should function, emphasizing democracy and individual freedoms/rights.
popular sovereignty
The idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people.
republicanism
A governing style in which people vote for representatives to voice public opinion in government.
inalienable rights
Natural rights specifically named in the Declaration as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
liberty
Freedom to live as one pleases and freedom from oppression that hinders a free and equal existence.
participatory democracy
A government built around the idea that widespread political participation is essential to governance.
civil society groups
Interest groups that citizens join to collectively attempt to influence policy outcomes.
pluralist theory
A theory of democracy emphasizing the role of groups of like-minded people affecting the policy-making process.
elitist theory
A theory proposing that elites have a disproportionate amount of influence on the policy-making process due to wealth.
political institutions
The established rules, organizations, and structures that govern the political landscape of society.
constitutional republic
A type of government in which representatives are elected to make decisions under a constitution framework.
constitution
A document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government.
republic
A government ruled by representatives of the people.
Articles of Confederation
A document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states with states as supreme.
unicameral
A one house legislature.
Shays’s Rebellion
A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts.
Constitutional Convention
A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation.
writ of habeas corpus
The right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them.
bills of attainder
Legislative acts declaring someone guilty without a trial.
ex post facto laws
Laws intended to punish people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.
Virginia Plan
Proposed representation based on state populations, favoring large states.
New Jersey Plan
Created a unicameral legislature giving each state one vote, favoring smaller states.
Grand Committee
A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation.
Great Compromise
Created a bicameral legislature balancing state and population-based representation.
bicameral
A two-house legislature.
Three-Fifths Compromise
Counted slaves as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state’s representation.
Compromise on Importation
Decision to delay the end of the slave trade until 1808.
separation of powers
A design of government that distributes powers across institutions to avoid concentration of power.
checks and balances
Each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy.
federalism
The sharing of power between the national government and the states.
legislative branch
Branch intended to make laws and is able to borrow money, tax, and regulate interstate commerce.
expressed or enumerated powers
Authorities specifically granted to a branch of government in the Constitution.
necessary and proper clause
Grants Congress the ability to carry out its enumerated powers.
implied powers
Authority of the federal government that extends beyond its expressed powers.
executive branch
A single executive elected to carry out laws and serve as commander-in-chief.
judicial branch
Interprets laws as the highest court in the land.
supremacy clause
States that the Constitution and all national laws are supreme over state laws.
amendment
The process by which changes may be made to the Constitution.
Federalists
Supporters of the proposed Constitution favoring a strong national government.
Antifederalists
Opponents of the proposed Constitution favoring stronger state governments.
Federalist Papers
A series of essays promoting the theory behind the Constitution written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.
Federalist No. 51
Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny.
faction
A group of self-interested people working through government for their own benefit.
Federalist No. 10
Madison argues that dangers of faction can be mitigated in a large republic.
Brutus No. 1
An Antifederalist paper arguing that the country is too large to be governed as a republic.
unitary system
A system where the central government holds all power over subnational units.
confederal system
A system where subnational governments hold most of the power.
federal system
A system where power is divided between national and state governments.
enumerated or expressed powers
Powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution.
exclusive powers
Powers that only the national government may exercise.
commerce clause
Grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.
Tenth Amendment
Reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people.
reserved powers
Powers not given to the national government, retained by the states and the people.
concurrent powers
Powers granted to both states and the federal government.
full faith and credit clause
Requires states to recognize public acts and records of other states.
extradition
The requirement that one state return a defendant to another state.
privileges and immunities clause
Prevents states from discriminating against out-of-state citizens.
Thirteenth Amendment
Outlaws slavery.
Fourteenth Amendment
Provides citizenship to those born in the US and prohibits discrimination.
Fifteenth Amendment
Gave African American males the right to vote.
dual federalism
A form of federalism where national and state governments operate independently.
selective incorporation
The process by which the Supreme Court applies Bill of Rights to the states case-by-case.
cooperative federalism
A form of federalism in which national and state governments work together.
grants-in-aid
Federal funding provided to states to implement policy objectives.
fiscal federalism
The federal government's use of grants in aid to influence state policies.
categorical grants
Grants-in-aid with specific provisions on their use.
unfunded mandate
Federal requirements for states without accompanying funding.
block grant
A grant-in-aid providing state officials more authority in fund disbursement.
revenue sharing
When the federal government allocates tax money to states without restrictions.
devolution
Returning more authority to state or local governments.
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