democracy
citizens play a significant part in the governmetal process
representative democracy
a government in which the people entrust elected officials to represent their concerns.
participatory democracy
direct participation of many/most people in a society. citizens vote directly for laws.
pluralist democracy
group-based activism by nongovernmental interest groups which work to impact political decision making.
elite democracy
limited participation by a few, well-educated and informed states people who are qualified to direct the nation through law making on behalf of the people.
autocracy
single individual rules
monarchy, dictatorship
theocracy
government subject to religious authority, religious leaders have the most power
communism
single, usually authoritarian, party is in control
state plans and controls economy
oligarchy
a small group controls most of the governing decisions. authority usually based on wealth or power
anarchy
no government, no person makes rules
Federalist argument
a strong national government and the diversity of America’s large population would protect the rights of all citizens from the elite and would protect the units of states from the collective whole
factions
interest groups to dominate political decisions
AntiFederalists argument
a too-strong central government will replicate monarchial rule.
Virginia Plan
Three branches, bicameral legislature, supremacy of national government, separation of powers
New Jersey Plan
Sovereignty of states, limited and defined powers of national legislature
Great Compromise
House membership apportioned by population; each state given 2 senators
3/5 compromise
3 of every 5 enslaved people would be counted to determine representation.
electoral college
states decide how their electors are chosen, with each state having the same number of electors as they have representatives in Congress
federalism
the sharing of powers between the national government and state governments.
exclusive powers
powers that are delegated only to the federal governmemnt
police powers
powers to create and enforce laws on health, safety, and morals
concurrent powers
some powers held by authorities at both the state and federal levels.
categorical grants
grants with particular congressional guidelines or requirements
block grants
federal money given to states for broadly defined reasons
mandates
require states to comply with a federal directive with the reward of funds
unfunded mandate
states required to comply with a federal directive, usign their own funds.
revenue sharing
the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government
grant-in-aid
programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government
formula grants
categorical grants awarded to states based on a predetermined formula
project grants
categorical grants that states compete for by submitting project proposals.