Government Unit 1 Terms and Questions

Direct Democracy

Government in which everyone votes on every issue. Every vote counts.

Republic

also known as a representative democracy

Representative Democracy

a government in which people elect leaders to make the decisions for them (this is the two word version)

nation

a group of people with a common culture/identity

nation-state

a country in which the territory of both the nation and the state coincide.

social contract

Enlightenment idea that citizens give up some power to the government in order to receive security and/or rights.

constitution

A document that details the rules for the government and often includes the rights for the people.

autocracy

"Auto" means self & "cracy" means rule. So, an autocrat rules by one person. (synonym is dictator).

constitutional government

A government or law that is based specifically on the authority or rules given in the constitution.

political party

A non-governmental organization that is organized by like-minded citizens in order to win elections, control government and determine public policy.

unitary system

government power is CENTRALIZED in the national govt.

market economy

also known as a capitalist system based on private ownership and free competition

federal system

power is DIVIDED between national and regional (or, state) governments

confederal system

power resides in the REGIONS (or, states); central government only gets its power from the states

command/socialist economy

a system in which the government owns the means or some of the means of production and regulates economic activities in order to benefit the "average" people.

constitutional convention

a meeting in which a system of laws are created for a new government/nation-state. Think Nucountry!

nucountry

Ayland's neighbor, recently an independent land.

John Locke

Liked the idea of the social contract and said that people could rebel if they thought the government was depriving their rights.

constitution

a plan that provides the rules of government

purposes of government

to maintain order; to provide public services; to provide security and defense; to provide for the economy

sovereignty

to have total control over oneself or a community. Synonym to independent, but a stronger term. Control over your own territory.

Single-party state

a government with people from one political party. Nobody can participate in the government if they are not a member of this party. China is an example of this.

Elastic Clause (implied powers)

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law is supreme over state law (Article VI)

enumerated/expressed powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

veto

Presidents check on Congress. Can veto a bill that is passed.

Judicial Review

Allows the federal courts to determine the constitutionality of laws (court's check on Congress and the Prez)

override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

President (Executive Branch)

Makes treaties and nominates cabinet members and members to the courts

Senate

approves prez nominations to cabinet and court and ratifies treaties.

amendment

A change to the Constitution; 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of states must approve.

full faith and credit clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state--so if I sue somebody for crashing into me in Nevada and they are from Florida, the state of Florida has to make them pay me. If I get married in Nevada, California has to recognize my marriage.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner. They must accept my CA drivers license in Texas.

Delegated Powers/Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the federal government by the Constitution

reserved powers

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

VP

Tie breaker in the Senate (when there is a deadlock)

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

1787

*Called for a bicameral legislative system in which the House of Representatives would be based on population and the Senate would have equal representation in Congress

*Combined pieces of the New Jersey Plan, the Virginia Plan, and other proposals

*Included the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of apportioning representation and called for direct taxation on the states

dissin' Jake G

article 7

Ratification of the Constitution--this is where you find the date of ratification. 3/4ths of states are required.

Marbury vs. Madison

Case in which the supreme court first asserted th power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional

Jurisdiction

(n.) an area of authority or control; the right to administer justice. CHP has jurisdiction over state highways. BPD has jurisdiction to enforce laws in Burlingame.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution; major source of civil liberties; applies to states via selective incorporation doctrine; promised to Anti-Federalists to secure ratification of Constitution

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) It was so weak, it was replaced by the Constitution we have today..