American Government, Constitution, and Federalism Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture notes on the American Constitution, Federalism, and fundamental concepts in U.S. Politics.

Declaration of Independence

A 1776 political argument written by colonial leaders to support the revolt against Great Britain, heavily influenced by European political philosophers who opposed absolute monarchies.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in human beings that are not dependent on governments, specified by John Locke to include life, liberty, and property.

Consent of the Governed

The political idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.

Limited Government

The principle that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, enacted in 1781, which established a weak, decentralized government with a limited Continental Congress and no executive leader or judiciary.

Philadelphia Convention

A 1787 gathering of 55 delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) that originally set out to reform the Articles of Confederation but ended up writing a new Constitution.

Connecticut Compromise

An agreement made at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses in Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement at the Constitutional Convention regarding how slaves would be counted for representation in the House of Representatives.

Madisonian System

A structural plan for government designed by James Madison to limit majority and minority control, providing for direct popular election only for the House of Representatives and establishing the Electoral College.

Separation of Powers

A feature of the Constitution requiring the three branches of government to be relatively independent of each other so that no single branch can become more powerful.

Federalists

A political group, largely consisting of wealthy landowners, merchants, and professionals (including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin), who favored weaker state governments and rule by the elite.

Anti-Federalists

A political group, largely consisting of small farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers (including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams), who favored strong state governments and rule by the common man.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Federalism

A system of government that divides sovereign power across at least two political units, utilized by only 25 nations in the world.

Unitary Governments

A style of government utilized by most nations where most power resides in the central government.

Supremacy Clause

A provision in Article VI of the Constitution stating that the Constitution, national laws, and treaties are supreme over state laws when the national government acts within constitutional limits.

Tenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment specifying that any powers not delegated to the national government belong to the states or to the people.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically given to the national government by the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers that go beyond enumerated powers, allowing Congress to carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

Commerce Power

The power of Congress to regulate interstate movement of goods, as well as radio signals, electricity, and insurance transactions.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional requirement that each state recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

Privileges and Immunities

A constitutional provision giving citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.

Mandates

Obligations imposed by the national government requiring states to follow new policies, often enforced by withholding funds for other projects.

Dual Federalism

Also known as Layer Cake Federalism (1789-1937), a system characterized by a precise division of powers between national and state governments with no interaction.

Cooperative Federalism

Also known as Marble Cake Federalism (1937-today), a system originating in the New Deal era where national and state governments work together within policy areas to provide services efficiently.

Picket Fence Federalism

A federalism model (1960s-today) where horizontal boards represent levels of government (national, state, local) and vertical pickets represent specific policy areas where coordination occurs.

Government

The means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority to accomplish goals, provide benefits, maintain order, and promote general welfare.

Politics

The process that determines what government does, including decision-making and behaviors.

Demographic Changes (2010 to 2020 Census)

Shifts in U.S. racial and ethnic populations from 2010 to 2020, where White shifted from 63% to 57%, Hispanic or Latino from 16% to 18%, Black remained at 12%, Asian shifted from 4.7% to 5.9%, and Two or More Races shifted from 2% to 4.1%.

2020 Census Population Growth Leaders

Census metrics showing a nationwide population change of 7.4%, with Utah having the highest percentage growth (18.37%) and Texas having the highest numerical growth (3,999,944).

Democracy

A system of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents and responds to public preferences.

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy where representatives are elected to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people.

Majority Rule

A fundamental principle of democracy stating that policies made should reflect the will of over half of the voters.

Minority Rights

A democratic principle that guarantees fundamental rights to individuals who do not belong to the voting majority.

Declaration of Independence (1776)

A political argument made supporting the revolt against Great Britain, shaped by European political philosophers opposed to absolute monarchical power.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property according to philosopher John Locke.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.

Limited Government

The principle that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, enacted in 1781, which established a weak national government with limited powers, no executive leader, and no judiciary branch.

Philadelphia Convention

A 1787 gathering of representatives from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) that abandoned plans to reform the Articles of Confederation to write a new Constitution.

Factions

Parties or interest groups into which the delegates at the Constitutional Convention were divided.

Connecticut Compromise

An agreement resolving representation disputes between the New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan by establishing two houses in Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A constitutional arrangement determining how slaves were counted for representation purposes in the House of Representatives.

Madisonian System

A structural plan designed by James Madison to limit majority and minority control by restricting direct voting to the House of Representatives and creating the electoral college.

Separation of Powers

A design requiring the three branches of government to be relatively independent of one another so that no branch becomes more powerful than the others.

Federalists

A faction primarily composed of large landowners, wealthy merchants, and professionals—including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin—who favored weaker state governments and rule by the elite.

Anti-Federalists

A faction composed of small farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers—including Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams—who favored strong state governments and rule by the common man.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Federalism

A system of government that divides sovereign power across at least two political units.

Unitary Governments

A style of government in which most power resides in the central government, utilized by most nations worldwide.

Supremacy Clause

A provision in Article VI of the Constitution making the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government acts within its constitutional limits.

Tenth Amendment

The constitutional amendment stating that any powers not delegated to the national government belong to the states or to the people.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically given to the national government by the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers that go beyond enumerated powers, allowing Congress to carry out powers it already possesses.

Commerce Power

The authority of the national government to regulate movement of goods, radio signals, electricity, and insurance transactions.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional requirement that each state recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states.

Privileges and Immunities

A provision in the Constitution giving citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.

Mandates

Requirements imposed by the national government obligating states to follow new policies under penalty of losing funding for other projects.

Dual Federalism

Also known as Layer Cake Federalism (1789-1937), a system characterized by a precise division of powers with no interaction between levels of government.

Cooperative Federalism

Also known as Marble Cake Federalism (1937-today), a system originating in the New Deal era where national and state governments work together within policy areas to provide services efficiently.

Picket Fence Federalism

A model of federalism prominent from the 1960s to today in which horizontal boards represent government levels and pickets represent policy areas (such as agriculture, environment, medical care, and tax policy) where coordination occurs across levels.

Government

The means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority to accomplish goals, provide benefits, and make goods and services available.

Politics

The process that determines what government does, encompassing decision-making and behavioral methods.

Representative Democracy

A democratic system in which representatives are elected to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people.

Majority Rule

A core democratic principle requiring that policies reflect the will of over half of the voters.

Minority Rights

A foundational democratic component that guarantees rights to individuals who do not belong to the majority.

2020 Census Demographic Data

U.S. population demographic statistics recording White at $57\%$, Hispanic or Latino at $18\%$, Black at $12\%$, Asian at $5.9\%$, and Two or More Races at $4.1\%$.

2020 Census State Population Growth Leaders

The top five states by percentage population change were Utah ($18.37\%$), Idaho ($17.32\%$), Texas ($15.91\%$), North Dakota ($15.83\%$), and Nevada ($14.96\%$); top five by total numeric increase were Texas ($3,999,944$), Florida ($2,736,877$), California ($2,284,267$), Georgia ($1,024,255$), and Washington ($980,741$).