foundations of american democracy unit 1

D.I.O.

“certain unalienable rights” = natural rights

“to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men”= social contract

“deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” = popular sovereignty

Constitution

established a limited government with key features such as republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances

natural rights

fundamental rights of all humans not received from a government

popular sovereignty

people are the source of governmental power and authority

social contact

people create a government to protect rights of the people

limited government

governmental power is restricted by the law

republicanism

a representative form of government; people choose representatives to make public policy… centered on the idea a republic is the best form of government

participatory democracy

emphasizes broad participation and an active role for individual citizens in politics and civil society

pluralist democracy

group-based activism striving to impact political decision making; individuals become more powerful as part of a group ex: political parties, interest groups

elite democracy

emphasizes limited or filtered citizen participation in politics; skeptical of the ability of citizens to make good choices

Brutus No. 1

said power should be held by the people, local governments should be more democratic and allow citizens to more directly influence public policy, opposed ratifying the constitution

Fed 10

James Madison said that a republic is superior to democracy because in a democracy majority factions will control minorities. Factions will compete for power

factions

groups with interest to adverse to the rights of others threatening the stability of the new nation (fear of Fed. 10)

solution to Fed. 10

a large republic will lead to more factions, diluting the power so that no single group will dominate policymaking

federalists

supported the new constitution and favored a stronger central government

anti-federalists

opposed the new constitution, favored states’ rights and demanded a Bill of Rights

Brutus No. 1’s fear

federal government will tax excessively, people wouldn’t be represented and federal government would destroy state governments

congress can…

declare war

make treaties

control militia

coin and borrow money

regulate trade

establish post offices and roads

congress could not (A.O.C.)…

tax

regulate interstate commerce

Shay’s Rebellion

weak federal response began shifting public opinion towards favoring a stronger central government and a new constitution.

great compromise

created a bicameral legislature: House based on population (favoring larger states), and the Senate given 2 per state (favoring smaller states)

amendment process

2/3 vote of both houses of Congress propose, ¾ of states’ legislatures ratify

3/5 compromise

slaves would count as 3/5 of a person for House representation purposes, North opposed

Fed. 51

justifies checks and balances, separation of power, splits Congress into bicameral legislature to serve as checks and balances leading to a slower law making process

separation of powers

each branch is assigned limited specific powers and responsibilities

checks and balances

each branch has the ability to limit/block/influence actions of other branches

legislative

makes laws

executive

enforce laws

judicial

interprets law

democracy

system of government, citizens have the right to participate in political process

direct democracy

citizens directly participate in decision making by voting on laws/ policies

social contact theory

individuals consent to surrender some rights in exchange for protection of others

constitutionalism

government officials cannot act however they please, but bound to higher law

habeas corpus

requires person under arrest to be bought before a judge/court

necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

allows Congress to make all laws necessary for carrying into executing other powers

supremacy clause

“supreme law of the land”, states must follow federal law

bill of attainder

prohibited in constitution, declares someone as guilty of a crime without judicial trial

ex post facto law

changes legal consequences of actions that were committed before a law enactment