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authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

capitalism

An economic system based on private property and free enterprise.

citizens

People who had the right to participate in government

civic engagement

individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern

Consent of the Governed

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

conservatism

A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.

declaration of independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

democracy

government by the people

direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

divine right of kings

the belief that the authority of kings comes directly from God

efficacy

citizen's belief that they can understand political affairs and that their participation can influence government actions

government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

indirect democracy

a system of government that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives who work on their behalf

legitimacy

the popular acceptance and recognition by the public that a ruling authority, law, or regime has the rightful power to govern and make decisions

liberalism

A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.

libertarianism

A political ideology that is opposed to all government action except as necessary to protect life and property.

liberty

Freedom from government control

limited government

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

majority rule

Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen

natural law

A doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and, as such, can be understood by reason.

naturalization

A legal process to obtain citizenship

oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how government should operate

political engagement

citizen actions that are intended to solve public problems through political means

political ideology

the coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals

property

something owned

Public Goods

a commodity or service that is provided without profit to all members of a society, either by the government or a private individual or organization.

social contract

an implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits

social contract theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence.

Socialism

a political theory advocating state ownership of industry

totalitarianism

A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)

advice and consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Anti-Federalists

people who opposed the Constitution

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)

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

bill of rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Brutus 1

It is impossible to have a Large republic and have a stable government.

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

confederation

an alliance of independent states

Connecticut Compromise (great compromise)

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

dual sovereignty

A doctrine holding that state and federal authorities can prosecute the same person for the same conduct, each authority prosecuting under its own law.

electoral college

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

federalists

supporters of the Constitution

Federalist 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

Federalist 39

written by madison, argued that the new constitution was both federal (confederal) and national. certain bodies are federal (senate), certain are national (house), and certain are both (election of the president), so the constitution is neither confederal nor national in its entirety

Federalist 51

Separation of powers & checks & balances protects against tyranny

judicial review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

natural rights (unalienable rights)

the rights possessed by all humans as a gift from nature, or God, including the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

new jersey plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

republic

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

the federalist papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

three-fifths compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)

unicameral legislature

a legislature with one chamber

us constituion

Strong Government that replaced the Articles of Confederation in 1787

veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

virginia plan

states would be represented based on population

block grant

Money given to states for general programs within a broad category

categorical formula grant

money granted by the national government to state and local governments for a specified program area and in an amount based on a legislated formula

centralized federalism

The notion that the federal government should take the leading role in setting national policy, with state and local governments helping implement the policies

concurrent powers

powers shared by the national and state governments

confederal system

A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.

conflicted federalism

an intergovernmental relationship that blends elements of dual, cooperative, and centralized federalism while producing friction, overlapping authority, and policy disagreements between national and state governments

cooperative federalism

Cooperation among federal, state, &local govts; "marble cake" federalism

devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. (layer cake)

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

federal system

A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

fiscal federalism

Federal government using money (grants) to influence & control states.

full faith and credit clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

grants-in-aid

federal money provided to states for specific purposes

horizontal federalism

The state-to-state relationships created by the U.S. Constitution.

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

intergovernmental relations

The entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments - including regulations, transfers of funds, and the sharing of information - that constitute the workings of the federal system.

interstate compacts

agreements between states to work together on common issues

judicial federalism

The idea that the courts determine the boundaries of state-federal relations

mandates

terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

A clause in Article I, section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for the implied powers.

nullification

A state's refusal to recognize an act of Congress that it considers unconstitutional

police powers

state power to effect laws promoting health, safety, and morals

preemption

the federal government's ability to take over a state government function

privileges and immunities clause

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone

supreme law of the land

The U.S. Constitution's description of its own authority, meaning that all laws made by governments within the United States must be in compliance with the Constitution.

unitary system

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government.

US v Lopez

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce.

waivers

exemptions from particular conditions normally attached to grants

interstate commerce clause

Constitutional clause that gives Congress the right to regulate interstate commerce. This clause has been broadly interpreted to give Congress a number of implied powers.