Unit 1: Constitutional Foundations

absolute monarchy

A government in which the king or queen has complete power.

Absolute Monarchy

A system of government in which the head of state is a hereditary position and the king or queen has almost complete power

Amendment Process

2/3 of both houses of Congress to propose them & 3/4 of the state legislatures to ratify (goes to states because power rests with people)

Anti-Federalists

opposed ratification of the Constitution; preferred power in the states & insisted on addition of the Bill of Rights

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Branches Missing Under Articles of Confederation

executive & judicial

checks & balances

giving each branch of government tools to stop the abuse of power by the others

confederation

form of government in which independent states maintain sovereignty & give just a few powers to a weak central government

Congress

legislative branch that is bicameral & consists of 2 houses--House of Representatives & the Senate

Constitutional Monarchy

A King or Queen is the official head of state but power is limited by a constitution.

delegated powers

powers granted to the national government in the Constitution

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Direct Democracy

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

Direct Democracy

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

Electoral College

method of selecting the President; winner must win a majority of the Electoral College votes (270/538)

federalism

division of power between the central (also known as national or federal) government & the states

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Federalists

wrote the Federalist Papers to push for ratification of the Constitution; felt Constitution did a good job limiting possible power abuse; wanted a stronger central government

Great Compromise

created a bicameral Congress where the # of representatives in the House of Representatives is based on a state's population & each state has 2 Senators in the Senate

Hobbes

English philosopher and political theorist best known for his book Leviathan (1651). Became the first social-contractarian and believed once you enter into a contract, you could not leave it.

implied powers

powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution that are made possible using the necessary & proper clause (elastic clause)

limited government

goal of the Framers in the Constitution = make sure the central government would not be too powerful; listed the specific powers of each branch in the Constitution

Locke

Wrote Two Treatises of Government. Said human nature lived free and had the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. He said government was created in order to protect these rights and if the government failed to do so it was the duty of the people to rebel.

Montesquieu

French political philosopher who advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (1689-1755)

Necessary & Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

gives Congress the ability to add to/broaden its powers & change with the times

oligarchy

a small group of people having control of a country

Overall Goal of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia

create a stronger central government while still protecting liberty

Parliamentary System

government in which the executive is chosen by the legislature from among its members and the two branches are merged

popular sovereignty

power rests with the people; consent of the governed; "We the People" in Preamble & achieved with election of the House of Representatives

Powers Unique to the House of Representatives & Why

creating revenue bills & impeachment because they are closer to the people (elected every 2 years)

Powers Unique to the Senate & Why

approving or rejecting presidential appointments & treaties because they are more isolated from public pressure (serve for 6 years)

Presidential Democracy

A form of government in which the citizens directly elect a president

Reason for Creation of Articles of Confederation

fear of abuse of power/tyranny by a central figure or government as experienced under British rule

Reason for Life Terms for Federal Justices

desire to free them from political influence (outside pressures)

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

republic

form of government in which people elect representatives to make decisions for them

reserved powers

powers not granted to the national government are set aside for the state governments (confirmed in the 10th Amendment; example = control education)

Rousseau

believed people in their natural state were basically good but that they were corrupted by the evils of society, especially the uneven distribution of property. Believed people should have a say in their government.

separation of powers

division of power between the legislative, executive, & judicial branches

Shays' Rebellion

rebellion in MA that signaled the need for a stronger central government

Slave Trade Compromise

Congress could not outlaw the importation of slaves before 1808

Successes of the Articles of Confederation

Land Ordinance of 1785 & Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Supremacy Clause

makes the Constitution, national laws, & treaties the supreme law of the land

Tariff Compromise

Congress could tax imports but not exports

The Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments that outline protections of the people andguarantee power to the states

Three-Fifths Compromise

allowed southern states to count 3/5s of their slave population for the purpose of determining representation in the House of Representatives

Totalitarian Dictatorship

an extremely oppressive form of government in which most aspects of citizens' lives are controlled by the leader

Weaknesses of Congress under the Articles of Confederation

unable to get states to give them tax $ or soldiers for the military, could not regulate trade or force the states to use a uniform currency