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Enlightenment
18th-century European intellectual movement influencing democracy.
Famous Enlightenment Thinkers
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu
Why was the Enlightenment pivotal to the development of American Democracy?
Framers of the Constitution borrowed the ideas of the Enlightenment and used these principles of government to develop the Constitution.
Natural Rights
The idea that people are born with rights from their Creator and therefore cannot be taken away by their ruler or government; come from John Locke and include life, liberty, and property.
State of Nature
Theoretical society without government or laws; humans were free and needed their rights protected; comes from Thomas Hobbes.
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that government power comes from the people.
Social Contract
Agreement sacrificing some freedoms for protection from the government.
According to the theory of social contract, how should citizens respond to a tyrannical government?
The theory of social contract states that whenever a government becomes tyrannical and no longer protects the rights of the people, the people have a duty to overthrow the government and start again.
Republicanism
A form of democracy where citizens elect representatives.
Separation of Powers
Horizontal delegation of government power into branches; comes from Montesquieu
How does separation of powers keep a government from becoming tyrannical?
Separation of powers ensures that power is separated into many parts, so that not one person/body can get or use too much power.
Where do we see the concept of separation of powers in the United States government?
3 branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Limited Government
States effective government has power distributed among many members; government's powers are restricted to protect freedoms; prevents tyranny.
Enlightenment ideas found in Declaration of Independence
Popular sovereignty, social contract, and natural rights.
Participatory Democracy
Democratic model emphasizing broad citizen participation in politics.
Elite Democracy
Democratic model where a limited number of educated individuals make policy decisions.
Pluralist Democracy
Citizens join interest groups to influence policy.
Electoral College
System where electors vote for the president; compromise for Presidential Election
First Amendment
Protects freedoms of speech, assembly, and press.
Hyperpluralism
Excessive group power hindering government effectiveness.
Brutus I
Advocates for participatory democracy, fears liberty loss in a larger republic like the U.S.
Federalist 10
James Madison argues for a pluralist model; defense of factions in large republics.
Describe the main issues between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
The ratification of the Constitution by the states, especially on the issue of majority rule versus minority rights (from Jean-Jacques Rousseau).
Factions
Groups with shared interests that may conflict; they believe their interests are more important than any other interest.
In Federalist 10, how does James Madison explan the role of factions in a large republic?
He stated that in a large republic there would be many factions that would cancel out each other, taking away their power.
What were the two ways of dealing with the problem of factions?
Take away the causes and control the effects.
What were the two problems of taking away the causes of the factions?
It would give all people the same opinions and interests, and it would destroy freedom that creates factions.
Federalists
Supporters of a strong national government.
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of a strong national government.
17th Amendment
Allowed direct election of senators by citizens.
Montesquieu
Philosopher who proposed separation of powers.
John Locke
Philosopher known for natural rights theory.
Thomas Hobbes
Philosopher who discussed the state of nature.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Philosopher advocating for social contract theory.
Interest Groups
Organizations advocating for specific political interests.
Majority Rule
Governance principle favoring the majority's decisions.
Minority Rights
Protections for smaller or less powerful groups.
In Brutus I, what are the author's main concerns about a large and diverse republic?
Brutus I fears the immense amount of power that is invested in the federal government under the new Constitution because it took away many aspects of local control and participatory government.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Allows Congress to make laws for executing powers.
Supremacy Clause
Establishes federal law as the highest law.
Why did the Anti-Federalists dislike the necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause specifically?
They felt that these clauses allowed too much power to flow to the federal government.
Articles of Confederation
First governing document of the United States.
What was the main problem with the Articles of Confederation and why was it created that way?
The U.S. government was. very weak and the state governments were strong; in reaction to living under the tyranny of a Monarchy for so long.
What were some of the problems with the Articles of Confederation?
Only one branch of government (Legislative), no President (Executive), no federal court system, no power to tax, no way to enforce state participation, no power to raise an army, and no money to pay an army.
How did the colonies realize that the Articles of Confederation needed revision?
The inability of Congress to pay its bills, and the inability to put down a local insurrection (Shays's Rebellion).
Shays's Rebellion
Armed uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles.
What was the connection between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention?
The Constitutional Convention was originally called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately an entirely new Constitution was drafted.
Virginia Plan
Proposal for representation based on population.
New Jersey Plan
Proposal for equal representation among states.
Great Compromise
Established bicameral legislature balancing state representation.
3/5 Compromise
Counted 3/5 of enslaved people for representation.
Slave Import Clause
20 years after the Constitution was ratified, the slave trade would end; slave importation compromise
Article V
Article detailing the amendment process of the Constitution.
Amendment Proposal
Requires 2/3 vote from both Congressional houses.
Amendment Ratification
Needs approval from 3/4 of state legislatures and state conventions.
Legislative Branch
Responsible for proposing and making laws.
Executive Branch
Enforces and executes laws passed by Congress.
Judicial Branch
Determines the constitutionality of laws.
Veto Power
President's ability to reject Congressional legislation.
Veto Override
Congress has a 2/3 vote to override a veto from the President.
Advice and Consent
Congress's power to approve presidential appointments to the cabinet or Supreme Court.
Stakeholders
People engaging with law through communication.
Local Control
Authority retained by state or local governments.
Federal Government Power
Authority granted to the national government.
Constitutional Convention
Meeting to address issues with the Articles.
Monarchy
Form of government with a single ruler.
Insurrection
An uprising against authority or government.
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