Learn: U.S. Government and Constitution: Key Concepts and Frameworks

Representative democracy

Citizens elect officials to make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies themselves.

Popular Sovereignty

Government's authority comes from the consent of the governed.

Social Contract

An agreement where people give up some freedoms for government protection of their rights.

Plutocracy

A government controlled by the wealthy.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. governing document; created a weak central government with no power to tax or enforce laws.

Shays' Rebellion

A 1786-87 uprising by Massachusetts farmers that exposed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Bicameralism

A legislature divided into two chambers.

Connecticut Compromise

Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans — population-based House, equal-representation Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Federalists

Supported a strong national government and ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Feared a strong national government and demanded a Bill of Rights.

The Federalist Papers

85 essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay arguing for ratification of the Constitution.

Separation of powers

Dividing government authority among three branches.

Checks and balances

Each branch has tools to limit the power of the other branches.

Impoundment

A president's refusal to spend funds Congress has appropriated.

Referendum

Voters approve or reject a law already passed by the legislature.

Recall

Voters remove an elected official before their term ends.

Devolution

Transfer of power from the federal government back to the states.

Federalism

Division of power between a national government and state governments.

Dual Federalism

"Layer-cake" model with clearly separate state and federal responsibilities.

Cooperative Federalism

"Marble-cake" model where state and federal responsibilities blend together.

Unitary system

A system where all authority rests with a central government.

Confederation

A loose alliance of independent states with a weak central authority.

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states for broad purposes with few restrictions.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds for specific purposes with strict conditions.

Federal mandates

Requirements the federal government imposes on states, sometimes unfunded.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both federal and state governments, like taxation.

Full faith and credit clause

Requires states to honor the public acts and records of other states.

Extradition

Returning a fugitive to the state where they're accused of a crime.

Interstate compact

An agreement between two or more states.

National supremacy

Federal law prevails over conflicting state law.

Mandate

A directive/requirement, or a winning candidate's claimed authorization from voters.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Commerce Clause

Grants Congress power to regulate interstate commerce.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly listed for Congress in the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from enumerated powers, not explicitly stated.