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Common Sense

The pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 that persuaded many Americans to support the revolutionary cause

Presidential System

Government in which the executive is chosen independently of the legislature and the two branches are separate

Dual Federalism

The federal system under which the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas

Cooperative Federalism

the federal system under which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas

Confederal System

government in which local units hold all the power

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Law aimed at improving public primary and secondary schools, and thus student performance, via increased accountability for schools, school districts, and states

Virginia Plan

a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation be based on population, thus favoring the large states

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation be equal, thus favoring the small states

Americans with Disabilities Act

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accomodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunities

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government

Gibbons v. Ogden

Supreme Court ruling (1824) establishing national authority over interstate business

Devolution

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

Unfunded mandate

A federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level

Federalism

A political system in which power is divided between the central and regional units

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government

Anti-Federalists

Advocates of states' rights who opposed the Constitution

Great Compromise

The constitutional solution to congressional representation: equal voted in the senate, votes by population in the House

Three-Fifths Compromise

The formula for counting five slaves as three people for purposes of representation that reconciled northern and southern factions at the Constitutional Convention

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to build support for ratification of the constitution

Shay's Rebellion

A grassroots uprising (1787) by armed Massachusetts farmers protesting foreclosures

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two chambers

Republic

A government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people

Parliamentary System

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

Separation of Powers

The institutional arrangement that assigns judicial, executive, and legislative powers to different persons or groups, thereby limiting the powers of each

Checks and Balances

The principle that allows each branch of government to exercise some form of control over the others

Enumerated Powers

Congressional powers specifically named in the Constitution

Supremacy Clause

Constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the greatest law of the land

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose, restricted by detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance standards

Block Grants

Federal funds provided for a broad purpose and unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations

Nullification

Declaration by a state that a federal law is void within its borders

Mandate

The authority granted by a constituency to act as its representative

Habeus Corpus

A legal principle that requires aurthorities to show reasons why a person should be held in custody and to provide a speedy trial

Bills of Attainder

Laws under which specific persons or groups are detained and sentenced without trial

Ex Post Facto Laws

Laws that criminalize an action after it occurs

Incorporation

Supreme Court action making the protections of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states

Necessary and Proper Clause

Constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

Establishment Clause

The First Amendment guarantee that the government will not create and support an official state church

Commerce Clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.

Inititative

Citizen petitions to place a proposal or constitutional amendment on the ballot, to be adopted or rejected by majority vote, bypassing the legislature

Recall

Votes to remove an official from office

Referendum

An election in which a bill passed by the state legislature is submitted to voters for approval

Article I of the Constitution

Legislative Branch (Senate and House)

Article II of the Constitution

Executive Branch (President)

Article III of the Constitution

Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

Article IV of the Constitution

The States

Article V of the Constitution

Amendment Process

Article VI of the Constitution

Supremacy Clause

Article VII of the Constitution

Ratification