Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy Flashcards

Flashcards covering the foundational principles of American democracy, including Enlightenment philosophies, the U.S. Constitution, and the evolution of federalism.

Enlightenment

An 18th-century European movement that stressed the belief that science and logic provide more knowledge and understanding than tradition and religion.

Natural Rights

A concept by John Locke stating that natural law brings rights such as life, liberty, and property; people are born free and equal.

Social Contract

The agreement of free and equal people to abandon certain natural rights in order to find freedom in a government committed to the general good.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the ultimate source of power in government comes from the people being governed.

Republicanism

A representative form of government with limited power where citizens choose representatives to make public policy.

Limited Government

A principle where government power is restricted by law, specifically the Constitution, to protect natural rights.

Participatory Democracy

A type of democracy that emphasizes broad and direct participation and an active role for individual citizens in politics and civil society.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy where group-based activism strives to impact political decision making, requiring compromise to prevent one group from taking control.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy that emphasizes limited or filtered citizen participation, where those with necessary time, money, and resources have power in policymaking.

Declaration of Independence

A foundational document authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson that announced the colonies' official separation from Britain and outlined views on unalienable rights.

Articles of Confederation

The first official government in the United States, described as a 'loose alliance' where political power belonged largely to state governments.

Shays' Rebellion

A 1807 uprising led by a farmer and veteran that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, particularly the national government's inability to draft an army.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature where representation in both chambers was determined by population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a government with a unicameral legislature where each state would have equal representation.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

An agreement creating a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation (2 Senators per state).

Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise

An agreement that for every 5 slaves, 3 persons would be added to a state’s population for the purpose of congressional representation and taxation.

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed U.S. Constitution and a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the U.S. Constitution who feared a strong federal government and demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

Federalist #10

An essay arguing that a large republic is the best way to control factions, as no single group would be able to dominate policymaking.

Brutus I

An Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large central government would possess 'absolute and uncontrollable power' and that local governments are better suited to respond to citizen needs.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities among three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) to ensure each has limited but distinct power.

Federalist #51

An essay that supports the ideas of separation of powers and checks and balances, stating that 'Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.'

Checks and Balances

The constitutional ability of each branch of government to limit, block, or influence the actions of the other branches.

Bicameralism

The establishment of two legislative chambers with different structures and rules.

Federalism

A system of government where the national and state governments divide and share power.

Delegated (Exclusive) Powers

Powers explicitly given to the federal government in the Constitution, such as coining money and declaring war.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states that are not mentioned in the Constitution, as protected by the 10th Amendment.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held and carried out independently by both the federal and state governments, such as taxing and borrowing money.

Fiscal Federalism

A system where the federal government uses incentives (money) to prompt or require states and localities to address specific issues.

Categorical Grant

Federal money given to states for a specific purpose, often coming with 'strings attached.'

Block Grant

Federal money given to states for use within a broad purpose, offering the states more freedom in how it is spent.

Devolution

The process of transferring some of the responsibilities assumed by the federal government back onto the states.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

Article I, Section 8 provision that allows Congress to make laws required to execute their enumerated powers, expanding federal authority.

Supremacy Clause

Provision establishing that the Constitution and federal laws are the 'Supreme Law of the Land' and take priority over state laws.

Commerce Clause

Provision stating that only Congress can regulate anything affecting interstate commerce.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A landmark case that reaffirmed the Supremacy Clause and the use of the Necessary and Proper Clause to establish a national bank.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

A landmark case that protected state sovereignty and the 10th Amendment by ruling the Gun-Free School Zones Act was an unconstitutional stretch of the Commerce Clause.