US Government and Politics Foundations

What are John Locke's natural rights?

Life, liberty, and property.

What is the social contract?

People consent to government in exchange for protection of their rights.

What does consent of the governed mean?

Government gets its power from the people.

What is the main argument of the Declaration of Independence?

People have natural rights, and they can change a government that violates those rights.

What are the three unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What is popular sovereignty?

Political power comes from the people.

What is the purpose of the Constitution's Preamble?

It explains the goals of the Constitution and the purposes of the government.

What does the Gettysburg Address emphasize?

Equality, national unity, and government by the people.

What is the main argument of Brutus No. 1?

A strong national government and large republic could threaten individual liberty and state power.

What is the main argument of Federalist No. 10?

A large republic can control factions by allowing many competing interests.

What is a faction?

A group of people united by shared interests that may conflict with the public good.

What is the main argument of Federalist No. 51?

Separation of powers and checks and balances prevent tyranny.

What is the main argument of Federalist No. 39?

The Constitution creates a government with both federal and national characteristics.

What are the main characteristics of democracy?

Political participation, free elections, majority rule, minority rights, and political equality.

What is majority rule?

The option supported by more than half of the voters generally wins.

Why are minority rights important?

They protect people from having their rights taken away by the majority.

How has American democracy changed since 1788?

Voting rights expanded to include groups previously excluded, including women and Black Americans.

What is participatory democratic theory?

Citizens should actively participate in government and political decisions.

What is elite theory?

A small, powerful group has disproportionate influence over political decisions.

What is pluralist theory?

Many competing interest groups influence government, preventing one group from dominating everything.

How does Federalist No. 10 connect to pluralism?

Many competing factions make it harder for one group to dominate government.

What is representative democracy?

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

What is direct democracy?

Citizens vote directly on policies and laws.

What is a referendum?

Voters approve or reject a proposed law or policy.

What is a ballot initiative?

Citizens propose a law or constitutional amendment for voters to decide, where permitted.

What is a recall election?

Voters decide whether to remove an elected official before the official's term ends.

What type of economic system does the United States have?

A mixed market economy based primarily on capitalism, with government regulation and social welfare programs.

What is capitalism?

An economic system based on private ownership and market competition.

What is socialism?

An economic system in which society or the government owns or controls some major resources or industries.

What is communism?

A political-economic ideal of a classless society with common ownership of productive resources.

What is welfare capitalism?

An economy based on private ownership and markets that also includes government social welfare programs.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak national government.

What were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

The national government could not directly tax citizens, effectively regulate interstate commerce, or reliably enforce national laws.

What was one success of the Articles of Confederation?

The Northwest Ordinance established a process for territories to become states.

Why was the Constitutional Convention held in 1787?

To address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Who was absent from the Constitutional Convention?

Rhode Island did not send delegates. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Patrick Henry were also absent.

What was the Virginia Plan?

A plan for representation based on state population, favoring larger states.

What was the New Jersey Plan?

A plan for equal representation for each state, favoring smaller states.

What was the Great Compromise?

It created a bicameral Congress with a House based on population and a Senate with two senators per state.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

It counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and direct taxation.

What is the Electoral College?

The system through which electors formally choose the president.

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of the Constitution and a stronger national government.

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Opponents of ratification who feared centralized power and wanted stronger protections for individual rights.

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

To protect individual liberties and address concerns about government power.

What is federalism?

Power is divided between the national and state governments.

What is separation of powers?

Government power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

What are checks and balances?

Each branch can limit the power of the other branches.

What is the rule of law?

Everyone, including government officials, must follow the law.

What is judicial review?

The power of courts to declare government actions unconstitutional.

What are delegated or expressed powers?

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution.

What are implied powers?

Powers reasonably inferred from expressed powers through the Necessary and Proper Clause.

What are inherent powers?

Powers associated with national sovereignty.

What are concurrent powers?

Powers shared by national and state governments, such as taxing.

What are reserved powers?

Powers kept by the states or the people under the Tenth Amendment.

What does the legislative branch do?

Congress makes federal laws.

What does the executive branch do?

The president enforces federal laws.

What does the judicial branch do?

Federal courts interpret laws and decide legal disputes.

What is an example of checks and balances?

The president can veto a bill, but Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses.

How can the Constitution be amended?

An amendment is proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures. It is ratified by three-fourths of the states.

What does the Commerce Clause do?

It gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce and commerce with Native American tribes.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

It allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

What does the Supremacy Clause establish?

The Constitution and valid federal laws take priority over conflicting state laws.

What does the Full Faith and Credit Clause require?

States generally recognize other states' public acts, records, and judicial proceedings.

What does the Tenth Amendment establish?

Powers not delegated to the national government or prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.

What is dual federalism?

National and state governments have separate areas of authority. It is often called layer-cake federalism.

What is cooperative federalism?

National and state governments share responsibilities and work together. It is often called marble-cake federalism.

What is devolution?

Transferring responsibilities or authority from the national government to state governments.

What is a categorical grant?

Federal funding for a specific purpose, usually with strict conditions.

What is a block grant?

Federal funding for a broad purpose that gives states more flexibility.

What is revenue sharing?

Distributing federal revenue to state and local governments with relatively few restrictions.

What is an unfunded mandate?

A federal requirement imposed on states without sufficient federal funding to cover its costs.

How does the federal government influence state policy?

It uses grants and funding conditions to encourage states to follow national priorities.

What is one benefit of federalism?

States can respond to local needs and experiment with different policies.

What is one disadvantage of federalism?

Laws and services can differ between states, and national and state governments may disagree over authority.

What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

It established judicial review.

What was the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

It established that Congress has implied powers and that states cannot interfere with valid federal actions by taxing a federal institution.

What constitutional principles are connected to McCulloch v. Maryland?

Implied powers, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and federal supremacy.

What was the significance of Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)?

It affirmed broad federal authority to regulate interstate commerce.

What was the significance of United States v. Lopez (1995)?

The Supreme Court ruled that Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause authority by banning guns near schools under the federal law at issue.

How did United States v. Lopez affect federalism?

It limited Congress's Commerce Clause power and reinforced state authority.

What is the difference between McCulloch v. Maryland and United States v. Lopez?

McCulloch supported implied federal powers, while Lopez limited Congress's Commerce Clause authority.