Unit 1 Vocab

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, foundational documents, constitutional clauses, and landmark Supreme Court cases from Unit 1.

Natural Rights

Basic rights that all people are born with-life, liberty, equality

Social Contract

The idea that people agree to give the government some power in exchange for protection and order

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the people have the ultimate power in government

Republicanism

A system where people elect representatives to make decisions for them

Declaration of Independence

The 1776 document that announced the American colonies were separating from Great Britan

Articles of Confederation

America's first national government plan, which gave most power to the states and male the national government weak

Constitution of the U.S.

The document that created the U.S. government and explains its powers and limits

Participatory Democracy

A type of democracy where citizens actively participate in government and political decisions

Pluralist Democracy

A system where different groups compete to influence government decisions

Elite Democracy

A system where a small group of powerful or wealthy people has most of the influence over government

Federalists

People who supported the Constitution and wanted a stronger national government

Anti-Federalists

People who opposed the Constitution because they feared the national government would become too powerful

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic could control the problems caused by competing political groups

Brutus No. 1

An essay arguing against the Constitution because it could give the national government too much power

Federalist No. 51

An essay by James Madison explaining why checks and balances and separation of powers are important

Checks & Balances

A system where each branch of government can limit the power of the other branches

Separation of Powers

Dividing government power among three brancles: legislative, executive, and judicial

Federalism

A system where power is shared between the national government and state governments

Bicameralism

Having two houses in a legislature, like the House of Representatives and Senate

Great Compromise

The agreement that created a two-house Congress with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person when determining representation and taxes

Electoral College

The system used to officially elect the U.S. president and vice president

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual rights and freedoms

Formal Amendment Process

The official process for changing or adding to the Constitution

Informal Amendment

A change to the Constitution that happens without actually changing the words of the Constitution

Dual Federalism

A system where the federal and state governments have separate areas of power

Fiscal Federalism

The way the federal government uses money to influence and support state governments

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to states for a specific purpose, like education of transportation

Block Grants

Federal money given to states for a general purpose, allowing states more freedom in how they use it

Mandates

Requirements from the federal government that state or local governments must follow

Commerce Clause

The part of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate trate between states and with other countries

Necessary & Proper Clause

Gives Congress the power to make laws needed to carry out its constitutional responsibilities

Supremacy Clause

Says that the Constitution and federal laws are the highest laws of the country when they conflict with state laws

10th amendment

Says that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme court case that established that Congress has implies powers and states cannot interfere with valid federal actions

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme court case that limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that Congress could not ban guns near schools using the Commerce Clause