gov terms

Bill of Rights

A collection of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, established in 1791, aimed at safeguarding individual freedoms like speech and religion from government power.

Federalist 10

argues that a large republic best controls factions by forcing diverse, competing interests to compromise and relying on elected representatives to filter out extreme public passions.

Brutus 1

argues that a large federal republic cannot protect liberty because the government's broad, undefined powers will absorb state authority, so the nation should instead remain a confederation of small, local republics

Electoral Compromise

compromise between state legislatures choosing the president and a direct popular vote, giving states electors based on House + Senate seats, with the House deciding if no majority wins.

Formal amendment

Amending the Constitution requires a two-step process of proposal (by 2/3 of Congress or states) and ratification (by 3/4 of states).

Informal amendment

change in the Constitution without altering the text, through judicial interpretation (courts), legislation (Congress), executive actions (presidents), and political customs/traditions over time.

Unicameral

A legislative body with only one chamber, like Congress under the Articles of Confederation where each state had one vote

Federalist 51

Checks and balances prevent tyranny by having each branch check the others; "ambition must counteract ambition."

Marbury v Madison

Established judicial review – the Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional. William Marbury sued to get his commission, but Chief Justice John Marshall ruled the Judiciary Act of 1789 conflicted with the Constitution, so the Court couldn't order it delivered

Liberty vs Order

The foundational debate over how much individual freedom to sacrifice for collective security—governments restrict liberties to maintain stability, but too much order becomes tyranny, while too much liberty leads to chaos; a constant balancing act for the government.