Unit 2: Foundations of American Democracy

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the foundations of American democracy, the Constitution, and Federalism.

Politics

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government

Government

the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking

Democracy

A system of government where power is held by the people.

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property, which governments cannot take away.

social contract

people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society.

American political culture

The set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share.

popular sovereignty

the idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people.

Republicanism

a system in which the government’s authority comes from the people through their representatives.

inalienable rights

rights the government cannot take away.

Liberty

social, political, and economic freedoms

participatory democracy

A theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.

civil society groups

Independent associations outside the government’s control

pluralist theory

A theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process

elitist theory

A theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

Constitution

A document that sets out the foundational principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government

Republic

A government ruled by representatives of the people

Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union

a governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the national government supreme

Unicameral

a one-house legislature

Shays's Rebellion

a popular Uprising against the government of Massachusetts

Constitutional Convention

A meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation

writ of habeas corpus

The right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

bills of attainder

When the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

ex post facto laws

Laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed

Virginia Plan

A plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in congress

New Jersey Plan

A plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state

Bicameral

A two-house legislature

Grand Committee

A committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

An agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; it settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and Senate apportioned equally

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating a state’s representation

Compromise on Importation

Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808

separation of powers

A design of government that distributes power across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own

checks and balances

a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy

Federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states

legislative branch

the institution responsible for making laws

expressed or enumerated powers

Authority specifically granted to a branch of government in the Constitution

necessary and proper/elastic clause

language and article 1, section 8 granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers

implied powers

authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers

executive branch

the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the Legislative Branch

judicial branch

the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through the federal courts

supremacy clause

constitutional Provisions declaring that the Constitution and all federal law and treaties are the supreme law of the land

Amendment

the process by which changes may be made to the Constitution

Federalists

Supporters of the proposed constitution, who called for a strong national government

Antifederalists

those opposed to the proposed constitution, who favored stronger state governments

Federalist Papers

a series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay and published between 1787 and 1788 that lay out the theory behind the Constitution

Federalist No. 51

an essay in which Madison argues that separations of power and federalism will prevent tyranny

Faction

a group of self-interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process

Federalist No. 10

An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of factions can be meditated by a large republic and Republican government

Brutus No. 1

and Anti-Federalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the constitution gave too much power to the national government

unitary system

A system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments

confederal system

A system where the subnational governments have most of the power.

federal system

A system where power is divided between the national and state governments.

exclusive powers

Powers only the national government may exercise

commerce clause

Grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.

Tenth Amendment

Reserves the powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis of federalism.

reserved powers

Powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people.

concurrent powers

Powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution.

full faith and credit clause

Constitutional clause requiring the states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state.

Extradition

The requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where a crime was committed.

privileges and immunities clause

Constitutional clause that prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state.

Thirteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that outlaws slavery

Fourteenth Amendment

Constitutional Amendment that provides that persons born in the United States are citizens and prohibit States from denying persons due process or equal protection under the law

Fifteenth Amendment

Constitutional Amendment that gave African American males the right to vote

dual federalism

A form of American federalism in which the states and the national government operate independently in their own areas of public policy

selective incorporation

The process through which the Supreme Court applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the States on a case-by-case basis

cooperative federalism

a form of American federalism in which the state and the national government work together to shape public policy

Grants-in-aid

Federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives.

fiscal federalism

The federal government’s use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states.

categorical grants

Grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use.

unfunded mandate

Federal requirements that states must follow without being provided with funding

block grant

A type of grant-in-aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds.

revenue sharing

When the federal government apportions tax money to the states with no strings attached.

Devolution

Returning more authority to state or local Governments.