American Politics and the US Constitution 0.0 (0) linked notes

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may take away

state of nature

a theory on how people might have lived before societies came into existence

due process

the requirement that government, when dealing with people, has in place a fair procedure that it applies equally to all

social contract

powerful, foundational agreement between people and their government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights

direct democracy

a form of democracy where people participate personally in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do it for them

Declaration of Independence

the original document, authored principally by Thomas Jefferson, that "birthed" the United States and started the Revolutionary War. It lists important natural rights and grievances against the King of England, as well as declaring independence.

Bill of Rights

collectively, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they list citizens' civil liberties and civil rights.

political ideologies

coherent philosophy about the structure, power, and purpose of government. American political ideologies include progressive, liberal, moderate, independent, conservative, and libertarian.

Articles of Confederation

he first attempt at organizing the government of the United States, consisting of a unicameral (one-chamber) Congress. It did not permit Congress to tax, regulate foreign or interstate commerce, or enforce its laws. The Articles of Confederation failed as it formed an alliance of sovereign state governments with too weak a national government.

bicameral legislature

a law-making body in the legislative branch that consists of two separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and Representatives, like the Virginia Plan

popular vote

the outcome of a democratic election in which all qualified voters are eligible to participate and the winner is the person who receives the largest number of individual votes

Virginia Plan

plan proposed by the representatives of Virginia (including James Madison) at the Constitutional Convention for a two-house (bicameral) legislature, wherein the number of a state's representatives in each chamber would be based on the state's population

New Jersey Plan

plan proposed by the representatives of New Jersey (including William Patterson) at the Constitutional Convention that called for a one-house national legislature in which each state would have one vote

unicameral legislature

law-making body in the legislative branch that consists of only one chamber, like the New Jersey Plan

Great Compromise

known as the Connecticut Compromise (for its author Roger Sherman of New Haven), this was a 1787 agreement that created a bicameral legislature in the new U.S. Constitution, with representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

During the creation of the U.S. Constitution, an agreement made between Northern and Southern states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its enslaved population for the twin purposes of federal taxation and representation in Congress

veto

the power of a president to reject a law passed by Congress

checks and balances

constitutional powers that allow each branch of government to limit the exercise of power of the other two branches or approve their actions

separation of powers

the division of a government's powers among three separate branches of government, managed by different groups of people

federal system

a form of government in which power is divided between state governments (subnational) and a national government (central).

enumerated powers

powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution in Article I, Section 8. The enumerated powers include: regulating interstate and foreign commerce, raising and supporting armies, declaring war, coining money, and conducting foreign affairs.

reserved powers

any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government as outlined in the Tenth Amendment

ratification

the action of signing or otherwise officially approving a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it legally valid

republic

a system of government in which political power is held by the people through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf

habeus corpus

"show me the body," this is the right for a jailed citizen to appear before a judge to hear criminal charge, prohibits imprisoning people without due process of law.

The Federalist Papers

series of 85 essays written and published by several of the Founders: Hamilton, Madison, Jay, in 1787–88, in favor of ratifying the newly written U.S. Constitution

faction

group of people who gather to petition government for their special concern; today we would call this an interest group

impeachment

process for removing government officials suspected of "high crimes and misdemeanors," including judges and  the president; impeachment requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives on articles of impeachment and then the support of two-thirds of the Senate for conviction and removal

executive order

written direction to a government agency issued by a president, usually in the absence of congressional action, to pursue a particular course of action. Generally, such an order modifies an existing law or the interpretation of it, and can be subject to challenge through the courts.

bill of attainder

legislation that imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial

Social Contract

An agreement among members of society based on an understanding of human nature and natural rights.

Natural Rights

Rights that individuals possess inherently, which cannot be restricted by the government without permission.

Representative Democracy

A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Due Process

A procedural right granted by the government to its citizens, which can be taken away by the government.

Articles of Confederation

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

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body composed of two chambers or houses.

Great Compromise

The agreement that established a bicameral legislature to balance interests of populous states and smaller states.

Separation of Powers

A governance model that divides government responsibilities into different branches to prevent tyranny.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful by giving each branch authority over the others.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to evaluate the actions of other branches of government to ensure they comply with the Constitution.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another.

Executive Privilege

The president's power to withhold information from Congress to protect confidentiality.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

Documents submitted to the court by non-parties to provide additional information or perspective on the case.

Interest Groups

Organizations that attempt to influence government policies and decisions to benefit their members.

PACs

Political Action Committees that collect and distribute contributions to candidates.

Super PACs

Independent political committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but cannot coordinate with candidates.

Civil Rights

Government actions required to ensure equal treatment and protection for all citizens.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected from government infringement as laid out in the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

First Amendment

Part of the Bill of Rights that guarantees freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Fourteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that provides for equal protection under the law and addresses citizenship rights.

Nineteenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that granted women the right to vote in the United States.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled political spending is protected speech under the First Amendment.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals form their attitudes and beliefs about politics.

Public Opinion

The collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on certain issues, which can influence government actions.

Framing

The presentation of information in a way that influences how the audience interprets it.

Agenda Setting

The media's ability to influence which topics are considered important for public discourse.