Chapter 1: Introduction to American Government

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on government, policy, and constitutional origins.

Government

The system and processes by which a society organizes authority, makes public policy, and enforces laws.

Public Policy

The exercise of government power to maintain control and authority over society by enacting laws and programs.

Purposes of Government

Forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.

Autocracy

Rule by a single individual where power is concentrated and unchecked.

Absolute Monarchy

A hereditary ruler with no constitutional limits on power.

Constitutional Monarchy

A hereditary ruler whose powers are limited by a constitution and laws; often ceremonial.

Dictatorship

Rule by a person who seizes power by force and rules without meaningful legal limits.

Oligarchy

Rule by a few individuals rather than by the many.

Aristocracy

Rule by the elite; leadership determined by social status or wealth.

Theocracy

Rule by religious leaders or based on religious law.

Democracy

Rule by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.

Direct Democracy

Citizens meet and make policy decisions directly.

Representative Democracy (Republic)

Citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions.

Traditional Democratic Theory

Legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed, either directly or through representatives.

Pluralist Theory

Many groups compete in politics; conflict leads to compromise.

Elite Theory

A small, powerful elite forms and guides public policy.

Bureaucratic Theory

Power rests with bureaucrats who control policy through hierarchical structures and procedures.

Hyperpluralism

A democracy ruled by many groups leading to gridlock and inefficiency.

Magna Carta

1215 charter limiting the king's power and guaranteeing due process and trial by jury.

Trial by Jury

Right to a jury trial guaranteed by legal tradition (Magna Carta).

Due Process of Law

Fair procedures guaranteed by law to protect rights.

Social Contract

Voluntary agreement between government and the governed.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued for natural rights and government to protect them; influenced the Declaration of Independence.

Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property; rights inherent to all humans.

Second Treatise on Civil Government

Locke's work advocating natural rights and government by consent.

Mayflower Compact

1620 agreement establishing government based on consent and limited government.

Petition of Right

1628 document limiting the monarch's powers and expanding Parliament's role.

English Bill of Rights

1689 act limiting royal power and protecting parliamentary rights and individual rights.

Declaration of Independence

Jefferson’s 1776 statement asserting independence from Britain; based on social contract and natural rights.

Articles of Confederation

1781–1789 framework creating a weak federal government and a league of friendship among states.

Northwest Ordinance

1787 statute creating governance for territories and a process for admitting new states.

Shays’ Rebellion

1786–87 Massachusetts uprising that highlighted weaknesses of the Articles and spurred the Constitutional Convention.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting to revise the Articles, resulting in a new constitution and a federal republic.

Virginia Plan

Proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population; strong national government.

New Jersey Plan

Proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for states; preserved state sovereignty.

Great Compromise

Connecticut Compromise; House representation by population and Senate equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

Commerce Compromise

Allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade but prevented exports taxes.

Slave Trade Compromise

Slavery could continue for 20 years; international slave trade ended in 1808; domestic trade continued; runaways returned.

Ratification

Process by which nine of thirteen states ratified the Constitution; Federalists vs Anti-Federalists.

Federalists

Supporters of ratification and a strong national government; rallied around the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who favored stronger state governments and feared centralized power.

The Federalist Papers

85 essays by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay arguing for ratification.

Supremacy Clause

Constitutional provision (Article VI, Section 2) declaring federal law supreme over state law.

James Madison

Framer of the Constitution; co-author of The Federalist Papers; pivotal figure in drafting the document.

Alexander Hamilton

Framer and advocate; strong proponent of a powerful national government; co-author of The Federalist Papers.

John Jay

Framer and advocate; co-author of The Federalist Papers.