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Democratic Consolidation
When a democracy becomes secure and unlikely to revert to authoritarianism.
Limited Government
A system of government characterized by checks and balances, separation of powers, and three branches.
Natural Rights
Fundamental rights including life, liberty, and property, often protected by a Bill of Rights.
Popular Sovereignty
The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who elect representatives.
Social Contract
An agreement among individuals to form a government that ensures justice, tranquility, defense, welfare, and liberty.
Republic
A form of government where representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people, filtering out factions.
Articles of Confederation
The first governing document of the U.S. that failed due to its weakness and lack of power for the central government.
Separation of Powers
The division of government responsibilities into three branches:legislative, judicial, and executive.
Checks and Balances
A system that ensures no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.
Roles of Each Branch
Legislative makes laws, judicial interprets laws, and executive enforces laws.
Great Compromise
An agreement that established a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
Bicameral Legislature
A legislative body with two chambers, differing in representation methods between the House and Senate.
⅗ Compromise
A compromise where slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person for population purposes in southern states.
Federalists vs anti-federalists
The debate between supporters of the Constitution and Articles of Confederation
Federalist No. 10
supports the Constitution and representative government to manage factions, while Brutus No. 1 advocates for a weaker government to avoid tyranny.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms and rights.
Overall Purpose of the Bill of Rights
To compromise and protect individual rights from federal and state government encroachment.
Three Types of Democracy
Pluralist (NRA), elite (electoral college), and participatory (referendums)
Federalist No. 51
An essay that discusses the importance of checks and balances in government.
Marbury v Madison
A landmark case that established the principle of judicial review.
McCulloch v Maryland
A case that affirmed the use of the Necessary and Proper Clause and implied powers.
U.S v Lopez
A case that addressed the limits of the commerce clause.
Constitution and the Preamble
The introduction to the Constitution that outlines the foundational principles of equality and unalienable rights.
Federalism
A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.
Federal Powers
Powers reserved for the federal government, such as declaring war and coining money.
State Powers
Powers reserved for state governments, including maintaining roads and establishing local governments.
Concurrent Powers
Powers shared by both state and federal governments, such as taxation and law enforcement.
Necessary and Proper Clause
A clause that allows Congress to make laws required to execute its enumerated powers.
Judicial Review
The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.
Supremacy Clause
A clause stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.
Federalist Papers
A series of essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution.
A Concession
The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to address concerns about individual liberties.
Amendment Process
The procedure by which changes can be made to the Constitution.
Note
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