Unit 1 - Foundations of American Democracy

Social Contract

individuals give up certain freedoms and submit authority of the ruler in exchange for protection of other rights, and the benefits of organized society

Natural Rights

rights inherent to humans, including life, liberty, and property

Consent of the governed

the government’s power to protect citizens’ natural rights

Limited Government

restrictions placed on government to protect citizens’ natural rights

Republicanism

elected leaders represent the interests of the people, grows from popular sovereignty

Participatory Democracy

broad participation in politics and civil society

Pluralist Democracy

Group-based activism

Elite Democracy

small # of people, wealthy or well educated

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses

• no exective or judicial branch

• all 13 states need to amend laws

• 9/13 states needed to pass laws

• no power of the national government to tax

• no power to raise an army

• no control over interstate trade

What did the weak Articles of Confederation Lead to?

Shay’s Rebellion

Virignia Plan

• favored larger states

• bicameral legislature, houses appointed by state population

• strong legislative power

• citizens elect lower house, upper house appointed

New Jersey Plan

• favored smaller states

• unicamerial legislature, equal representation

• members appointed

• basically the articles which favored smaller states

Conneticut (Great) Compromise

• bicameral legislature

• HoR directly elected and represented based on population

• Senate had 2 members per state and was appointed by state legislature

Elecoral College

compromise made to select the president so they would not be appointed or elected (example of elite democracy)

Three-fifths compromise

slaves would count as 3/5 of a persion

Writ of habeas corpus

court order requiring authorities to explain to a judge what lawful reason they had for holding a prisoner in custody (could be suspended in wartime)

Bill of attainder

these punish people without a judicial trial. prohibited; congress and the states cannot pass these.

Ex post facto laws

punished people for acts that were not illegal when they were done or retroactively increase the penalties for illegal acts.

Federalist

wanted a stronger national government

Anti-Federalist

wanted a stronger state government

Federalism

power is shared between the national and state governments

Exclusive powers

powers only the national government may exercise (declare war, make treaties)

Enumerated powers

powers granted to the national government in the constitution, and especially to Congress

Implied powers

powers not specifically granted to the federal government, but considered to be necessary to carry out other powers (civil rights laws)

Reserved powers

powers given to the states (conduct elections, provide police and fire protection)

Concurrent powers

powers that the national and state government share (create courts)

Full Faith and Credit Clause

states are required to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state

Priveleges and Immunities Clause

states cannot discriminate against people from out of state

Extradition

officials in one state must return a person to another state where a crime was committed

Dual Federalism

layered cake (clear division of powers)

Cooperative Federalism

marble cake (flexible overlapping of powers)

Fiscal Federalism

funding is appropriated by the federal government to the states with specific conditions (grants)