Video Notes: Government, Revolutions, and the Constitution — Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on collective action, rights, revolutions, and the U.S. Constitution.

Collective action dilemmas

Problems organizing self-interested individuals to contribute to joint ends; examples include coordination issues, the prisoner's dilemma, and free riding.

Public goods

Non-excludable goods that benefit all; often susceptible to free riding (e.g., clean air).

Constitution

A set of rules prescribing the political process and setting boundaries for government (autonomy and decision rules).

Legitimacy

Widespread acceptance that some form of authority is necessary, rightful, and binding (Weber's idea of authority).

Power (Weber)

The ability of an actor to realize their will even in the face of resistance.

Monarchy/tyranny

Sovereignty embodied in a single individual; forms of rule where one person holds authority.

Aristocracy/oligarchy

Power concentrated in a few individuals rather than the many.

Polity/democracy

Power distributed among many; rule by the many.

Decision rules

Thresholds for victory or defeat in politics (e.g., plurality, majority, supermajority, unanimity).

Plurality

Winner is the option with the most votes, not necessarily a majority.

Majority

More than 50% of votes.

Supermajority

A requirement of more than a simple majority (e.g., 50%+1 or higher thresholds).

Unanimity

All participants agree; 100% agreement.

Natural rights

Inherent rights in the state of nature, per Locke: life, liberty, and property.

Civil rights

Protections by the government against discrimination (race, gender).

Civil liberties

Protections from government interference in personal freedoms.

Anarchy

Absence of government; a spectrum of forms including different political ideologies.

Anarcho-syndicalism

Anarchist left-wing approach advocating worker self-management through unions.

Anarcho-capitalism

Anarchist right-wing approach favoring markets and private property with no state.

Communism

Theory of common ownership of production and abolition of private property; 'from each according to ability, to each according to needs'.

Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie

Marxist concept where the capitalist class holds political power (in critique cases the dictatorship of the proletariat is proposed as a transition).

Three-Fifths Compromise

Each slave counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

Fugitive Slave Clause

Requires returned runaway slaves to their masters when they escape to free states.

Olive Branch Petition

1775 attempt by the colonists to reconcile with Britain; denied by King George III.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document proclaiming American independence and the shift toward liberal republican ideals.

Articles of Confederation

America’s first constitution; weak central government, strong state sovereignty, lack of standing army, and unanimous consent needed to amend.

Shays' Rebellion

1786–1787 farmer uprising highlighting weaknesses of the Articles and spurring calls for a stronger national government.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting to revise the Articles; led to drafting a new framework of government and the Constitution.

Virginia Plan

Big-state plan proposing bicameral legislature with representation by population; favored a strong national government.

New Jersey Plan

Small-state plan proposing unicameral legislature with equal state representation; favored weaker central government.

Great Compromise

Agreement creating a bicameral Congress: Senate with equal state representation and House by population.

Electoral College

Indirect system for selecting the president; states appoint electors who cast votes for the executive.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments; demanded by Anti-Federalists to protect individual liberties.

Federalists

Supporters of a stronger central government; favored ratification, feared tyranny of the majority; initially sought a strong union without a Bill of Rights.

Anti-Federalists

Advocates for stronger state powers and a Bill of Rights; feared tyranny of the minority and concentrated power.

Separation of powers

Division of government into distinct branches (executive, legislative, judicial) with separate duties.

Checks and balances

Each branch can limit the powers of the others to prevent tyranny.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Lexington and Concord

First battles of the American Revolution (April 1775); sparked broader war.

Saratoga Campaign

1777 turning point; American victory that helped secure French alliance.

French alliance

France allied with the United States in the revolution, providing crucial support.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the American Revolutionary War; recognized U.S. independence.