Foundations of Democracy Vocab

Direct (Participatory) Democracy

A government in which the people govern themselves and individually vote on matters of policy.

Indirect (Representative) Government

A model of democracy in which the people are represented by leaders they elected.

Elite Democracy

Model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy or have a large share of influence, control political decisions.

Pluralist View/Pluralism

The belief that effective public policy is the result of competition among multiple different interests and groups.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent to all people that are not dependent upon the governmen

Articles of Confederation

The constitution that administered America’s first government, which was characterized by a loose league of friendship between states and a weak central government.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting of delegates in 1787 that was initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately led to the formation of the nation’s current Constitution.

Shay’s Rebellion

An uprising that brought attention to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Virginial Plan

Constitutional convention proposal to create a stronger national government with a bicameral legistalure.

New Jersey Plan

Constitutional convention proposal that maintained a unicameral legislature and was preferred by smaller states.

Great Compromise

Agreement to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state selected Senate, with equal membership for each state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Social Contract

Agreement in which the government drives their power from the consent of the governed and in exchange, the people agree to limit their rights and participate in an ordered society.

Federalism

System in which power is divided between national and state or local governments.

Federalist Papers

A collection of essays/articles designed to rally support for the ratification of the Constitution.

Faction

A group with distinct political interests; highlighted in Federalist #10.

Federalists

Those citizens who favored a stronger national government and generally supported the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Those citizens who favored a weaker national government and generally opposed the ratification of the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

Constitutional principle that grants each branch some ability to limit the authority of the other branches

Separation of Power

The Constitutional principle that divides the powers of government into three distinct branches

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Bill of Rights

The 1st 10 amendments to the constitution

Amendment

A new addition to the constitution that has been proposed by congress and ratified by the states

Writ of habeas corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge so that reason may be given as to why that person is in custody.

Limited Government

The government is restrained in their lawful use of power and may only exercise those powers assigned to it in the constitution.