Q: What is popular sovereignty?

A: The idea that government power comes from the people.

Q: What is republicanism?

A: A form of government where people elect representatives to make decisions for them.

Q: What is the social contract theory?

A: People give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of natural rights.

Q: What is limited government?

A: Government is restricted by a constitution or laws and cannot become too powerful.

Q: What are natural rights?

A: Rights all people are born with—life, liberty, and property (John Locke).

Q: What does the Declaration of Independence do?

A: Declares the U.S. independent from Britain and outlines natural rights and government by consent.

Q: What is the main argument of Federalist No. 10?

A: A large republic is best for controlling factions and protecting minority rights.

Q: What is the main concern in Brutus No. 1?

A: A strong central government will overpower the states and threaten personal liberty.

Q: What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

A: The national government couldn’t tax or regulate trade.

Q: What was the Great Compromise?

A: Created a bicameral legislature—House (by population) and Senate (equal for states).

Q: What was the 3/5 Compromise?

A: Each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes.

Q: What is federalism?

A: A system where power is shared between national and state governments.

Q: What is the Supremacy Clause?

A: Federal law is the "supreme law of the land."

Q: What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

A: Congress can make laws needed to carry out its powers (implied powers).

Q: What does the 10th Amendment say?

A: Powers not given to the federal government go to the states or the people.

Q: What is separation of powers?

A: Division of government into 3 branches: legislative, executive, judicial.

Q: What are checks and balances?

A: Each branch of government can limit the power of the others.

Q: What is dual federalism?

A: State and federal governments operate independently (layer cake).

Q: What is cooperative federalism?

A: State and federal governments work together (marble cake).

Q: What is a categorical grant?

A: Federal money given to states for a specific purpose with conditions.

Q: What is a block grant?

A: Federal money given for broad purposes, giving states more flexibility.

Q: What is a mandate?

A: A federal requirement that states must follow, sometimes without funding.

Q: What was decided in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

A: Congress has implied powers; states cannot tax federal institutions.

Q: What was decided in U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?

A: Congress overstepped using the Commerce Clause—limited federal power.