U.S. Government - EXAM 1

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, people, documents, and theories from the lecture notes.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring the American colonies free from Britain; drafted by a Committee of Five (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston) and linked to the Lee Resolution proving right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Committee of Five

Group appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence: Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Sherman, Livingston.

Lee Resolution

Resolution passed July 2, 1776 declaring the colonies independent from Britain.

Articles of Confederation

First framework for U.S. government (1777 ratified 1781); created a weak central government with a unicameral legislature and equal state representation.

Weak central government

Characteristic of the Articles of Confederation; central authority lacked power to tax or enforce laws.

U.S. Constitution

Written framework establishing a federal system with three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and a stronger national government; ratified in 1789.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution; protect individual liberties and restrict federal power.

Federalist Papers

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay arguing for ratification and explaining federalism.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments with shared and separate powers.

Gettysburg Address

Lincoln’s 1863 speech emphasizing national unity and democracy during the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

1943 order (January 1, 1863) declaring enslaved people in Confederate states free; did not free slaves in border states.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

MLK Jr.’s 1963 open letter defending civil disobedience and nonviolent protest for civil rights.

Supreme Court

Highest federal court; interprets laws, has nine justices, and holds lifetime appointments.

Executive Branch

The President and federal agencies; enforces laws, acts as commander in chief, negotiates treaties, appoints cabinet heads.

Legislative Branch

Congress (House and Senate); makes laws, taxes, declares wars, regulates commerce.

Electoral College

Indirect system to elect the president; electors appointed by states; majority 270 votes typically needed.

Georgia Constitution

Georgia’s state constitution; longer, more detailed, with state-specific provisions (balanced budget, line-item veto, local government rules).

U.S. Constitution vs. Georgia Constitution

GA is longer and more detailed; GA requires amendment by voter approval and includes balanced-budget and local-government provisions not in the U.S. Constitution.

Georgia General Assembly (legislative process)

Georgia’s bicameral lawmaking body (House and Senate) with its own procedures for enacting laws.

County government

Local government unit below the state level; handles local services and governance.

City government

Municipal local government providing services within a city.

U.S. Foreign Policy

A country’s strategy in dealing with other nations, including diplomacy, trade, and security.

Civic Engagement

Active involvement in community and governmental affairs, such as voting, volunteering, and advocacy.

DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)

Policies aimed at promoting diverse representation, fair treatment, and inclusive workplaces.

Executive Orders (DEI context)

Presidential directives used to regulate federal agencies or policy areas, sometimes affecting DEI programs.

Elite Theory

Idea that a small group of elites control power in a republic.

Pluralist Theory

Idea that multiple interest groups compete and influence government.

Bureaucratist Theory

Theory that government employees (bureaucracy) hold substantial power.

Deep State

Conspiracy notion that a hidden network of officials governs without public oversight.

Unitary Executive Theory

Idea that the President has broad, centralized control over the entire government.

Cabinet

Group of department heads and Vice President who advise the President and oversee federal agencies.

Great Compromise

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

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population (favored large states).

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state (favored small states).

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Supporters who favored ratification vs. opponents who feared a strong central government.

Ratification process

Constitutional process requiring approval by nine of thirteen states and eventual Bill of Rights adoption; NH’s ratification gave momentum.

Amendments to know for test

Bill of Rights (1-10), plus amendments 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 27.

Bill of Rights (ratification)

First ten amendments; ratified in 1791 to protect individual liberties.

Amendment process

Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress; ratification by three-fourths of states.

Fourteenth Amendment

Citizenship and equal protection under the law; restricts states from denying rights.

Fifteenth Amendment

Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land; federal law overrides conflicting state law.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8.

Reserved powers (Tenth Amendment)

Powers not delegated to the federal government belong to the states.

Concurrent powers

Powers exercised by both federal and state governments (e.g., taxation, borrowing, creating courts).

Elastic/Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to pass laws necessary to exercise its enumerated powers.

Sanctuary Cities

Cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; discussed as a case study of federalism tensions.

Marble Cake Federalism

Metaphor describing intertwined state and national government roles in policy.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring the American colonies free from Britain; drafted by a Committee of Five (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert R. Livingston) and linked to the Lee Resolution proving right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Committee of Five

Group appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence: Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Sherman, Livingston.

Lee Resolution

Resolution passed July 2, 1776 declaring the colonies independent from Britain.

Articles of Confederation

First framework for U.S. government (1777 ratified 1781); created a weak central government with a unicameral legislature and equal state representation.

Weak central government

Characteristic of the Articles of Confederation; central authority lacked power to tax or enforce laws.

U.S. Constitution

Written framework establishing a federal system with three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and a stronger national government; ratified in 1789.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the Constitution; protect individual liberties and restrict federal power.

Federalist Papers

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay arguing for ratification and explaining federalism.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments with shared and separate powers.

Gettysburg Address

Lincoln’s 1863 speech emphasizing national unity and democracy during the Civil War.

Emancipation Proclamation

1943 order (January 1, 1863) declaring enslaved people in Confederate states free; did not free slaves in border states.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

MLK Jr.’s 1963 open letter defending civil disobedience and nonviolent protest for civil rights.

Supreme Court

Highest federal court; interprets laws, has nine justices, and holds lifetime appointments.

Executive Branch

The President and federal agencies; enforces laws, acts as commander in chief, negotiates treaties, appoints cabinet heads.

Legislative Branch

Congress (House and Senate); makes laws, taxes, declares wars, regulates commerce.

Electoral College

Indirect system to elect the president; electors appointed by states; majority 270 votes typically needed.

Georgia Constitution

Georgia’s state constitution; longer, more detailed, with state-specific provisions (balanced budget, line-item veto, local government rules).

U.S. Constitution vs. Georgia Constitution

GA is longer and more detailed; GA requires amendment by voter approval and includes balanced-budget and local-government provisions not in the U.S. Constitution.

Georgia General Assembly (legislative process)

Georgia’s bicameral lawmaking body (House and Senate) with its own procedures for enacting laws.

County government

Local government unit below the state level; handles local services and governance.

City government

Municipal local government providing services within a city.

U.S. Foreign Policy

A country’s strategy in dealing with other nations, including diplomacy, trade, and security.

Civic Engagement

Active involvement in community and governmental affairs, such as voting, volunteering, and advocacy.

DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)

Policies aimed at promoting diverse representation, fair treatment, and inclusive workplaces.

Executive Orders (DEI context)

Presidential directives used to regulate federal agencies or policy areas, sometimes affecting DEI programs.

Elite Theory

Idea that a small group of elites control power in a republic.

Pluralist Theory

Idea that multiple interest groups compete and influence government.

Bureaucratist Theory

Theory that government employees (bureaucracy) hold substantial power.

Deep State

Conspiracy notion that a hidden network of officials governs without public oversight.

Unitary Executive Theory

Idea that the President has broad, centralized control over the entire government.

Cabinet

Group of department heads and Vice President who advise the President and oversee federal agencies.

Great Compromise

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

Virginia Plan

Proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population (favored large states).

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state (favored small states).

Three-Fifths Compromise

Compromise counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Supporters who favored ratification vs. opponents who feared a strong central government.

Ratification process

Constitutional process requiring approval by nine of thirteen states and eventual Bill of Rights adoption; NH’s ratification gave momentum.

Amendments to know for test

Bill of Rights (1-10), plus amendments 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 27.

Bill of Rights (ratification)

First ten amendments; ratified in 1791 to protect individual liberties.

Amendment process

Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress; ratification by three-fourths of states.

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

Fourteenth Amendment

Citizenship and equal protection under the law; restricts states from denying rights.

Fifteenth Amendment

Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

Nineteenth Amendment

Granted women the right to vote (women's suffrage).

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits the President to two terms.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Lowered the national voting age to 18.

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Prevents laws affecting Congressional salary from taking effect until after the next election of Representatives.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land; federal law overrides conflicting state law.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8.