misterm gov

Limited Government

Government power is restricted to protect individual rights

Natural Rights

Unalienable rights: life, liberty, property (Locke)

Popular Sovereignty

Government power comes from the people

Republicanism

Elected representatives govern for the common good

Social Contract

People give up some freedom for protection of rights

Separation of Powers

Divides power to prevent tyranny

Checks and Balances

Each branch limits the others

Declaration of Independence

Justified independence; natural rights; consent of governed

Participatory Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws

Pluralist Democracy

Interest groups influence policy

Elite Democracy

Elites dominate political decisions

Federalist No. 10

Large republic controls factions

Brutus No. 1

Opposed Constitution; feared strong federal power

Shay’s Rebellion

Showed Articles were too weak

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

No taxes, army, courts, currency, or commerce power

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Bicameral Congress: House by population, Senate equal

Electoral College

States choose electors to elect president

Three-Fifths Compromise

Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation

Slave Trade Compromise

Congress couldn’t ban slave imports until 1808

Article V

Amendment process (2/3 propose, 3/4 ratify)

Federalists

Supported Constitution and strong national government

Anti-Federalists

Opposed Constitution; feared tyranny

Bill of Rights Compromise

Added to protect liberties

Legislative Branch

Makes laws, impeaches, controls budget

Executive Branch

Enforces laws, vetoes bills

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws; judicial review

Federalist No. 51

Separation of powers protects liberty

Impeachment Process

House impeaches, Senate tries, 2/3 to convict

Federalism

Shared power between national and state governments

Enumerated Powers

Powers listed in Article I

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from Constitution

Concurrent Powers

Shared powers (tax, courts)

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by states (10th Amendment)

Categorical Grants

Federal money for specific purposes

Block Grants

Federal money for broad purposes

Mandates

Federal requirements for states

Supremacy Clause

Federal law overrides state law

Commerce Clause

Congress regulates interstate trade

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can pass needed laws

McCulloch v. Maryland

Implied powers upheld; states can’t tax federal gov

United States v. Lopez

Limits Congress’s commerce power

First Amendment

Speech, religion, press, assembly

Second Amendment

Right to bear arms

Fourth Amendment

No unreasonable searches

Fifth Amendment

Due process; no self-incrimination

Sixth Amendment

Right to speedy trial

Eighth Amendment

No cruel punishment

Tenth Amendment

Powers reserved to states

Civil Liberties

Protections from government interference

Establishment Clause

No government-established religion

Free Exercise Clause

Freedom to practice religion

Engel v. Vitale

School prayer unconstitutional

Wisconsin v. Yoder

Religious freedom over schooling laws

Tinker v. Des Moines

Students have free speech rights

Schenck v. United States

Speech limited if clear danger

New York Times v. United States

No prior restraint

District of Columbia v. Heller

Individual gun ownership protected

McDonald v. Chicago

Second Amendment applies to states

Selective Incorporation

Bill of Rights applied to states via 14th

Miranda v. Arizona

Right to remain silent

Gideon v. Wainwright

Right to an attorney

Mapp v. Ohio

Exclusionary rule applies to states

Griswold v. Connecticut

Right to privacy

Roe v. Wade

Abortion protected (overturned)

Dobbs v. Jackson

Abortion returned to states

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Ended segregation and job discrimination

Title IX

Gender equality in education

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Banned literacy tests

Brown v. Board of Education

School segregation unconstitutional

Affirmative Action

Policies addressing inequality

Students for Fair Admissions

Race-based admissions unconstitutional

Individualism

Self-reliance

Equality of Opportunity

Equal chance to compete