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Amendment

A formal change or addition to a legal document, such as the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who favored stronger state governments and less federal power.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, which created a weak central government.

Bicameral

A legislative body that has two separate chambers or houses.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee individual liberties.

Block Grants

Federal funds provided to states for broad purposes with fewer restrictions.

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided to states for specific purposes with strict regulations.

Checks and balances

A system that ensures no one branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Concurrent powers

Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments.

Confederation

A union of sovereign states that delegate certain powers to a central authority.

Constitutionalism

The principle that government authority is derived from and limited by a constitution.

Continental Congress

A convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that governed during the American Revolution.

Decentralization

The distribution of authority from a central government to regional or local governments.

Delegated powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Democracy

A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives.

Elastic clause

A provision in the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Elitism

The belief that a select group of people holds a disproportionate amount of power in a society.

Expressed powers

Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Factions

Groups of individuals with a common interest that may conflict with the rights of others or the interests of the whole community.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Federalist papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a strong national government.

Fiscal federalism

The financial relationship between different levels of government, particularly regarding revenue and expenditure.

Fourteenth amendment

An amendment that grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

Great compromise

An agreement that established a bicameral legislature, balancing the needs of both large and small states.

Hatch act

A federal law that restricts political activities of government employees.

Hyperpluralism

A theory that suggests that too many groups are trying to influence policy, leading to gridlock and ineffectiveness.

Incorporation Doctrine

The legal concept that the Bill of Rights applies to state governments through the Fourteenth Amendment.

John Locke

An Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas on natural rights and government influenced the founding of the United States.

Judicial review

The power of courts to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions.

Limited government

A political system in which the powers of government are restricted by law.

Necessary and proper clause

A clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary for executing its powers.

New Jersey plan

A proposal for the structure of the U.S. government that favored small states by maintaining equal representation.

Patronage

The practice of giving government jobs and appointments to political supporters.

Pendleton act

A law that established a merit-based system for federal employment, reducing patronage.

Pluralism

A theory that emphasizes the role of diverse and competing interest groups in shaping policy.

Popular sovereignty

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

Project grants

Federal funds provided for specific projects, often with competitive applications.

Republic

A form of government in which representatives are elected to make decisions on behalf of the people.

Reserved powers

Powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government and are reserved for the states.

Revenue sharing

A policy that distributes a portion of federal tax revenues to state and local governments.

Separation of powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

Shays rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by farmers protesting economic injustices and lack of government response.

Social contract theory

The idea that individuals consent to form a government to protect their rights and welfare.

States’ rights

The rights and powers held by individual states rather than by the federal government.

Supremacy clause

A clause in the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.