Unit 1 - Foundations of American Democracy

Solely Vocab

Limited Government

A government's power cannot be absolute; ensured by separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and republicanism

Natural Rights

All people have certain rights that cannot be taken away; life, liberty, property

Popular Sovereignty

All government power comes from the consent of its people

Republicanism

The democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government debates and decisions by their representatives

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among the people in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain social order

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which all eligible citizens vote on representatives to make public policy for them

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society

Pluralist Democracy

Emphasizes group-based activism by diverse nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making

Elite Democracy

Emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society

Declaration of Independence

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, restates the philosophy of natural rights and provides a foundation for popular sovereignty

U.S. Constitution

An example of a social contract and establishes a system of limited government; provides the blueprint for a unique form of democratic government in the United States

Federalist 10

Focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the "mischiefs of faction," delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government

Brutus 1

Adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small, decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government

Articles of Confederation

First framework of the U.S. government, created a weak national government with most power held by states

Constitutional Convention

A meeting of delegates from the several states in 1787 intended to revise the Articles of Convention and ultimately drafted the United States Constitution

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted three-fifths of the slave population for purposes of taxation and representation

Electoral College

System for electing the president indirectly through electors from each state

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers

Supremacy Clause

Establishes the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties as the supreme law of the land

Exclusive Powers

Powers granted to the federal government alone

Reserved Powers

Powers retained by the state

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both federal and state governments

Federalism

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

Revenue Sharing

Federal funding given to states with few or no restrictions on its use

Block Grants

Federal grants given to states for a general purpose with few restrictions

Categorical Grants

Federal grants given to states for a specific purpose with many restrictions