Chapters 1-3 Test Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, Court cases, constitutional clauses, and foundational documents from Chapters 1-3.

Elite Class Theory

A theory contending that United States society is divided along class lines and that an upper-class rules regardless of America's rhetoric of equality.

Hyperpluralism

A theory of government arguing that too many influential groups are so strong that the government is unable to act, as it tends to cave into every conceivable interest and single-issue group.

Policy Gridlock

A situation that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish a policy.

John Locke

The English philosopher whose ideas were expressed in the Declaration of Independence, including the principle that government must be based on consent of the governed.

Consent of the Governed

The idea that government derives its authority from the people.

Virginia Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention based on population and favored by larger states, which contributed a bicameral legislature and a single executive branch to the Constitution.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal supported by smaller states at the Constitutional Convention giving each state one vote, which led to equal representation in the Senate.

Connecticut Compromise

The agreement that settled the dispute between large states and small states at the Constitutional Convention over representation in Congress.

National Government Powers (Examples)

Four actions the national government can do: declare/end war (control military), form alliances, manage trade, and settle legal disputes.

National Government Prohibitions

Four things the national government cannot do: suspend habeas corpus, issue bills of attainder, pass ex post facto laws, and grant titles of nobility.

Concurrent Powers

Four shared powers of the national and state governments: regulate intrastate commerce, borrowing money, provide for public safety, and protect the rights of the citizens.

State Prohibitions in the Constitution

Four actions prohibited to states in Article 1, Section 10: enter foreign treaties/alliances, coin money, pass ex post facto laws or bills of attainder, and grant titles of nobility or tax intrastate commerce.

Article IV

Article of the Constitution requiring states to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and civil judicial proceedings of every other state.

Formal Amendment Process

Amendments are proposed either by a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention requested by 2/3 of state legislatures, and ratified by approval of 3/4 of state legislatures or special conventions in 3/4 of states.

Unitary System

A system under which most governments in the world operate where all major power resides in the central government.

Supremacy Clause (Article VI)

Clause specifying three items as the supreme law of the land: US Constitution, federal laws/acts of Congress, and US treaties/official agreements.

10th Amendment

Amendment stating that powers not delegated to the national government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or the people.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled that the federal government was supreme over the states.

Elastic Clause

A term for the necessary and proper clause because it has been used to justify other powers that are not explicitly listed in the Constitution.

Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the federal government in Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution that are specifically listed and clearly stated.

Implied Powers

Powers not directly listed in the Constitution but understood to belong to the federal government.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Supreme Court ruling establishing federal superiority over state laws and defining commerce broadly to include navigation, granting federal authority over boat operations on interstate waterways.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court case marking the first time in over 50 years that the Court limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause.

Dual Federalism

A system of federalism where national and state governments remain separate, each having authority within its own areas with narrowly interpreted federal powers.

Cooperative Federalism

A system of federalism involving shared power, costs, and responsibilities between national and state governments, operating through federal grants and guidelines.

Grants-in-Aid

The main instrument used by the national government to influence states and localities.

Categorical Grant

A grant of money from the federal government to state and local governments for a narrow purpose defined by the federal government.

Block Grant

A grant of money where spending purposes are not narrowly defined, allowing state and local governments more discretion on spending.

Fiscal Federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants within the federal system; grants make up about 17% of federal annual spending and fund about 1/3 of state budgets.

Federal Mandate

Occurs when the federal government requires state and local governments to comply with federal rules under threat of penalty or as a condition of receiving a grant.

Factions (Federalist #10)

The primary concern the Constitution was designed to stop, with the most common and durable source being the unequal distribution of property.

Republic vs. Pure Democracy

In a pure democracy citizens directly vote on laws, whereas in a republic citizens elect representatives; a large republic controls factions by expanding size and diversity.

Brutus #1

Anti-Federalist text by Yates expressing fear that Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 and Article VI give the national government authority to eliminate state legislatures and render state laws void.

Federalist #51

Essay in which Madison argues that the legislative branch would be strongest and proposes keeping it in check by dividing Congress into two houses with different election methods and giving the President veto power.