Federal Government

what is government

how a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplish goals and provide benefits to the people while promoting order and general wellfare

politics

process of gaining and excersising control within a government for the purpose of setting and achieving goals espically related to resource division

democracy

political power controlled by the people

representative democracy

citizens do not directly partake in government instead they elect a represenititve

direct democracy

citizens directly participate in governemnt dicisions like during town meetings.

monarchy

a single ruler that holds political power mixed with another form of governemnt

totalitarism

a single leader or small group of elites that controls citizens

captialism

people are in charge of their property and goods and can profit

socialism

governemnt owns utilities imports and telecommunication

oligarchy

only members in certain political parties can partake in government

rivalrous goods

another being is unable to use this good if the good has been used by someone else

excludable goods

goods that can be prevented from being used if someone isnt paying or demanding the good

collective

when a group recieves benefit even if they put no work towards the change

free rider

single person who benefits from work of others

private goods

provided by private businesses that earn profit for selling of goods.

public goods

goods and services avaliable to all without cost

toll goods

goods avaliable to many to use but only through paying for the good

common goods

goods used free of charge but with a limited supply

equalitarism

equal treatment for all including distruction of socioeconomic inequalities

elite theory

a group of elite individuals that are in charge of governemnt and others have no say

pluralist theory

political power rests in competiting intrest groups that share influence

partisanship

tendency to identify a support a single political party

ideology

established beliefs and ideals that shape a political party

latent preferences

beliefs not deeply held and dont remain the same over time

intense preferences

based on strong feelings regarding an issue that develops over time

traditional liberalism

philosophy that focuses on individual and minimizes governemnt intervention

individualism

view that the governemnt should be strictly utilitarian and have no intervention with private activities at all

social contract theory

John Locke’s idea that people should sacrifice a small part of freedom in exchange for protection from the government

the american revolution

began when a group of colonist felt the king was depriving them of their rights (no representation)

Stamp Act (1767)

required all paper goods to have revenue stamps

Townshend Act (1767)

taxes on everyday items like tea and glass

Boston Massacre (1770)

after a colonist revolt, british troops killed numerious colonist

Boston Tea Party (1773)

colonist dumped tea into the harbor to protest the taxes

coercive acts (1774)

British parliment intended to punish the colonist by removing their right to self govern

first continental congress

colonist formed alliance between states that developed a declaration of rights and grievences after the coercive acts

second congressional congress (1775)

drafted a decloration of causes that explains rebellian and declaired independence (DOI)

articles of confederation

formed new basis of governemnt that required unamious vote from all 13 states.

republic

the people held power and elected representatives to govern according to the rule of law

confederation

independent and self governing states formed a union for the purpose of acting together in certain aspects like a national defense

confederational congress

had the authority to exchange ambassadors, make treaties, coin currency, settle disputes and declaire war but could not tax

confederation failure

no way of enforcing taxes, currency was not accepted in all states becasue they made their own, lacked ability to tarrif other nations, could not build a strong enough defense to protect the states.

shay’s rebellian

in debt farmers demanded relief leading to the revisions of the articles of confederation

New Jersey Plan

smaller states wanted legislation to have an equal number of votes (unicameral)

Virginia Plan

larger states that wanted legislation votes to be based on population (Bicameral)

the great compromise

split the legislative system into two groups with the senate and congress that allows for equal votes and votes based on population

3/5th compromise

compromise that slave holding states could count 3/5ths of slaves as part of the population to increase number of votes granted to them

seperation of powers

division of national government to seperate branches with different responsibilities

checks and balances

gives government branches the power to ristrict each other and prevent one branch from gaining power over the others

enumerated powers

explicit powers granted only to federal governemnt like declairing war

reserved powers

powers not explicitly given to the national government are intended to the states

supremacy clause

the rule that the law of the federal government is above all others

ratification of constitution

required 9/13 approvals to become solidified, but disatisfaction led to the Bill of Rights

federalist

people in favor of having a stronger federal government

anti federalist

people who feared having a strong central governemnt and demanded a Bill of Rights be added to the constitution

federalist papers 10

james madisons solution to the majority vs the minority being factions which are ievitable groups

ratification

vagueness and lack of clarity allowed for change

anti federalist feared central government

federalist favored federal government

fugitive state law

all persons held to service of labor in state were to be returned

Pennsylvania society for abolition of slavery (1790)

petition to end slavery sent to congress because it contradicted the constitution

george washingtons will (1799)

wanted to grant his slaves freedom and provide them with financial aid and education

eulogy for washinton (1799)

richard allen the founder of the african methodist episcopal church left message about slavery being a reflection on founding fathers

civil war (1861-1865)

deadliest war in US history.

solidified supremacy clause and ended debates on nullification

unitary system

power is controlled in the national government

confederal system

power is concentrated in units like the states

implied powers

elastic clause and the necessary and proper clause enabling congress to make laws necessary to fulfill congressional duties

state powers

powers reserved to the states like issuing licenses

concurrent powers

both state and federal powers like taxing and making laws 

habeas corpus

a writ that allows someone in government custody to petition their detention to a judge 

bill of attainder

a legislative action declaring someone’s guilt without trial

ex post facto law

government cannot retrial someone for the same crime after a trial has already been conducted

full faith and credit clause

states must honor all acts, records and judicial proceedings issued by other states

privileges and immunities

states cannot discriminate against others from different states

dual federalism

layer cake, state and federal government must stay in their own lanes

cooperative federalism

marble cake, rolls of federal and state governments are intertwined

pickett fence federalism

idea that the government levels have cooperation and collaboration to make a sturdy system

new federalism

transfer of power back to the states

fiscal federalism

how the federal government cooperates with states via grants like health care spendings 

competitive federalism

states are in competition with one another and causes a migrating population based on politics

coercive federalism

when the federal government gets states to do what it wants in return for something 

interstate commerce act (1887)

established federal regulation of the railroad industry

sherman antitrust act (1890)

made it illegal to monopolize and conspire in commerce

bakeshop act (1897)

New York state act that prohibited bakery workers from working more than 60 hours a week but was later declared unconstitutional 

the new deal

changed American relation with the government and offered pensions for the less fortunate 

the social security act (1935)

created lots of options for federal aid for the less fortunate

general revenue sharing

programs that distributed funds to local and state governments with minimal restrictions 

omnibus budget recirculation act (1981)

consolidation of federal grant programs related to social welfare and reformulated them giving states more discretion in using federal funds  

categorical grants

federal transfers formulated to limit discretion in use of funds like food stamps 

block grants

more flexibility over how to spend funds like the workforce investment act

creeping categorization

national government places new requirements on governments or supports block grants with categorical grants

unfunded mandates

federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without compensating them for administrative costs

immigration federalism

describes gradual movement of states into immigration policy domains

civil liberties

limitations on government power intended to protect freedoms

civil rights

guarantees government officials treat people equally and make decisions based on merit instead of personal characteristics  

free exercise clause

limits government ability to control or restrict religious practices

conscientious objectors

people who claim the right to refuse to serve in the military on the grounds of freedom

prior restraint

government cannot in advance prohibit someone from publishing something without a compelling reason

obscenity

acts or statements that are offensive under social standards

economic liberty

right to obtain use and trade tangible and intangible property for personal benefit

blue law

a law originally created to uphold a religious or moral standard like prohibition against selling alcohol on Sundays

common law right

right of the people rooted in legal tradition and past court rulings rather than the constitution

eminent domain

power of the government to take or use property for public purposes after compensating