govt 2305

government

the collection of public institutions in a nation that establish and enforce the rules by which the members of that nation must live

anarchy

a state of lawlessness and discord in the political system caused by lack of government

social contract

from the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an agreement people make with one another to form a government and abide by its rules and laws, and in return, the government promises to protect the people's rights and welfare and promote their best interest

authority

the ability of public institutions and the officials within them to make laws independent of the power to execute them

democracy

form of government in which the people, either directly or through elected representatives, hold power and authority. The word democracy is derived from the Greek demos kratos, meaning "rule by the people."

oligarchy

a form of government in which a small exclusive class, which may or may not attempt to rule on behalf of the people as a whole, holds supreme power

theocracy

a form of government in which a particular religion or faith plays a dominant role in the government

monarchy

a form of government in which one person, usually a member of a royal family or a royal designate, exercises supreme authority

authoritarian

a form of government in which one political party, group, or person maintains such complete control over the nation that it may refuse to recognize and may even suppress all other political parties and interests

power

the ability to get individuals to do something that they may not otherwise do

legitimacy

the extent to which the people afford the government the authority and right to exercise power

politics

the way in which the institutions of government are organized to make laws, rules, and policies, and how these institutions are influenced. Harold Lasswell.

natural law

according to John Locke, the most fundamental type of law, which supersedes any law that is made by government. Citizens are born with certain natural rights (including life, liberty, and property) that derive from this law and that government cannot take away

popular sovereignty

the idea that the ultimate source of power in the nation is held by the people

representative democracy

a form of government designed by the U.S. Constitution whereby free, open, and regular elections are held to allow voters to choose those who govern on their behalf; also referred to as indirect democracy or a republican form of government

direct democracy

a system of government in which all citizens participate in making policies, rules, and governing decisions

majorities

more than 50%

pluralities

the leading vote getters, whether or not they constitute absolute majorities

political culture

the values and beliefs about government, its purpose, and its operations and institutions that are widely held among citizens in a society; it defines the essence of how a society thinks politically and is transmitted from one generation to the next.

majority rule

the notion that the will of the majority should guide decisions made by American government

limited government

the value that promotes the idea that government power should be limited/ restricted as much as possible

individualism

the value that individuals are primarily responsible for their own lot in life and that promotes and rewards individuals' initiative and responsibility. This value underlies America's reliance on a capitalist economy and free market system.

Declaration of Independence

formal document listing the colonists' grievances and articulating the colonists' intention to seek independence; formally adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson.

Articles of Confederation

the document creating a "league of friendship" governing the 13 states during and immediately after the war for independence; hampered by limited power the document vested in the legislature to collect revenue or regulate commerce, the Articles eventually proved unworkable for the new nation. Adopted 1777, ratified 1781.

Shay's Rebellion

armed uprising by debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers frustrated with the state government. 1786-87.

Constitutional convention

meeting of delegates from 12 states in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787, at which was drafted an entirely new system of government

Virginia Plan

a proposal known also as "the large states' plan" that empowered 3 separate branches of government including a legislature with membership proportional to population

New Jersey Plan

A framework for the Constitution proposed by a group of small states. Its key points were a one-house legislature with one vote for each state, a Congress with the ability to raise revenue, and a Supreme Court with members appointed for life.

Great Compromise

1787; This compromise was between the large and small states of the colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of size, would have 2 senators. All tax bills and revenues would originate in the House. This compromise combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their problems.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes (negated by the 13th amendment)

separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

enumerated powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Anti-federalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

pluralist theory

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

amendments

Official changes, corrections, or additions to the Constitution laid out in Article V.

Bill of Rights

Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the Constitution, they did ensure that the Bill of Rights would be created to protect individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. The Bill of Rights, drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.

loose construction

A way of interpreting the Constitution which holds that the words in the Constitution can be stretched or expanded upon. This method of interpreting the Constitution would usually lead to an expansion of both federal government power and individual rights.

strict construction

way of interpreting the Constitution that allows the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take

federalism

A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments

sovereignty

Government free from external control.

confederation

A form of an international organization that brings several autonomous states together for a common purpose.

unitary system of government

Government where the central/national government has all authority and gives state/local governments some duties to carry out

reserved powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments

necessary and proper clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Martin v. Hunters Lesse

1816 - This case upheld the right of the Supreme Court to review the decisions of state courts.

preemption

A concept derived from the Constitution's supremacy clause that allows the national government to override or preempt state or local actions in certain areas.

full faith and credit clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

privileges and immunities clause

A clause in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution according citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.

national supremacy doctrine

Chief Justice John Marshall's interpretation of federalism as holding that states have extremely limited sovereign authority, whereas Congress is supreme within its own sphere of constitutional authority

McCulloch v. Maryland

1819, Chief Justice John Marshall limits of the US Constition and of the authority of the federal and state governments. one side was opposed to establishment of a national bank and challenged the authority of federal govt to establish one. supreme court ruled that power of federal govt was supreme that of the states and the states couldn't interfere

Gibbons v. Ogden

1824- (JMon) interstate commerce, In this Marshall Court case, the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a state monopoly and reaffirmed Congress' power to oversee commerce between states. Of all the cases that have interpreted the scope of congressional power under the commerce clause, none has been more important than this "steamboat case." The case established a basic precedent because it paved the way for later federal regulation of transportation, communication, buying and selling, and manufacturing. Today, little economic activity remains outside the regulatory power of Congress.

dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

layer cake federalism

federalism characterized by a national government exercising its power independently from state governments.

marble cake federalism

the theory that all levels of government can work together to solve common problems. Also know as cooperative federalism.

cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

grants-in-aid

Money that is distributed to lower-level governments with the purpose of funding special projects

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

South Dakota v. Dole

This 1987 Supreme Court case held that Congress is allowed to attach "strings" (conditions of aid) to money given to states (raise drinking age to 21 to get highway funds). Conditions of aid are a major tool of fiscal federalism.

devolution

An effort to shirft responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size &activites of the fed. govt; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local govts

U.S. v. Lopez

1995, the court held that congress had exceeded its powers by prohibiting guns in a school zone.