Unit 1 Gov Notecards

Natural Rights

The foundation on which Locke built his philosophy, rights inherent in human being, not dependent on governments.

Popular Sovereignty

The political principal that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, who are the ultimate source of political power.

Republicanism

A government run by chosen representatives, not a king.

Social Contract

Unofficial agreement where people give up some of their absolute freedom in exchange for safety and protection from the government

Declaration of independence

The historic document adopted on July 4 1776 by which the 13 American colonies officially broke their political ties with Great Britain to form a new nation

Philadelphia convention

A historic meeting held from May to September 1787 where 55 delegates gathered to design the US constitution (constitutional convention)

Participatory democracy

Citizens have direct power in the decision making process, rather than relying solely on elected representatives to make choices for them

Pluralist Democracy

Politics is driven by interest groups

Elite Democracy

Small, wealthy, and highly educated minority controls the decision making process

Shays rebellion

An armed uprising of debt-ridden farmers in western Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. They hadn’t been paid their wartime wages and they faced heavy taxes, as well as foreclosure on their farms

Great (Connecticut) compromise

Agreement reached during the 1787 Philadelphia convention, introduced the two house system. House votes are based on population size, and senate votes are equal (2) per state.

Electoral collage

Elected officials vote for the president instead of each person.

Three fifths compromise

Each slave was worth 3/5 of a person when it came to voting in the house of representatives

Importation (slavery) compromise

An agreement made at the 1787 U.S constitutional convention. They decided that in 20 years (1808) slaves could still be imported. But there would be an allowed tax up to $10 a slave.

Separation of powers

Three different branches of government, Legislative, Executive, and Judicial all keep each other in check.

Checks and balances

System built that allows the three branches of government to limit and monitor each other

Federalism

Power is shared between a central government and smaller state governments

Exclusive (enumerated) powers

The specific responsibilities given strictly to the federal government, States have no power here.

Implied powers

Political powers given to US federal government that are not explicitly written in the Constitution but are suggested by it.

Concurrent powers

Political powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments at the same time.

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to the states that must be spent on a single, exact rule.

Block grants

Large sums of federal money given to state and local governments with very few strings attached, allowing them to spend it on any project within a broad category.