APUSGOPO - Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy - The Constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause

To make all laws which shall be necessary for carrying into execution the foregoing powers as outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Popular sovereignty

Notion that ultimate authority in a country rest with the people

Articles of Confederation

The original document of America creating a government too weak to rule effectively

Shay's Rebellion

Event where farmers attempted to overthrow the government due to unjust laws and state seizures of farms. Showed the weakness of the Articles of Confederation because the federal government did not have a strong enough army to put down this event.

Virginia Plan

"Large State Plan" creating a bicameral legislature that favored more populous states

New Jersey Plan

"Small State Plan" that created one house legislature where each state had one vote

Great Compromise

Final decision under the Constitution that made a two house Congress with one house based on population from the states and the other house based on equality, three branches

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement where slaves counted as 3/5s a person towards representation in the House of Representatives and taxation

Separation of Powers

Principle where power is divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Checks and balances

Structure where each of the three branches has some oversight and control over each other

Federal System

System in which national and state governments share power. There must be protections for region/state power in this system.

Enumerated Powers

Powers of the government specifically granted to it in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers the federal government receives from the "Necessary and Proper Clause"

Federalist

Supporter of the Constitution who favored a strong national government

Direct Democracy

System of government where members meet, discuss, and vote on policy without relying on representatives. New England Town meetings are an example of this.

Representative (Indirect) Democracy

System of government where citizens vote for representatives to work on their behalf and make policy decisions.

Judicial Review

Ability of the Judicial Branch to interpret what laws mean and their Constitutionality

Anti-Federalists

Those who opposed a strong national government and wanted to reject the Constitution

Federalist 51

This document stated the concept of "checks and balances" and "separation of powers."

Bicameral

A two house legislature or Congress

Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution that detail the protections of our personal liberties

Ex post facto law

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed. This type of law is not allowed as stated in Article I, Section 9.

Federalist Papers

collection of 85 articles/essays promoting the ratification of the US Constitution

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed

Politics

The process of determining the leaders we select and the policies they pursue. This exists to determines who governs and to what ends.

Concurrent powers

held by both Congress & the states

Government

The institutions in which public policies are made for a society.

Power

The ability to influence or outright control the behavior of people

Authority

The right to use power

Legitimacy

The belief that a rule, leader, or institution has the right to govern.

Decentralized Power

Power is dispersed among institutions and levels of government so that no one body or group has too much influence over policy making.

Pluralism

The policy making process is open to participation by many interest groups, with no single group dominating. Compromise and public interest prevails in this theory of democracy.

Elite and Class Theory (Elitism)

The upper-class elite (primarily the wealthy) holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization.

Limited Government

The idea that natural rights are superior to governments and governments should have restrictions on its power as not to trample on people's liberties.

Reserved Powers

Powers given exclusively to the states; powers established by the 10th Amendment.

Unitary Government

A type of government where regional/state governments are subservient to the national government. All power rests in the central (national) government.

Confederal Government

A type of government where the central (national) government is subservient to the regional/state governments. Power rests with the regions/states and must grant power to the central (national) government.

Federalist 10

This document stated that a large republic would actually help protect liberties and control factions.

John Locke

a philosopher that believed in natural rights and believed that governments must protect "life, liberty, and property."

Thomas Hobbes

a philosopher that believed humans were cruel, greedy, and selfish and if not strictly controlled they would fight, rob, and oppress one another.

Republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

Brutus 1 - Anti-federalists

Believed 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.

Electoral College

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

Declaration of Independence

Social contract, natural rights, popular sovereignty, document that breaks from England

Natural Rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Hyperpluralism

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

an agreement during the Constitutional Convention protecting slave holders; denied Congress the power to tax the export of goods from any State, and, for 20 years, the power to act on the slave trade

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

U.S. Constitution

is an example of a social contract and establishes a system of limited government. The Constitution provides the blueprint for a unique form of democratic government in the United States

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

One vote for each State, regardless of size. Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes or duties. Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce. No executive to enforce acts of Congress. No national court system. Amendment only with consent of all States. A 9/13 majority required to pass laws. Articles only a "firm league of friendship."

Ratification

Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a constitution, constitutional amendment, or treaty

Article V of the Constitution

describes the process for amending the Constitution

The amendment process for the Constitution

Requires a 2/3 vote in Congress or in a Constitutional Convention to propose, and a 3/4 vote by the states to be ratified

Article VI of the Constitution

"The Constitution, and the Laws of the United States…shall be the Supreme Law of the Land."

Impeachment Process

1. House passes articles of impeachment by majority

2. Senate tries and 2/3 must convict

Impeachment reasons

treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors