Ch. 2 - The Constitution

Agency Loss

The discrepancy between what citizens ideally would like their agents to do and how the agents actually behave.

Agency Control

The capacity to set the choices available to others.

Commerce Clause

Article 1, section 8, of the constitution that gives congress the authority to regulate commerce with other nations and among the states.

Faction

A group with shared interests who are opposed to other groups with competing interests.

James Madison defined a faction as any group with objectives contrary to the general interests of society

Gridlock

Fast-track authority

impermanent power granted by congress to the president to negotiate international trade agreements,

home rule

Allows state to enact legislation and manage its own affairs locally.

Logroll

The result of legislative vote trading. You vote for my bill ill vote for yours

Such as legislators reping an urban district may vote for an agricultural bill provided that legislatures from rural district vote for mass transit bill.

Great Compromise

Constitutional Convention (1787) decided the selection/composition of congress.

House of Reps by popular vote

Senate selected by state legislature.

HoR proportional to state’s population

Senate 2 per state.

Nationalists

Constitutional reformers led by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton who wanted to replace the Articles of confederation. More direct democracy

Necessary and Proper Clause

Article 1 section 8: grants congress authority to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” and to execute those laws.

New Jersey Plan

William paterson proposal. introduced idea of states’ rights. Each state had one vote.

Nullification

A legal doctrine that allows a state to void any federal law that could be deemed unconstitutional

Pluralism

theory describing a political system in which all significant interest freely compete one another for influence over the government’s policy decisions

Plurality

Rule in electing members of congress by which the candidate who receives the most votes win, regardless of whether plurality reaches a majority.

Popular Sovereignty

Citizens’ delegation of authority to their agents in government, ability to rescind that authority.

Shay’s Rebellion

1786 uprising that demonstrated weakness in articles of confederation, led to convention that framed the constitution.

Supremacy Clause

Clause in article 6, declares that national laws are the supreme law of the land and therefore take precedence over any laws adopted by states or localities.

“Take Care” Clause

Provision in article 2, section 3, instructing the president to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

Virginia Plan

James madison proposed at the convention, suggested that each state has a number of votes proportionate to their population,

Whistleblower Laws

encourages employees to report fraud, corruption, etc, and staying safe from punishments. A

Simple Majority

A majority of 50% plus one