Unit 1: Foundations and Federalism

Anti-Federalists: Members of the opposition to the new Constitution who lost the vote but forced the promises of a set of rights (Bill of Rights) to be added as amendments by the new government.

Bicameral: The “two chambers” of Congress: The House of Representatives and the Senate

Block grants: Monies given to communities and states for general programs, such as social services and development projects, gives states more control over the spending (Welfare Reform Act of 1996)

Categorical grants: Grants given to communities and states for very specific programs that require certain conditions or rules to be applied by the agencies spending the federal monies. If the federal rules are not followed, the monies can be withdrawn.

Checks and balances: The policy allowing each of the three branches of government to “check” the power of the other two branches and limit that power, if necessary, to maintain balance

Concurrent Powers: Powers that both the federal and state governments have, i.e. taxation

Conditions of Aid: what a state must do in order to receive funding from a federal grant

Cooperative federalism: when federal and state governments work together to shape, fund, and enforce policy, replaced dual federalism

Delegated (enumerated powers): Those powers given to the federal government in the constitution

Democracy: A form of government where the rule is established by all citizens through votes

Devolution: The late 20th-century movement to reduce the influence of the federal government and other governments for a return to a simpler form of governmental controls, return power to state and local governments

Dual federalism: when federal and state governments are relatively equal and separate in areas of authority, replaced in the late 19th and 20th centuries by cooperative federalism

Elastic Clause: congress shall make all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its powers, has been interpreted broadly and used to increase the powers of Congress over the states, congress’ implied powers are derived from the elastic clause

Elite theory of government: The general belief that governments will come to be ruled by those with elite status, usually determined by wealth, educational levels, or other methods

Federalism: The distribution of governmental power between federal, state, and local groups.

Federalist: One who supported the new Constitution and the ultimate name of the party in power under Washington, Adams, and Hamilton.

Federalist #10: Madison’s essay on “factions” or the influence of political parties and interest groups is used today to discuss access and control

Federalist #51: Madison’s essay on the proper structure of power within the Constitution is used to understand the balance of powers

Federalist Papers: A book of essays from the Federalists that explain the hows and the whys of the federal system of the Constitution.

Full Faith and Credit Clause: Constitutional clause that requires that states within the United States respect the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state." i.e. Marriages and Drivers’ licenses

Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan): The plan that created the bicameral legislature - The number of Congressmen each state has is determined by population after the Census, each state has 2 Senators

Hyper-pluralist theory: The general contention that there are too many strong interest groups that influence government, so many groups with so many interests that it stymies government's ability to act and leads to contradictory or confusing legislation and runaway spending

Limited Government: The notion that government can only use certain powers, and these powers must be given by the people

Mandate: a federal order that directs state government to follow federal laws, can be funded or unfunded

Natural rights: John Locke’s idea that all societies are given basic rights by God, and that these cannot be removed by governments. This was included in Jefferson’s reasoning for the Declaration of Independence

New Jersey Plan: the smaller states’ counter to the Virginia Plan. Argued for a unicameral (one chamber) Congress with equal representation for all states

Participatory Theory: Citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policies

Pluralist Theory: Various interest groups bargain and compromise to influence public policy, public interest prevails

Representative Democracy (Republic): a system of government where the people vote for representatives to make political decisions

Reserved Powers: powers reserved for the state governments under the 10th amendment – all powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people

Separation of powers: The division of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Supremacy Clause: Supreme law of the land is the constitution and the laws of the federal government

Three-Fifths Compromise: Compromise at the constitutional convention that stated that each slave was to be counted at 3/5 of a free person

Virginia Plan (Madison Plan): Foundation for the American constitution and the three branches of government, proposed that representation in the legislature should be based on the population of each state