Gov Unit 1 Vocab

Direct Democracy-

the people directly decide on politics-no representatives 

Participatory Democracy

the people participate individually and directly in practical and policies instead of through representatives

Elite democracy-

a political system in which elites acquire the power

Pluralist democracy

a system where there is more than one center of power

Natural Rights

rights that are god given and can never be taken away

Social Contract

 the government agrees to protect the rights and freedoms of the people in exchange for their obedience to the laws and regulations established by the government

Popular sovereignty

the idea that the power of a government is derived from the consent of its people and is expressed through the election of representatives

Republicanism

a form of government in which the power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.

Articles of Confederation

the written document that established the functions of the national government of the United States after it declared independence from Great Britain.

Constitutional Convention

The convention in Philadelphia, May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States. Shays's Rebellion

Shays’ Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures.

Virginia Plan

outlined a strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicia

New jersey Plan

designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress

Great Compromise

each state would get two representatives in the Senate and a variable number of representatives in the House in proportion to its population

Electoral College

the group of people (electors) chosen from each state and the district of Columbia to formally select the President and Vice President

Federalism

a system of government where power is divided between a national/central government and subunits/states.

Enumerated Powers

the powers granted to the Federal government, and specifically Congress

Reserved Powers

laws that are not specifically given to the national government and are reserved for the states

Concurrent Powers

Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments,

Separation of Powers

the idea that the three branches of government should be separate and distinct, with each having its own specific responsibilities and powers.

doctrine of Incorporation

the legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the fourteenth amendment.

Faction

A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups

federalists

The supporters of the proposed Constitution/central government

Antifederalists

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

Bill of Rights

the name given to the collection of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution

Amendment

a formal revision or addition to the US Constitution

Line-item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package

“Necessary and Proper” clause

gives Congress power to make “all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution” other federal powers

Nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the states opinion, violates the constitution.

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

state responses to the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. They nullified the Alien and Sedition Acts and claimed the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional.

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.

McCulloch v. Maryland

established the supremacy of the Constitution, the expansion of Congress' powers beyond those enumerated, and the inferior status of state laws in relation to federal laws.

United States v. Lopez

passed a law prohibiting gun possession in local school zones.

Grants-in-aid

grants to state and local governments designated for very specific programs or projects.

Categorical Grants

federal grants given to state and local governments to encourage their cooperation in implementing specific purposes and programs.

Conditions of aid

federal rules that states must follow if htey choose to recieve the federal grants

Mandates

an order from the federal government that all state and local governments must follow