American National Government Midterm

University of Arkansas PLSC 20003 Not full list of definitions

Government

institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled

Politics

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments

Political Efficacy

the ability to influence government and politics

Democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

Constitutional Government

a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

Representative Democracy (Republic)

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making

Direct Democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

Limited Government

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Political Equality

the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"

Popular Sovereignty

a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

Majority Rule, Minority Rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

Articles of Confederation

America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789

Confederation

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

Virginia Plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

New Jersey Plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

Great Compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population

Three-fifths Compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person

Bicameral

having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral

Checks and Balances

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

Bill of Rights

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

Separation of Powers

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

Federalism

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments

Expressed Powers

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II)

Elastic Clause

The concluding paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the "necessary and proper clause"), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers.

Judicial Review

the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supremacy Clause

Article 6 of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

Federalists

those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

Antifederalists

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

Federalist Papers

a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution

Tyrany

oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

Amendment

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution

Unitary System

a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government

Implied Powers

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically expressed but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

Necessary and Proper Clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers

Reserved Powers

powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states

Police Power

power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens

Privileges and Immunities Clause

provision, from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

Dual Federalism

the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments

Commerce Clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States and with the Indian tribes"; this clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy

States' Rights

the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War

Grants-in-aid

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government

Unfunded Mandates

regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government

Devolution

a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments

Block Grants

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent

New Federalism

attempts by presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants

New Jersey Plan

Which plan was responsible for the creation of the Senate?

Virginia Plan

Which plan gave representation based on population?

Virginia Plan

Which Plan gave the House of Representatives?

New Jersey Plan

Which plan gave equal representation based on each state?

Articles of Confederation

What limited the powers of the national government?

Declaration of Independence

What created a set of principles to forge national unity?

Declaration of Independence

What provided a statement of American freedom from British rule?

Articles of Confederation

What allowed states to retain sovereignty?

2. Shay's Rebellion

Daniel Shay’s led a mob of debt-ridden farmers in an effort to prevent foreclosures on a land. Militia organized by the state governor and funded by a group of prominent merchants dispersed the mob.

3. Constitutional Convention

Place the following events in chronological order: constitutional convention, Annapolis convention, and Shay's Rebellion

1. Stamp Act

direct tax imposed by Parliament on all printed materials in American colonies to help for British troops and war debt from the French and Indian War

2. Boston Tea Party

Royal governor of Massachusetts refused to allow 3 shiploads of unsold tea to leave the harbor so colonists dressed like Native Americans and threw all 342 chests of tea. Parliament closed port in Boston

3. Declaration of Independence

Foundational document of the US established on July 4, 1776 written by Thomas Jefferson

4. Articles of Confederation

Place the following events in chronological order that took place during the American Revolution: Declaration of independence, Boston Tea Party, Articles of Confederation, and the Stamp Act

No

Did the articles of confederation call for an executive branch?

Constitution

What included a bicameral legislature?

Constitution

What allowed only the national government to coin money?

Articles of Confederation

What included a unicameral legislature?

Constitution

What included provisions for an executive office?

Articles of Confederation

What called for the national government to depend on the states to collect taxes?

Led by Samuel Adams and other radicals. It goaded the British government to take actions that would alienate and radicalize American colonists. It also led to the continental congress

What was the Boston Tea Party and what did it do?

Ease tensions with the British, end the East India Company's monopoly on the tea trade, or reverse the tea act

What did the Boston tea party NOT do?

U.S. Government could not enforce treaties, and had no power to intervene when radical factions began influencing some state governments

What were shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation?

The framers intended for the senate to be less responsive to the demands of the people

What were the constitutions framers intentions of the senate's role?

Antifederalists

Who feared that the elite would hold the most power?

Antifederalists

Who supported retention of power by state governments?

Federalists

Who favored a strong national government?

Federalists

Who feared "excessive democracy"

6 year terms, guarding against "excessive democracy"

The senate has what tasks?

To create revenue bills

What is a task of the House of Reps?

Their approval to enact laws

The house of reps and senate have what task together?

10th Amendment

What reserves certain rights for the states or people?

13th Amendment

What abolished slavery?

14th Amendment

defines citizenship and applied due process to the states

1st Amendment

protects freedom of speech, religion, and press

Passage in the House and Senate by 2/3 vote, followed by ratification by conventions called for the purpose in 3/4 of the states

In which ways does Article 5 allow the constitution to be amended?

Article 2

Which Article expresses the power to negotiate treaties?

Article 2

Which Article created the executive branch?

2 years

What is the term length of a member of the House of Representatives?

435

There are how many members of the US House of Representatives?

Marbury v. Madison

The US Supreme Court exercised its power of Judicial Review for the 1st time in the case of:

McCulloch v. Maryland

The US Congress implied power and created a national bank based upon the Necessary and Proper Clause in this important US Supreme Court case:

2/3

A US Treaty is negotiated by the President and requires a _ vote in the US Senate to be ratified and take effect

Concurrent power

A power that is exercised by both the national and state governments is called a _

6 years

What is the term length of a member of the US Senate?

It prevents states from discriminated against nonresidents

What is the main purpose behind the privileges and immunities clause?

Virginia Plan

The _ of the Philadelphia Convention proposed a system of representation in the national legislature that was based upon the population of each state or the proportion of each state's revenue contribution or both

Representation would be equal for each state

What did the New Jersey plan propose for Congress?

Designed to select the U.S. President

The electoral college is -

Executive, legislative, and judicial

The 3 branches of gov created by the Constitution are:

Prevent the new government from abusing its power

The framers employed the separation of powers and federalism in order to?

2/3 and 3/4

A vote by both houses of Congress and a ratification vote of _ of the states are required to amend the U.S. Constitution

Federal System

can best be defined as a system of gov in which power is divided between a national gov and lower levels of gov

10th Amendment

The purpose of the _ is to limit the powers of the central government by establishing reserved powers for states and individuals

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Which clause in the U.S. Constitution has been central in debates over same-sex marriage?