Natural Rights
the right to life liberty and property, which government cannot take away.
Social contract
people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure a functioning society.
Popular Sovereignty
the idea that the government's right to rule comes from the people
Republicanism
a system in which the government's authority comes from the people through their representatives.
Participatory democracy
the theory that widespread political participation is essential for a democratic government.
Pluralist Theory
a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policy-making process.
Elitist Theory
the theory of democracy that elites have a disproportionate amount of say in the policy-making process.
Articles of Confederation
a document that created a union of states in which the states were declared at a higher power, not the government.
Shays rebellion
an uprising against the government of massacheutes regarding high taxes and economic conditions in 1786 and 1787.
Constitutional Conventon
a meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the articles of confederation.
Virginia Plan
3 branch government, where more populated states would have more representation in government
New jersey
Doesn’t have 3 branches, equal representation for all states.
Great Compromise
It drew an agreement plan between the new jersey plan and the Virginia plan; it settled the issues for the state and made the house of representatives based on the states population and the senate based on equal representation.
Bicameral
two house legistaltre
three-fifthes compromise
an agreement that was reached by delegates at the constitutional convention that a slave would be counted as 3/5ths of a person in counting for a states population
Compromise of importation
slave trade can’t be banned for the first 10 years after the ratification of the constitution.
Separation of powers
a design of government where the power is spread evenly across 3 branches to make sure no branch has too much power.
Enumerated powers
authority specifically granted to a branch of government in the constitution
Necessary and Proper or elastic clause****
article 1 section 8, grants congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
Implied powers
the authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers, powers that are not explicitly stated in the constitution.
Supremacy clause
declares that the constitution and and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land.
Federalists
supporters of the proposed constitution, who wanted a strong national government.
Anti-Federalists
people who are opposed to the proposed constitution, who wanted stronger state governments.
Federalist No.51
an essay in which Maddison argues that separation of powers and federalism would prevent tyranny.
Faction
a group of self interested people
Federalist No.10
an essay in which Maddison argues that the dangers of a faction could be prevented by a large republic and republican government to lessen the dangers of factions.
Brutist No.1
an antifederalist paper that argued that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that constitution gave too much power to the national government
federalism
where the government and the states share power
exclusive powers
powers only the national government can exercise
commerce clause
grants congress the power to regulate interstate business and commercial activities.
tenth amendment
gives powers that are not given to the national government to the states and people, basis of federalism.
reserved powers
powers that are not given to the governments are retained by the states and the people
concurrent powers
powers given to both the federal government and the states in the constitution.
full faith and credit clause
constitutional clause requiring states to recognize public acts, record and civil proceedings from another state.
extradition
the requirement that officials in one state return the defendant to another state where the crime was committed.
*******fourteenth
amendment*********
people that are born in the united states are citizens and shouldnt be denied due process or equal protection
selective incorporation***
supreme court has to apply the bill of rights in trials, case by case basis.
Supreme court selects the rights to apply in cases.
categorical grants
grants aid provided to states with one specific purpose
unfunded mandate
federal requirements that states must follow without being provided with funding.
block grants
federal government gives grant to states, and police decides how its spent
revenue sharing
when federal government gives tax money to the states. with no strings attached