Unit 1 Test Review Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, thinkers, amendments, forms of government, and constitutional principles from the Unit 1 Test Review Guide.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Enlightenment thinker associated with popular sovereignty, the concept that the people have the power.

John Locke

Enlightenment thinker associated with social contract theory (agreement between government and people) and natural law (people are born with natural rights).

Baron de Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker associated with separation of powers, where government power is divided into branches.

1st Amendment

Guarantees 5 freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Protects rights of people accused of crimes, including due process and the right to remain silent.

9th Amendment

Establishes that people have other rights not specifically listed in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

Establishes that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.

Preamble

Introduction to the Constitution stating goals for unity, justice, peace, defense, welfare, and freedom.

Articles of Confederation

The initial federal structure which had weaknesses such as no power to tax or regulate trade, no strong executive or national court system, and required 9 of 13 states to pass important laws.

Federalists

Group in favor of the ratification of the Constitution who argued the Articles created a too-weak government and that checks and balances and separation of powers would prevent tyranny.

Anti-Federalists

Group that opposed ratification of the Constitution initially, worrying the national government would become too powerful, states would lose power, and individual freedoms needed protection via a Bill of Rights.

Virginia Plan

Proposed a bicameral Congress with two houses where representation was based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposed a Congress where each state would have equal representation regardless of population.

Great Compromise

Created a two-house Congress balancing representation based on population and equal representation regardless of population.

Public policy

A government's plan or action for dealing with an issue.

Unitary government

A government where most power belongs to the central government.

Confederation

A government where states have most of the power and the central government is weak.

Democracy

A government where the people have power, usually through voting.

Anarchy

A situation with no government or authority.

Oligarchy

A government controlled by a small group of people.

Autocracy

A government controlled by one person.

Popular sovereignty

Basic principle of US government stating that the people have the power.

Limited government

Basic principle of US government stating that the government must follow the law/Constitution.

Separation of powers

Basic principle of US government where power is divided among 3 branches.

Checks and balances

Basic principle of US government where each branch can limit the others.

Judicial review

Basic principle of US government where courts can decide whether laws/actions are constitutional.

Federalism

Basic principle of US government where power is divided between the national and state governments.

Mayflower Compact

An early example of self-government where settlers agreed to make and follow their own laws.

Expressed powers

Powers directly written in the Constitution, such as collecting taxes, declaring war, and coining money.

Implied powers

Powers not directly written in the Constitution, but necessary to carry out expressed powers, such as creating a national bank.

Ex post facto laws

Laws that punish something that was not illegal when done; powers denied to the federal government.

Bills of attainder

Laws that punish someone without a trial; powers denied to the federal government.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by the federal and state governments, such as taxing, borrowing money, building roads, creating courts, and enforcing laws.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Also known as the Elastic Clause, it allows Congress to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its expressed powers.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Supreme Court case that established the process of judicial review, allowing the Court to determine whether a law is constitutional.