Terms gov exam

Representative democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Constitutional democracy

A form of democracy governed by a constitution that protects individual rights and liberties.

Sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.

Liberty

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority.

Majority

More than half of a particular group.

Plurality

The largest share of votes, though not necessarily a majority, as in an election.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which created a central government with limited powers.

Shay’s Rebellion

An armed uprising in 1786-87 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices and the lack of government response.

Connecticut Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement reached that counted three out of every five slaves as part of the population for legislative representation and taxation.

Federalists and Antifederalists

Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution, while Antifederalists opposed it, advocating for states' rights.

The Federalist Papers

A collection of essays written to promote the ratification of the United States Constitution.

Separation of powers and Checks and balances

A political doctrine that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Referendum

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal.

Judicial review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official.

Executive privilege

The right of the president to withhold information from Congress or the judiciary.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Unitary system

A system of political organization in which most or all power resides in a central government.

Confederation

An alliance of independent states or nations for a common purpose.

Express powers

Powers explicitly granted to a government branch by the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but necessary to implement the expressed powers.

Necessary and proper clause

A clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.

Inherent powers

Powers that Congress and the president need in order to get the job done right, which are not specified in the Constitution.

Commerce clause

A clause in the Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

Federal mandates

Requirements that the federal government imposes on state and local governments.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal government and state governments.

Full faith and credit clause

A clause requiring each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Extradition

The process of extraditing a fugitive or criminal from one jurisdiction to another.

Interstate compact

Agreements between states that are approved by Congress.

National supremacy

The constitutional doctrine that federal law takes precedence over state law.

Block grants

A grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.

Centralists

Individuals who support a strong centralized government.

Decentralists

Individuals who advocate for the distribution of power away from a central authority.

Selective Perception

The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.

Primary Elections

Elections held to determine a party's nominee for the general election.

Single Member Districts

An electoral district that elects one representative.

Midterm Elections

Elections held midway through a president's term.

Divided Government

A government in which one party controls the presidency and another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Realigning Elections

Elections that result in a significant and lasting change in party alignment.

Factions

Groups of individuals with a common political purpose.

Party Dealignment

A trend where voters abandon the parties they previously identified with, leading to a decline in party loyalty.

Two-Party System

A political system dominated by two major parties.

Interest Groups

Organized groups that attempt to influence public policy.

Lobbyists

Individuals hired by interest groups to persuade legislators to support legislation or policies favorable to their group.