Unit 1 foundational freedoms

AP Gov

Federalist 10

Topic = factions (interest groups); minority factions controlled by majority; majority faction controlled by greater size

Federalist 51 - James Madison

Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.

Brutus 1 - Anti federalists

\-new constitution gives the federal government WAY too much power \n -country is too large to be managed \n effectively this way \n -The Supremacy Clause & Necessary & Proper Clause will give the federal government uncontrollable power! \n -need a direct gov (participatory gov) \n -real Repub. comes from people (not reps)

Elite democracy

A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.

Pluralist democracy

a model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interests in a free society

Participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Separation of powers

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

John Locke

17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.

Thomas Hobbes

English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings (1588-1679)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"Social Contract" he explained an ideal society where each community member would vote on issues and majority would become one law.

Unitary System

A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

Confederal system

A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

Federal system

A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments

Amendment Process

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

5th amendment

Criminal Proceedings; Due Process; Eminent Domain; Double Jeopardy; Protection from Self incrimination

6th amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

4th amendment

Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure

8th amendment

no cruel or unusual punishment

10th amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

necessary and proper clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

3/5th compromise

allowed slaves to be counted as 3/5ths of a person towards representation and taxation