Vocab Quiz Unit 1

3/5th’s Compromise

as agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Conventions that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating a state’s representation

Concurrent Powers

powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution

Direct Democracy

a political system in which citizens vote directly on public policies

Devolution

returning more authority to state or local governments

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers

Elitism

theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

Factions

a group of self-interested people

Federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states

Fiscal Federalism

the federal government’s use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states

Hyperpluralism

outside groups become so strong government cannot act

Individualism

the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make

Interstate Commerce Clause

grants congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity

Judicial Review

the authority of the Supreme Court to strike down a law or executive action if it conflicts with the Constitution

Limited Government

a government that is subject to strict limits on its lawful uses of power, and hence on its ability to deprive people of their liberty

Linkage Institutions

channels that connect individuals with government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

Mandates

requirements that are imposed by the national government on the state and local governments. Ex. Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) and often require state or local governments to meet the requirement at their own expense

Natural Rights

the right to life, liberty, and property, which the government cannot take away

Participatory Democracy

the theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Pluralism

a theory of governmental influence that views the distribution of political power among many competing groups as serving to keep any one of them in check

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that the government’s right to rule comes form the people

Public Policy

the intentional use of government power to secure the health, welfare, opportunities, and national security of citizens

Republic (Representative Democracy)

a government ruled by representatives of the people, a political system in which voters select representatices who then vote on matters of public policy

Reserved Powers

powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people

Single-Issue Groups

association focusing on one specific areas of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise

Social Contract Theory

people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functionins society

Supremacy Clause

constitutional provision declaring that the Constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land

Writ of Habeas Corpus

the right of the people detained by the government to know the charges against them

Antifederalists

a person opposed to the proposed Constitution who favored stronger state government

Federalists

supported of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government

Block Grant

a type of grants-in-aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds

Categorical Grant

grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use

Checks and Balances

a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making

Separation of Powers

a design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own

Dual Federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government operate independently in their own areas of public policy

Cooperative Federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public-policy

Enumerated (expressed or delegated) Powers

powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution; also called express powers

Implied Powers

authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers; powers not granted specifically to the national government but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers

Majority Rule

a system in which the decision of more than half the people is accepted by all

Minority Rights

a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities

New Jersey Plan

a plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state

Virginia Plan

a plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress

Declaration of Independence

the document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

Articles of Confederation

a governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the union, were supreme

The Consittution

a document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of a governement

Federalist No. 10

an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government

Federalist No. 51

an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

Brutus No. 1

an Antifederalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government

McCulloch v. Maryland

the Supreme Court dealt with the issues of the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Supremacy clause when Maryland imposed tax on Baltimore branch of Second National Bank. While no provision of Constitution grants the national government the enumerated power to create a national bank, the authority is implied

Gibbons v. Ogden

the issue was the definition of commerce and whether the national government had exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce. Broadened definition of commerce; given exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce

U.S. v. Lopez

the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause when it passed a law prohibiting gun possession in local school zones