Studied by 20 people
3/5th鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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
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