POLS-1101- UNI EXAM GUIDE

natural rights, social contract, popular soverignty, and republicanism

4 Principles of Government

influcences of the founding era of the US:

-british constitutional system:

-colonial traditions:

natural rights

life, liberty, property, pursuit of happiness

social contract

human kind surrenders most extreme rights to self-preservation so they can enter into a commonwealth

popular soverignty

the idea that political authority belongs to the people

republicanism

the consent of the governed is expressed via regular elections appointing representatives by the electorate : is what concept

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Shays' rebellion

Rebellion led by farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Separation of powers

A way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch to prevent tyranny.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses with separate rules

Federalists

Those who favored a stronger national government and weaker state governments. Supported the ratification of the Constitution.

Anti-Federalist

Those who favored strong state governments and a weaker national government. Advocated for a bill of rights to formally address individual and state rights. Concerned about the concentration of power in a central government under the Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which power and responsibilty is divided between the federal and state governments

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.

Virginia Plan

Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.

Connecticut or Great Compromise

The agreement that the national legislature of the United States would have two houses, with representation in one based on population, and equal representation per state in the other, was called the ______

Republican Democracy

People vote for representatives who then make laws. People do not vote directly on legislation.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Federalist Paper #10

Written by James Madison to convince people to support the ratification of the constitution. Argued that factions were inevitable but were best controlled by a large republic that employed a Federalist structure. Argued that competition among factions would limit their negative impacts.

Bill of Rights

A formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution in 1791 as Amendments 1-10. Satisfied Anti-federalist concerns.

nessecary and proper clause

A section of the United States Constitution that enables Congress to make the laws required for the exercise of its other powers established by the Constitution.

Commerce clause

The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations. Has helped the Federal government expand its power over time.

Concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments. For example, the powers to tax, pass laws and borrow funds

cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government.

Dual Federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Expressed Powers/Enumerated powers

Powers the Constitution specifically granted to one of the branches of the national government. Listed explicitly in the Constitution. Ex: right to coin money, declare war, regulate foreign and interstate trade, tax, etc.

Implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution;

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions. Has Constitutional basis in Necessary and Proper/Elastic Clause

Inherent powers

powers that exist for the national government because the government is sovereign. Ex: The Louisiana Purchase

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

The court ruled that the states did not have the power to tax the national bank. Used the backing of the Supremacy Clause to argue that states could not interfere with legitimate federal laws

Reserved Powers

belong to the states and the people;

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states. Granted by the 10th Amendment. For example, regulating voting and administering elections at the state level.

Block grants

Federal money given to the states with limited spending guidelines. Allows the states power to decide how to spend funds within relatively loose guidelines. Ex: funds for transportation and state chooses how to allocate.

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to the states with specific spending guidelines. Gives the federal government the power to decide how funds are spent within the state. Ex: funds for highway repairs, cannot be used for other purposes.

Devolution

The transfer of power from a high level political office to a lower level; central government to regional, state, or local governments. Example-Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Gibbons v. Ogden

Commerce clause case (1824). Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate commerce clause power by broadly defining the meaning of "commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.

The 10th Amendment

Reserves powers to the states. Has been used successfully by the states to get the federal courts to strike down federal laws that violate this principle.

1st Amendment

Guarantees many individual rights including the right to expression and freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to petition the government, and the right to peaceful assembly.

Ratification

The Constitutional process by which the states must approve amendments to the Constitution. Three-quarters of the states must approve an amendment before it is ratified and officially becomes part of the Constitution. Another example of federalism in the Constitution's structure.

Conditions of Aid

Federal rules attached to the grants that states receive. States must agree to abide by these rules in order to receive the grants.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting held in 1787, originally meant to revise the Articles of Confederation but created a new plan of government instead

Intrastate commerce

Commerce WITHIN A STATEcommercial activity regulated at the state level

Interstate commerce

Commerce between different states, can be regulated by Congress.

Direct democracy

people vote on laws and make decisions for the community as a group (no representatives)

United States 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. This increased state powers to regulate such matters while decreasing federal power

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Representative Democracy

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

3/5 Compromise

-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Advantages of Federalism(list)

*Avoids concentration of power

*Keeps government close to people

*States serve as laboratories for new programs and training grounds for national leaders

*Allows adaption to regional differences

Disadvantages of Federalism

*Complexity: there are many governments to deal with

*Duplication of offices and functions

*Conflicts of authority often arise

*Inconsistency from state to state in regulations, education, marijuana, guns etc.

Factions

Political groups that agree on objectives and policies; the origins of political parties.

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

2nd Amendment

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

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

7th Amendment

Right to jury in civil trials.

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

13th Amendment

abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

15th Amendment

U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed

Plessy v. Ferguson

"separate but equal" doctrine supreme court upheld the constitutionally of jim crow laws

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to people and States

The New Deal

A series of reforms enacted by the Franklin Roosevelt administration between 1933 and 1942 with the goal of ending the Great Depression.

Social Security Act of 1935

Created both the Social Security Program and a national assistance program for poor children and elderly, usually called AFDC.

Work Progress Administration (WPA)

Gave the unemployed work in building construction and arts programs

Fisical Federalism

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

Reserved powes

the powers of state governments

cocurrent powers

Powers shared between the national and state governments

Great Society

a domestic program in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson that instituted federally sponsored social welfare programs.

What year was richard nixon elected

1968

United States v. Lopez

Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone, involved the use of the 10th amendment

confederal system

A form of government in which independent states unite to accomplish common goals.

Unitarty system

sovereignty, or ultimate authority, rests in a single, national government

federal system

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

selective incorporation

The process by which provisions of the Bill of Rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.

Legislative Branch

Makes laws (Congress)

Trade off

A situation in which one must give up something in order to gain something else, often seen in decision-making processes.

John Locke

An enlightenment thinker in which created and philosophized the ideals of natural rights

Magna Carta

A charter that was signed in 1215 that limited the rights of a king or queen as well as set the stage for modern democracy and natural rights

Social Contract Theory

The belief that the government is created by the people and is divinely appointed

“No taxation without representation”

The ongoing movement of citizens refusing and protesting against being taxed for certain things(ex:tea) without properly being represented.

Boston Massacre

Mini battle on March 5th, 1770, between British troops and citizens. - No exact winner.

Boston Tea Party

A direct act of protest against the tax on tea on December 16th, 1773

Continental Congress

a series of legislative bodies that represented the 13 American colonies during the American Revolution

Why was the Continental Congress shortly called after the Congress of Confederation?

Due to the ratification of the Articles of Confederation in 1781

Autocracy

One person holds majority of the power

Monarchy

A form of government in which it is ran by one monarch

Democracy

Government that is ran by the people(citizens)

Mandatory Spending

Spending that is allocated towards aspects of the government that MUST be funded (Ex: Medicare/Healthcare, Military, Social Security etc.)

Discretionary Spending

Spending in which is allocated in a way that the government is able to change/alter how it is allocated every year.

How many members are a part of the senate

100 members

Pork Barell Spending/Earmarks

Money that is allocated towards specific projects in each state to further improve certain aspects in these areas.

Appropriations Committee

A group a part of the legislative branch that is responsible for how government funds are spent when it is allocated.

Logrolling

Tyranny of the majority

when certain demographics whose political perspective and or opinion isn’t being heard due to the prominence of the majority (who is being heard)

The five principles of politics

Rationality Principle, Institution Principle, Collective Action Principle, Policy Principle, History Principle

The rationality principle

behaving in a certain way to get a certain response (ex: trump bans TikTok, everyone upset, trump brings it back, everyone is happy)