Constitutional History and Political Culture

A series of flashcards covering key concepts in constitutional history and political culture.

Confederation

A system of government with a weak central authority and strong state sovereignty.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.

Shays’ Rebellion

An uprising in 1786–1787 by farmers protesting against economic injustices and governmental inefficiencies, demonstrating the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature, combining both equal representation and representation based on population.

E Pluribus Unum

A Latin phrase meaning 'Out of many, one,' reflecting the formation of a single nation from multiple states.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who advocated for strong state governments and a Bill of Rights.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional, established by the case Marbury v. Madison.

Nullification

The right of states to invalidate any federal law deemed unconstitutional.

Political Culture

The collective beliefs and values that shape the political behavior and system of a society.

Individualism

A social and political philosophy emphasizing the importance of individual rights and self-reliance.

Polling Basics

Fundamental principles of statistical sampling used to gauge public opinion.

Party Ideology

The set of beliefs that guide a political party's policies and practice, affecting its position on social and economic issues.

Nominating Elections

Elections to select party nominees for the general election, which can include caucuses and primaries.

Interest Groups

Organizations that seek to influence government policy while representing specific interests or causes.

Material Incentives

Benefits, often in the form of money or goods, offered to encourage participation in a group.

Media Control

The concentration of media ownership by a few corporations, potentially limiting diversity in news coverage.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled political spending by corporations and unions is protected under the First Amendment.

Winners-Take-All System

An electoral system where the candidate receiving the most votes wins all electoral votes or delegates from a given area.