Foundations of American Democracy

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the foundations of American democracy lecture notes.

Constitutionalism

The practice of establishing and adhering to a system of governance based on foundational legal principles and limits on government powers.

Federalists

A group that supported the adoption of the new federal Constitution, emphasizing the need for a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the new federal Constitution, who feared it would undermine state sovereignty and individual liberties.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the authority of a government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights and limiting government power.

Factions

Groups of citizens with interests or opinions contrary to the public good that can lead to conflict, as discussed in Federalist No. 10.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.

Checks against Majority Tyranny

The mechanisms put in place to prevent the majority from infringing on the rights of the minority.

Checks and Balances

A system ensuring that no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a national (federal) government and state governments.

Judicial Review

The authority of courts to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions by the government.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared between the national and state governments, such as the ability to tax.

Reserved Powers

Powers that are not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states, thus reserved for the states.

Political Culture

The set of shared beliefs, values, and norms that influence political behavior and attitudes in a society.

Civic Responsibility

The duties of citizens to participate in their government and society, such as voting and civic engagement.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the president without ratification by the Senate, typically regarding foreign relations.

Judicial Activism

The philosophy that courts should interpret laws and the Constitution in light of current and evolving values and conditions.

Judicial Restraint

The philosophy that courts should defer to the decisions made by the legislative and executive branches when possible.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental interference, often enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

Civil Rights

Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government or individual actors.

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments and agencies, characterized by hierarchical structure and rules.

Interest Groups

Organized groups of people that seek to influence public policy in favor of their specific interests or causes.

Political Parties

Organized groups of voters that collaborate to influence government policy and elections by running candidates.

Campaign Finance

The funds raised to promote candidates and political parties, often regulated to ensure transparency and fairness.

Voter Turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election, influenced by various social and economic factors.

Gerrymandering

The practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or group.

Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in the party system, often characterized by a change in party dominance.

Minority Majority

A demographic trend where minority groups collectively make up the majority of the population in a region or country.

Soft Money

Unregulated donations to political parties for general party expenses, which are not subject to federal regulation.

Confirmation Process

The process by which the Senate reviews and approves nominations made by the president for federal positions.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a specific district.

Line-Item Veto

The power of an executive to veto specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill, currently not permitted for the President.

Unitary Government

A system of political organization where most or all governing power resides in a centralized government.

Majoritarianism

The theory that the majority's opinion should be the primary influence in political decision-making.

Democratic Principles

Fundamental ideas supporting democratic governance, including equality, fairness, and accountability.

Singular Executive

The concept of a single chief executive leading the governmental administration, as seen in the Presidential system.

Substantive Democracy

A form of democracy in which the outcomes and results of elections reflect the will of the people, rather than just procedural aspects.

Procedural Democracy

A form of democracy that focuses on the process of elections and governance rather than the substantive outcomes.

Electoral College

A body of electors established by the Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Social Movements

Collective efforts by groups of people to bring about social change or to address social issues or injustices.

Grassroots Lobbying

Attempts to influence legislation through local and community efforts, mobilizing citizens to contact their representatives.

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

Constitutional Convention

The gathering in 1787 where the U.S. Constitution was drafted, addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Seal of the Constitution

The established set of principles and framework of the United States government, embodying foundational beliefs and rights.

Ratification

The formal approval process for the Constitution or amendments, requiring the consent of a specified number of states.

Trade-offs in Government

The balancing act between competing interests in policy-making, often requiring compromise and negotiation.

Political Participation

Any activity that influences or supports the structure of government, including voting, campaigning, and advocacy.

Poll Tax

A fee required for voting, historically used to disenfranchise poor and minority voters until abolished by the 24th Amendment.

Incumbency Advantage

The advantage current officeholders have over challengers, often due to established name recognition and access to resources.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system where parties gain seats in the legislature in proportion to the number of votes they receive.