Gov Study Guide

Population Changes in the United States

Changes in the U.S. population caused by immigration, birth rates, deaths, and people moving between regions. Population changes affect representation in Congress, Electoral College votes, and redistricting.

Broad Ethnic Regional Distributions

Different ethnic groups are concentrated in different regions of the U.S. (ex. Hispanic populations in the Southwest and Florida, larger African American populations in many Southern states).

Democracy

A government where the people hold power by voting for leaders or directly on issues.

Representative Democracy

A system where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

Republic

A government where citizens elect representatives and the government operates under a constitution.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen.

Autocracy

A government in which one person holds all political power, often a dictator.

Oligarchy

A government controlled by a small group of wealthy, military, or political leaders.

Totalitarian Government

A government that controls nearly every aspect of citizens' lives, including speech, media, religion, education, and the economy.

Anarchy

The absence of government or authority, often leading to disorder.

Federalism

A system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments.

Federation

A country organized under federalism where power is divided between national and state governments.

Confederation

A system where states hold most of the power and the national government is weak. The Articles of Confederation created a confederation.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Delegated (Enumerated) Powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the Constitution, such as declaring war, coining money, and regulating interstate commerce.

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but considered necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as taxing, establishing courts, and building roads.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states under the Tenth Amendment, including education, driver's licenses, and local elections.

Inherent Powers

Powers every national government naturally possesses, such as conducting foreign policy, controlling immigration, and defending the nation.

Elastic Clause

Also called the Necessary and Proper Clause. Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its constitutional powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Another name for the Elastic Clause. Gives Congress flexibility to carry out its enumerated powers.

Checks and Balances

A system where each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful.

Separation of Powers

The division of government into Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

Legislative Branch

Makes laws. Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Executive Branch

Enforces laws. Led by the President.

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws. Includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts.

Supremacy Clause

The Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land. Federal law overrides conflicting state law.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Requires states to recognize most official acts, records, and court decisions of other states.

Divine Right of Kings

The belief that a king receives authority directly from God and cannot be questioned by the people.

Social Contract

The idea that people agree to obey government in exchange for protection of their rights.

Thomas Hobbes

Believed people are naturally selfish and that a strong government is needed to maintain order.

John Locke

Believed people have natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and that government exists to protect those rights. If it fails, the people can replace it.

Natural Rights

Rights all people are born with. Locke identified life, liberty, and property. Jefferson changed property to pursuit of happiness.

Montesquieu

French philosopher who proposed Separation of Powers to prevent government abuse.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Believed government receives its authority from the people (popular sovereignty).

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that government gets its power from the consent of the people.

Thomas Jefferson

Primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.

James Madison

Known as the Father of the Constitution. Helped write the Constitution and many of the Federalist Papers.

Declaration of Independence

Document adopted on July 4, 1776 declaring American independence from Great Britain and stating that all people have natural rights.

American Revolution

The war fought from 1775–1783 in which the American colonies won independence from Great Britain.

"No Taxation Without Representation"

Colonists believed Britain should not tax them because they had no representatives in Parliament.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution that created a weak national government.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The national government could not tax, regulate trade, enforce laws, or maintain a strong military. There was no President or national court system.

Shays' Rebellion

A 1786–1787 uprising by farmers in Massachusetts that demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which instead produced the U.S. Constitution.

Virginia Plan

Proposal favoring large states by basing representation on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal favoring small states by giving each state equal representation.

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress with the House based on population and the Senate giving each state two senators.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation before the Civil War.

Ratification

Formal approval of the Constitution or an amendment.