Unit 1 --- Foundations of Democracy Vocab/Documents/SC Cases

Vocabulary and foundational documents flashcards derived strictly from the provided Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy notes.

Limited Government

a political system where the power of the state is restricted by law, usually through a written constitution, to protect individual rights and prevent overreach.

Natural Rights

rights ur born with life liberity and the persuit of happiness

Popular Sovereignty

the belief that the governments power comes from the people

Republicanism

no king or queen they think people should have the lead

Social Contract

the signing away of some rights and privacy for safety

Participatory Democracy

where people participate in the government, voting and more

Pluralist Democracy

government system where the power is spread out across multiple groups

Elite Democracy

small group for government holds all the power

Faction

small group inside a bigger group

Federalist

where state and small government share power for nations, small tow2ns make rules for town

Anti-Federalist

wanted the national government to rull over everything

Checks and Balances

each state government can make sure that one of them doesnt get too powerful

Separation of Powers

the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from having too much power.

McCullough vs Maryland(1819)

a landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of national supremacy and affirmed the implied powers of Congress.

United States vs Lopez(1995)

a significant Supreme Court case that limited Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause by ruling that carrying a gun in a school zone was not an economic activity affecting interstate commerce.

Federalist #10

an essay by James Madison arguing against the dangers of factionalism and advocating for a large republic to control factions.

Brutus #1

an anti-Federalist paper arguing against the Constitution, emphasizing the dangers of a strong centralized government and advocating for state sovereignty.

Federalist #51

an essay by James Madison that discusses the importance of checks and balances in government and the separation of powers to prevent tyranny.

The Declaration of Independence

breakup letter

The U.S. Constitution

the supreme law of the land, outlining the national framework of government, establishing the separation of powers, and guaranteeing individual rights.

Articles of Confederation

the first governing document of the United States, which created a weak federal government and was later replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

Shay’s Rebellion

Great Compromise

Electoral College

Three-fifths Compromise

A constitutional topic listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Amendment Process

A constitutional procedure listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Congress

A branch of government listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

President

A branch of government listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Federal Judiciary

A branch of government topic listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Concurrent Powers

powers shared by things big and small state and fed

Federal Revenue Sharing

A federalism topic listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Mandates

A policy topic listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Tenth Amendment

A constitutional amendment listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Fourteenth amendment

A constitutional amendment listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Commerce Clause

A constitutional clause listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Necessary and Proper Clause

A constitutional clause listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Enumerated Powers

A constitutional power category listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Implied Powers

A constitutional power category listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.

Policymaking

A governmental process concept listed under Unit 1 Foundations of Democracy.