GOVERNMENT

Enlightenment influence

Philosophical movement shaping modern political thought.

John Locke

Philosopher advocating natural rights and social contracts.

Social Contract

Agreement among individuals for mutual benefit.

Republic

Government where representatives are elected by citizens.

Direct Democracy

Citizens directly participate in decision-making.

Autocracy

Government controlled by a single ruler.

Political Culture

Shared beliefs and values influencing political behavior.

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in political processes.

Pluralist Democracy

Multiple groups compete for political influence.

Elitist Democracy

Power held by a small, privileged group.

Declaration of Independence

Document declaring American colonies' independence from Britain.

When was the Declaration of Independence written?

1776

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Natural/Inalienable Rights

The idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property.

Articles of Confederation

First governing document establishing a confederation.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

- One vote for each State, regardless of size.

- Congress powerless to lay and collect taxes or duties.

- No money to buy ships or pay soldiers, and no standing militia allowed in peacetime.

- Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.

- No executive to enforce acts of Congress.

- No national court system.

- Amendment only with consent of all States.

- A 9/13 majority required to pass laws.

- Articles only a "firm league of friendship."

Bicameral Legislature

Legislature with two separate chambers.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature with only one chamber.

U.S. Constitution

The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation.

Where was the US Constitution written?

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

When was the U.S. Constitution written?

September 17, 1787

What are the main topics of Articles I-IV of the U.S. Constitution?

- Article I deals with the legislative branch of government.

- Article II concerns the executive branch of government.

- Article III establishes the Supreme Court as the highest judicial power in the United States.

- Article IV defines the relationship between the states.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments protecting individual liberties.

Six Principles of the Constitution

- Popular sovereignty

- Limited government

- Separation of powers

- Checks and balances

- Judicial review

- Federalism

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

Limited Government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

Separation of Powers

The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

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.

Federalism

A form of government in which power is divided between the federal/national government and the states.

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws.

ex post facto law

A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed.

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house.

3/5ths Compromise

A 1787 agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress.

Federalists

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution and a strong central government during ratification debates in state legislatures.

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally. They preferred more power being given to the states.

Federalist 10

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

Brutus 1

Written before the constitution was ratified; it argued there was too much power vested in national government, and it won't be able to survive because it's too big. Also said the supremacy clause and necessary and proper clause grant too much federal power and will render states powerless.

Federalist 51

James Madison argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group.

Amendments to the Constitution

Would be proposed by a 2/3 vote of Congress.

Unitary System of Government

A type of government that centralizes all the powers of government into one central authority.

Confederate System of Government

A system of government in which the states have all of the power and the federal government has very little power. Also known as a confederation.

Federal System of Government/Federalism

A type of government in which power is shared between the national government and smaller regional governments within the nation.

Why does America have a Federalist system of government?

The founding fathers wanted to retain existing state governments created by the Articles of Confederation, but also wanted a national government.

Division of Powers

The principle that sovereignty should be divided between the federal government and the states, especially as expressed by the Constitution of the U.S.

Delegated Powers

Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the Constitution.

Reserved Powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Denied Powers

Powers which the Constitution prohibits to the national and state governments.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Necessary and Proper Clause ("Elastic Clause")

Allows Congress to make laws for executing powers.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes federal law as supreme over state law.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Supreme Court case affirming federal power over states.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Supreme Court declared Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's Interstate Commerce Clause power and was therefore unconstitutional. First federal law declared to exceed commerce clause since the 1930s.

Federal Grants in Aid

Funds provided by federal government to states.

Block Grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

Categorical Grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

Unfunded Mandates

Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.

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.

Cooperative Federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

Devolution

Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

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

Extradition

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Part of Article IV of the Constitution guaranteeing that the citizens of each state are afforded the same rights as citizens of all other states—allows no discrimination.