Unit 1- Foundations of American Democracy

Natural Rights

All people have certain rights that cannot be taken away from them

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among the people in a society to give up some freedoms to maintain social order

Popular Sovereignty

All government power comes from the consent of its people

Limited Government

A government power cannot be absolute

Separation of Powers

The idea that government should be divided into branches each with its own responsibilities to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Checks and Balances

A system that gives each branch the power to limit other branches

Federalism

A system of government that divides power between a national or central and state or subunit government

Republicanism

A form of government in which the power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives

Participatory Democracy

Broad participation in politics and civil society today

Examples in government today

Initiatives: Voters put measures on the ballot to vote for laws

Referenda: Oppose a law that legislators have already passed, the people then vote if they approve or dissaprove

Elite Democracy

Limited participation, just well-educated informed statespeople '

Example in government today: Supreme Court;electoral college

Pluralist Democracy

Describe group-based activism by nongovernmental which work to impact political decision-making

Examples in government today: States representing the interests of their citizens

Elite

Provide for elected representatives that legislate on behalf of the people

Participatory

In order to get a law passed, various interests, both sides have to compromise to get it done

Pluralist

Seperation of power federal and state governments

Brutus

Feared tyranny of central government; keep power in the hands of the state

Federalist 10

So much diversity in the population, all the factions would have to compete against one another; all the competition would protect the union

Weakness of Articles of Confederation

Unicameral Congress was the only national authority-no executive branch, no national court system'

Could not regulate interstate trade

Could not directly levy taxes on the people or coin money

Could not draft troops- states often deny request for troops/taxes

9/13 states had to agree before any actions were done- 13/13 needed for new amendment

Shays Rebellion

Veteran farmers in debt

Pensions that were promised for fighting in the war weren’t being paid (no taxes to pay it!)

Debt-Debtor’s Prison

Shays, others marched on Massachusetts Court House, took it hostage until demands were met. They also tried to seize weapons from the federal arsenal.

Great Compromise AKA Connecticut Compromise

Grand Committee- one delegate from each state

Bicameral Legislature: Lower(HOR)- Popularly elected, upper(senators): 2 per state, elected by state legislatures

3/5 Compromise

Each slave counted as 3/5ths a person for representation and taxation purposes

Slave Trade Compromises

Importation of slaves cannot be banned until 20 years in 1808

Commerce Compromise

Congress could tax imports not exports

Electoral College (Elite Democracy)

Indirect election of president and vice president

Each state elect electors

#of House + # of Senators

Majority of electoral votes to win- if none House chooses president, and Senate chooses vice president

Federalist

Supporters of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government '

Pointed to problems under Articles of Confederation

Published Federalist Papers to tell the Constitution to the public and push delegates to ratify it

Faction

A group within the government that is adverse to the rights of other citizens

Federalist- large republic protect the rights of citizens from a small group of elites

Anti-Federalist- need Bill of Rights to prevent elite from having too much power