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Ideals of Democracy
The U.S. government is based on ideas of limited government, including natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social contract. These ideals can be found in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution
Limited Government
restrictions on government power, usually found in a constitution
Natural rights
Rights that we are born with that cannot be infringed upon | life, liberty, property (or pursuit of happiness)
Popular sovereignty
Power belongs to the people | consent of the governed
Republicanism
The people can elect representatives who are responsible for making and carrying out laws
Social contract
consent to be governed in return for the protection of natural rights (Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s idea.)
Participatory democracy
Emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society
Pluralist democracy
Recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests striving for impact on political decision making
Elite democracy
emphasizes limited participation in politics and civil society
Federalist 10
document that adresses concern over special interest groups. Focuses on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government
Brutus 1
document over the fear that a powerful central government will result in more elite democracy and limitations to participatory democracy. Adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized governments.
U.S. Constitution
The supreme law of the United States that establishes the framework of the federal government and lays out the rights and responsibilities of citizens
Federalists
In favor of the U.S. Constitution and the power of the national government
Anti-federalists
Not in favor of the Constitution as some wanted a Bill of Rights, and others voiced concern about the central government having too much power
Articles of Confederation (AOC)
First governing document of an independent U.S. government.
weak central government
no independent executive or judicial branch
hard to amend (all 13 unanimous) or make national laws (9 of 13 states, each state getting 1 vote)
unicameral
Drawbacks of the AOC
lack of tax law enforcement power by the national government
inability to regulate commerce
lack of national military powers heightened by events like Shays’ Rebellion
Connecticut Compromise
combination of Virginia and New Jersey Plan, creating a bicameral legislature, one chamber based on population and another on equal representation | Also known as the “Great Compromise”
Electoral College
debate over the election of president resulted in creation of the _________ _______, elites that would have a say over the presidential election (in theory)
3/5 Compromise
representation of enslaved population resulted in counting enslaved people as 3/5 of a population, leading to slave states with disproportionate representation
Amendment Proposal Process
2/3 vote in both houses
OR
Proposal from 2/3 of state legislatures
Amendment ratification process
¾ vote from the states
Federalist 51
document that explains how consitutional provisions of seperation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities.
Separation of powers
A doctrine of constitutional law under which the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are kept separate. Allows for multiple access points for citizens (i.e., groups can influence/lobby/etc. different branches for policy changes)
Federalism
the sharing of power between the national and state governments
Exclusive Powers
powers only for the federal government such as declaring war
Enumerated powers
Powers found in the Constitution for the federal government
Concurrent powers
Powers shared or allowed for both the federal and state governments
Reserved Powers
Powers granted to the states or people via the 10th amendment. Not guranteed to the federal government
Implied powers
Congressional powers beyond enumerated throught he necessary and proper clause. Stretches the power of the federal government
Cooperative federalism
separate spheres of power to more sharing of powers
Fiscal federalism
Use of federal monies to influence policy
Categorical Grants
Federal monies for state governments for specific purposes (money with strings attached)
Block grants
Federal monies for state governments for broad puproses (little to no strings attached). Examples include a federal grant for highway construction, for “infrastructure“, allowing states more freedom to decide how money is spent
Unfunded mandates
Required by the federal government to do, but not funded by them. Examples inlcude Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), No Child Left Behind, and Clean Water Act.
Revenue sharing
Distribution of tax money to the state government. General _______ _______ was discontinued in the 1980s due to high deficits
Commerce Clause
the federal government can regulate interstate commerce. Used to expand federal power
Necessary and Proper clause
Congress implied powers, a clause that expands federal power
Democracy
'rule by the people'. An example of this is any system of government in which people vote their elected representatives into parliament.
Faction
a group or clique within a larger group, party, government, organization, or the like, typically having different opinions and interests than the larger group
Shay’s Rebellion
uprising in western Massachusetts in opposition to high taxes and stringent economic conditions. Armed bands forced the closing of several courts to prevent execution of foreclosures and debt processes. Led people to realize the Articles of Confederation were too weak
Impeach
“to accuse someone of misconduct” | The house has the power to _______ the president. The senate serves as a jury to determine guilt or innocence of the president regarding the charges
Checks and Balances
Powers each branch has to check the power of another branch
Policymaking
the process of creating a policy
Bill of Rights
The only reason North Carolina and Rhode Island would ratify the Constitution | First 10 amendments of the US Constitution
1st Amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, the Press, Assembly, and to petition the government
2nd amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
You cant be forced to quarter soldiers
4th Amendment
No unwarrented searches (includes cell phone data)
5th Amendment
guarantees the right to a grand jury, forbids “double jeopardy,” and protects against self-incrimination.
6th amendment
The right to speedy and public trial, right to an impartial jury, to be aware of the criminal charges, to confront witnesses during the trial, to have witnesses in the trial, and the right to legal representation
7th amendment
Protects right of the citizen to have a jury trial in civil cases where the claim exceeds $20
8th amendment
No cruel or unusual punishments or excessive bails
9th amendment
There are more rights than just listed in the Constitution
10th amendment
Reserved powers for the state
Senate
one of the houses of Congress | Has 100 members, 2 per state, and 6 year terms | Have the power to filibuster
House of Representatives
one of the houses of Congress | has 435 members, based on population of state | 2-year term
Constituent
the residents of a congressional district or state.
Tax Revenue
funds programs and services government provides
Budget
a policy document that allocates burdens and benefits
14th amendment
Due process and equal protection clauses protect civil liberties and civil rights from the states. Limits state power
Speaker of the House
Highest ranking member of the majority party in the House. Their duties include:
Presiding over meetings of the House
Appointing members of joint committees and conference committees
Scheduling legislation for floor action.
Filibuster
”Talking a bill to death” | A power only in the Senate
Cloture
A vote to stop a filibuster (needs 60 votes)
Rules Committee
“Traffic Cop” | decides what measures to consider and creates strict rules on how to debate. Is only in the House of Representatives
Committee of the whole
a committee of the House on which all Representatives serve and which meets in the House Chamber for the consideration of measures from the Union calendar.
Discharge Petition
Forces a bill out of a committee
Entitlements
Mandatory spending programs that MUST be covered as a result of Legislation (Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, Unemployment Programs)
Discretionary Spending
Congress debates to determine who will get a piece of the pie (part of the budget)
Pork Barrel
Money set aside (earmarked) in a bill for a pet project in a congressman’s district
Logrolling
One congressman votes for another congressman’s project hoping they will return the favor
Partisanship
persons who strongly support their party's policies and are reluctant to compromise with political opponents.
Gerrymandering
drawing district lines to benefit a political party
Redistricting
census indicates changes in population, causes new district lines to be drawn every 10 years.
Reapportionment
the process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the house
One person, one vote
the principle of equal representation in voting
Divided government
a government in which one party controls the white house and another party controls one or both houses of congress
Lame Duck
when a president has reduced powers and is on their way out of office. The sessions begins mid November of the election year and last to January 20 of the following year.
Trustee Representative
Representatives that use their conscience
Delegate representative
representatives that are agents for those who elected them
Politico representative
representatives with an allegience to their party. A hybrid of the delegate and trustee models
Policy Agenda
what governmental officials find important to discuss
Veto
the presidents power to reject a bill from congress. Can be overcome witha 2/3 vote from congress
Pocket Veto
when the president does not sign a bill into law during the last 10 days of a congressional session
Line Item Veto
presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire bill. Was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
Commander in chief
the president is the _________ __ _____ of the army and navy
Executive Agreements
a formal agreement between the president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval. It is an informal power
Treaty
a formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by 2/3 of the Senate.
Executive Order
mandatory requirements from the Executive Branch, and have the effect of law
The Cabinet
group of presidential advisers, including the heads of the executive departments, the attorney general, and other officials chosen by the president
Signing Statement
An informal power of the President | Document informing Congress and the public of how the President will interpret a law that has passed
Life tenure
a term of office that lasts for the office holder's lifetime unless the office holder is removed from office for cause of misbehaving in office, extraordinary circumstances, or decides personally to resign.
Federalist 70
“A single person in charge of the government and the executive branch could be dangerous, but the advantage of a single executive includes avoiding conflicts and ensuring accountability”
22nd Amendment
amendment that limits the number of terms a president can serve to two
Formal powers
the power that is explicitly given with a title, role, or position
Informal Powers
are not specifically listed, but are granted to the president to expend his/her powers, being the executive of the nation
State of the Union Address
a message from the President to Congress, usually given once a year in January or February. In the message, the President talks about important issues facing Americans and offers his ideas on solving the nation's problems, including suggestions for new laws and policies
Bully Pulpit
The president’s use of media coverage to promote an agenda directly to the American public
Agenda Setting
describes the "ability (of the news media) to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda"
Article I
article in the Constitution that talks about the Legislative Branch
Article II
article in the Constitution that talks about the Executive Branch
Note 
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