Government Unit 1 Study Guide Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards based on the Government Unit 1 Study Guide transcript, covering foundational documents, SCOTUS cases, constitutional principles, types of democracy, Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debates, and the amendment process.

Dred Scott v. Sanford

A Supreme Court case addressing constitutional questions regarding citizenship and federal power.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, impacting education and the Civil Rights Movement.

Declaration of Independence

Adopted on July 4, 1776, and authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, it declared the 13 colonies free from Great Britain and established principles of natural rights, consent of the governed, limited government, and the social contract.

Federalist #10

An essay explaining that factions are unavoidable, but a large representative republic under the Constitution helps prevent any single faction from gaining too much power.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, demanded by Anti-Federalists to limit government power and protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, belief, and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

The Supremacy Clause

A constitutional provision dictating that state laws cannot conflict with constitutional federal laws, maintaining a balance between state and federal authority.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided and shared between a central authority (national government) and regional units (state governments).

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional clause requiring states to honor the official legal documents and established records of other states.

Articles of Confederation

Established in 1781 as the first U.S. Constitution, it created a weak central government described as a 'league of friendship' that lacked the power to tax, draft an army or navy, or regulate commerce.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement at the Constitutional Convention that counted 3/5ths of a state's enslaved population for congressional representation and taxation purposes.

Government

The institution through which society makes and enforces public policies.

Legislative Power

The power to make laws, which is granted to Congress (consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate).

Executive Power

The power to enforce laws, held by the President, Vice President, and the Bureaucracy.

Judicial Power

The power to interpret laws, held by the Supreme Court and federal courts, which includes Judicial Review.

Democracy

A form of government that rules with the consent of the people.

Direct Democracy

A democracy where citizens make government decisions directly.

Indirect Democracy

A democracy where citizens elect representatives to make policy decisions on their behalf.

Participatory Democracy

A model of democracy emphasizing broad participation in politics and civil society, such as joining groups or engaging in social movements.

Pluralist Democracy

A model of democracy emphasizing group-based activism where interest groups and political parties work together with a united purpose to advance policy goals.

Elite Democracy

A model of democracy emphasizing limited political participation, where elites hold a disproportionate amount of influence over policymaking.

Unitary Government

A system where government power is centralized in one single body, such as Great Britain's Parliament.

Confederate Government

A loose union of independent states, such as the European Union today or the United States under the Articles of Confederation.

John Locke

An English philosopher who heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson; advocated for religious freedom, natural rights ('life, liberty, and property'), the state's duty to protect individual rights, and the right of citizens to rebel against unjust governments.

Natural Rights

Rights inherent in human beings that are not dependent on government, defined by John Locke as 'life, liberty, and property.'

Shay's Rebellion

An uprising of farmers and property owners in Massachusetts that exposed the central government's weakness under the Articles of Confederation and raised concern over handling domestic issues or foreign attacks.

Philadelphia Convention (1787)

A meeting of 55 delegates whose initial purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation, ultimately leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

Great Compromise

An agreement establishing a bicameral legislature with a Lower House (House of Representatives) based on population and an Upper House (Senate) with equal representation, requiring both houses to pass all legislation.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that government power comes from the consent of the governed and is subject to their will.

Limited Government

The principle that government is not all-powerful and must operate within clear restrictions on what rulers can do.

Republicanism

A system where a government of elected representatives is expected to reflect the will of the people.

Separation of Powers

The division of central government authority among three distinct branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional system where each branch of government can limit the powers of the other branches.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine whether government actions are unconstitutional, as established in Marbury v. Madison.

Federalists

Wealthier supporters of a stronger national government and a new Constitution who favored longer representative terms, believing a representative republic would best protect individual rights.

Anti-Federalists

Small farmers and laborers who preferred stronger state governments, shorter representative terms, and rule by the common man; they considered the Constitution illegal and demanded a Bill of Rights.

Federalist Papers

A series of articles written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison that explained and defended the new Constitution, arguing for a constitutional republic.

Thirteenth Amendment

A constitutional amendment that abolished slavery in the United States.

Fifteenth and Nineteenth Amendments

Constitutional amendments granting the right to vote to racial minorities (15th Amendment) and women (19th Amendment).

Twenty-Second Amendment

A constitutional amendment enforcing presidential term limits.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

A constitutional amendment that eliminated the poll tax.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

A constitutional amendment detailing procedures for presidential succession.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

A constitutional amendment setting the official voting age at 18.

Formal Amendment Process

A two-stage process requiring Proposal (by a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress OR a convention called by 2/3 of states) followed by Ratification (by 3/4 of state legislatures OR 3/4 of state constitutional conventions).