Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

What is the social contract

The people give up certain freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights.

What is popular sovereignty

The government rules at the consent of whom they govern. Meaning, the government’s authority comes from the people and citizens who have the ultimate power to make decisions through voting and other forms of participation.

What are natural rights

Rights that one is born with and cannot be justly taken away by governments. Locke believed these rights were life, liberty, and pursuit of property. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson adapted these as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What is republicanism

The people elect leaders to represent them in government. They can re-elect leaders they like, and remove leaders they don’t by voting for someone else. Think of it as a representative form of government!

What is federalism

Division of power between the national, state and local governments. The Constitution outlines which powers are delegated to the federal government, which are reserved to the states, and which are shared. For example, only the federal government can coin money, but both state and federal governments can collect taxes.

What is limited government

A government system that is not as involved in citizens’ lives and often involves the protection of individual liberty from government intrusion. It can be defined as only doing what is listed for it to do in the Constitution.

What are factions

Groups of people that do things for their own benefit and for their own interest and not for the best interest of the country. This concept is evident in Madison’s Federalist 10. Currently, factions are considered to be interest groups that lobby Congress for change on a specific policy issue.

Who was John Locke

A philosopher who believed that all people are entitled to natural rights and the rulers who do not provide these rights for the people should be removed. He supported democracy, majority rule and individual liberty. His ideas appear throughout the Declaration of Independence.

Who was Thomas Hobbes

A philosopher who believed a government was necessary because life without it would be “nasty, brutish and short.” He supported a monarchy.

Who wrote the Declaration of Independence

Main ideas

Who wrote the Articles of Confederation

Main ideas

Who wrote the Federalist Papers

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay.

What is Federalist 10 about

Who wrote it

What is Federalist 51 about

Who wrote it

What is Federalist 70 about

Who wrote it

What is Federalist 78 about

Who wrote it

What is Brutus 1 about

A small national government and more power given to the states is necessary to keep the national government from infringing on people’s liberties and is a better overall option. Also, state governments are better positioned to understand and address the specific needs of their citizens due to their closer connection to the people.

Who wrote the Constitution

Main ideas

What is Article 1

Establishes the legislative branch of the federal government. It defines the structure and powers of Congress (House and Senate), including the power to make laws, declare war, collect taxes, confirm heads of executive departments and SCOTUS judges, regulate commerce, and maintain armed forces.

What is Article 2

Establishes the executive branch, which includes the president, vice president, and executive departments. It outlines presidential powers like enforcing laws, commanding the military, granting pardons, and making treaties (with Senate approval). This article also establishes the process of impeachment of the president which is a simple majority by the HOR and ⅔ of senate majority.

What is Article 3

Establishes the judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. It defines their jurisdiction and gives Congress the power to establish inferior courts. It also ensures judicial independence through life tenure and protection against salary reduction.

What is Article 4

Defines federalism and the relationship between the states. It includes the Full Faith and Credit Clause (states must respect laws of other states), the Privileges and Immunities Clause (prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states), and procedures for admitting new states.

What is separation of powers

List some examples. Division of power between judicial, executive and legislative branches. For example, the President is Commander in Chief and Congress can declare war. Another example is Congress creates laws and the President enforces them.

What are checks and balances

List some examples. Ways to check the powers of the other two branches to make sure one branch doesn’t become too powerful. For example, the Supreme Court can strike down congressional laws if they find them unconstitutional. Another example is that the President can veto a bill that Congress passes.

What is participatory democracy

What is an example of it in the US government

What is pluralist democracy

What is an example of it in the US government

What is elitist democracy

What is an example of it in the US government

What is a direct democracy

What is an example of it in the US government

List a few weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Congress could not reliably enforce tax collection from the states, leading to an inability to manage finances and repay war debts. Furthermore, the requirement of unanimous consent for amendments (all 13 states) made it exceedingly difficult to adapt the governing framework. Additional weaknesses included the lack of federal authority over interstate and international trade, the absence of a national court system to resolve disputes between states, and a generally weak central authority where states retained significant power, hindering unified national action.

What was the significance of Shays’ Rebellion

Shays’ Rebellion, an uprising of indebted farmers in Massachusetts in 1787, was sparked by economic hardship and debt collection practices following the Revolutionary War. Congress lacked the power to raise a standing army or compel states to provide meaningful assistance to Massachusetts. This failure to maintain internal order alarmed many national leaders who recognized it as evidence that the Articles of Confederation provided a government that was too weak. This got support from many to reform the national government, contributing significantly to the momentum that led to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 and the eventual drafting of the United States Constitution, which established a stronger federal system.

What problem did the electoral college solve

The argument of how to elect the President. In more detail, some were worried that purely electing the President by popular vote would lead to a President elected only by the most populated regions, ignoring the interests of less populated areas. Others also thought that Congress should elect the President instead, but many felt that this rejected popular sovereignty. The Electoral College was a compromise, allocating electoral votes based on a state’s total number of Representatives and Senators, thus balancing population and state equality.

What is the Virginia Plan

What is the New Jersey Plan

What is the Great/Connecticut Compromise

Decided that one house of Congress will be represented by population (House of Representatives) while the other will be equal representation (Senate). The House will satisfy the larger states and the Senate will satisfy the smaller states.

What is the 3/5s Compromise

Slaves will be counted as 3/5s of a person for taxation and representation purposes.

How can the Constitution be amended

There are two ways to propose an amendment: 1. 2/3s vote of both the House of Representatives and the Senate or 2. a national convention called for by 2/3s of the state legislatures. There are also two ways for the amendment to be ratified. 1. 3/4s of the state legislatures or 2. conventions in 3/4s of the states.

Who were Federalists

What were their arguments

Who were Anti-Federalists

What were their arguments

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution

Though Federalists believed it was unnecessary, they agreed to add it to the Constitution as Anti-Federalists would agree to ratify it if the Bill of Rights was included. It serves as a compromise and safeguard against government overreach.

What is the impeachment process

The House impeaches with a simple majority, the Senate convicts with ⅔ vote. There is no involvement from the Judicial Branch.

What is Article 5

Amendment process of the Constitution

What is Article 6

The national government laws supersede the state government laws when they conflict. (supremacy clause)

What is Article 7

States that the Constitution will be official once 9/13 states agree.

What are categorical grants

Money sent from the national government with a very specific purpose, such as building highways or funding specific education programs. These grants often come with strict conditions that the states must follow, increasing federal control over state activities.

What are block grants

Money sent to the state governments from the national government with a less specific purpose. For example, states may receive block grants for education or healthcare which are very broad topics. States typically prefer block grants rather than categorical grants as they have more discretion as to where the money goes within the broad/general policy. (more general than categorical grants, give states more power and freedoms).

What are funded mandates

Orders or “mandates” from the national government with funding.

What are unfunded mandates

Orders from the national government without funding

What is the Commerce Clause

Allows Congress to regulate inTERstate commerce (inTRAstate commerce is within a state while inTERstate commerce is between multiple states).

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to “make all laws necessary for carrying out their enumerated powers” (also called Elastic Clause). This clause gives Congress implied powers, enabling it to adapt to new situations, such as creating a national bank.

What is the Supremacy Clause

National laws overrule state laws (“supreme Law of the Land”). This clause has been central in cases where federal and state laws conflict.

What is dual federalism

Powers that the federal government and state governments have that are clearly defined and separated. Often compared to a layer cake, with each level of government operating independently.

What is cooperative federalism

Powers are shared between federal and state governments and they work together and collaborate to solve problems. Often called marble cake federalism, it emerged during the New Deal era and involves shared responsibilities in areas like education, transportation, and healthcare.

What is fiscal federalism

Fiscal federalism is about the “money” side of federalism. The federal government uses grants and funding mechanisms to influence state policies. Through fiscal tools like block grants, categorical grants, and mandates, the federal government shapes how states implement national priorities.