Foundations of Democracy Vocabulary List

participatory democracy

a government in which people govern themselves and individually vote on matters of policy

representative democracy

a model of democracy in which the people are represented by leaders they elected

elite democracy

model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy or have a large share of influence, control political decisions

pluralist view/pluralism

a model of democracy in which power is distributed among many competing organized groups (interest groups, unions, and business associations), so that no single group dominates politics

natural rights

rights inherent to all people that are not dependent upon the government; "god-given rights" "all men are born free"

articles of confederation

the constitution that administered America's first government, which was characterized by a loose league of friendship between states and a weak central government

constitutional convention

meeting of delegates in 1787 that was nitially called to revise teh Articles of Cnfederation, but ultimately led to the formation of the nation's current Constitution

shay's rebellion

an uprising that brought attention to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

virginia plan

constitutional convention proposal to create a stronger national government with a bicameral legislature

new jersey plan

constitutional convention proposal that maintained a unicameral legislature and was preferred by smaller states

great compromise

agreement to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with equal membership for each state

three-fifths compromise

agreement that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation

judicial review

the power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

social contract

agreement in which the government derives their power from the consent of the governed and in exchange, the people agree to limit their rights and participate in an ordered society

federalism

system in which power is divded between national and state or local governments

federalist papers

a collection of essays/articles designed to rally support for the ratification of the constitution

faction

a group with distinct political interest; highlighted in Federalist #10

federalists

those citizens who favored a stronger national government and generally supported the ratification of the constitution

anit-federalists

those citizens who favored a weaker national government and generally opposed the ratification of the other branches

checks and balances

constitutional principle that grants each branch som eability to limit the authority of the other branches

separation of powers

the constitutional principle that divides the powers of government into three distinct branches

popular sovereignty

the principle that the authority of the government is creastef and sustained by the consent of its people

bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the constitution

amendment

a new addition that has been proposed by congress and ratified by the states

writ of habeas corpus

an order to produce an arrested person before a judge so that a reason may be given as to why that person is in custody

limited government

the government is restrained in their lawful use of power and may only exercise those power assigned to it in the constitution