Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy

Republicanism

social contracts, natural rights
voting for representatives

Participatory democracy

people vote directly for laws; normal people are represented

Pluralist democracy

interest groups interact with government from multiple angles

Elite democracy

elected representatives make decisions, power is in certain people

Shays’s Rebellion

farmers revolted, arguing for increased money, lower taxes, and suspending mortages

Virginia Plan

3 branches of government with bicameral legislature
Better for large states

New Jersey Plan

States retain sovereignty
Better for smaller states

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

Roger Sherman proposed the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (2 per state)

Full faith and credit clause

states must respect laws from other states

Federalism

sharing of power between central and regional government

Alien & Sedition Acts

government could jail dissenters and limit immigration

Compact theory

The 13 states entered an agreement (social contracts) with federal government and could challenge its authority

Nullification

right to declare any federal law null and void if the state believes it violates the Constitution

Dual federalism

both state and federal government are supreme in their own spheres

Commerce clause

Congress can regulate all business across state lines

Block grants

amounts of money given by government for a greater purpose

Categorical grants

reimbursed by government, but only for specific areas

Devolution

call for federal government’s responsibilities to be transferred to states; less federal government power

Cooperative federalism

intermingled relationships between national, state, and local governments to deliver services to citizens

Fiscal federalism

taxing, spending, and providing federal grants to state and local governments

Revenue sharing

policy requiring both national and local funds for programs

Problems with Articles of Confederation

No tax money → couldn't force states to tax
No army → must ask for volunteers
Not unified → couldn't enforce laws
Hard to amend

Federalist 10, Brutus I

Written by James Madison
Factions that will prevent a tyranny of the majority and mob rule

Federalist 51

Written by James Madison
Argues for separation of powers to keep one faction from amassing power (tyranny)

Enumerated powers

Federal powers in the Constitution
- Declaring war, printing money, post office, regulating commerce, raising army

Concurrent powers

powers shared by the state and federal government

Reserved powers

Powers reserved to the states

McCulloch v. Maryland

Maryland attempted to tax federal bank
Article I, Sec 8: Necessary and proper clause
Article 6: Supremacy clause
SC said ain't no way → gave fed more power