Unit 1 Gov Terms

Virginia Plan

a 1787 proposal by Virginia delegates at the Constitutional Convention for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature where state representation was based on population. [1, 2]

New Jersey Plan

a unicameral (one-house) legislature where every state received equal representation with one vote, regardless of its population size

Connecticut/Sherman/Great Compromise

an agreement from 1787 that set up the two houses of the United States Congress. (Senate + House of Rep.)

Federalists/Federalist Papers

is a collection of 85 essays and articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the shared pseudonym "Publius". Feds believed powers should be divided between nation and state.

Anti-Federalist

political coalition that opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution and the creation of a powerful centralized national government

Separation of powers

a constitutional design that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any single group from holding total control (exec, legislative & judicial)

Checks and balances

a system that divides government power so no single branch can become too powerful

Executive checks: The president can veto laws passed by Congress.

Legislative checks: Congress can override a presidential veto with enough votes. Congress also approves judges and can impeach officials.

Judicial checks: The courts can declare laws unconstitutional

Eminent domain

power of the government to take private property and convert it for public use.

Elastic clause

AKA Necessary and Proper Clause, is a section of the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the power to pass all laws needed to carry out its listed duties

Sovereignty

supreme power and authority of a state to govern itself and make its own laws without outside interference

Republic

form of government where power rests with the people and their elected leaders, rather than a king or queen

Pluralist theory

power and influence in a democracy are distributed among many diverse interest groups rather than concentrated in a single elite group

Elite and class theory

two distinct frameworks used in sociology and political science to explain social inequality and how power operates in society

Hyperpluralist theory

when too many competing interest groups become strong and fragmented, the government is weakened, leading to gridlock and contradictory policies

Faction

small, organized group within a larger organization, government, or party whose members share distinct beliefs or goals that differ from the main body

Federalism

a system of government in which there is a central gov & local gov each with autonomy (in U.S. central gov has more power)

Unitary governments

a system of political organization where a single central government holds ultimate supreme authority and power over the entire country

Supremacy clause

establishes that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land

10th Amendment

any powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution, nor kept from the states, belong to the states or to the people

Enumerated/expressed powers

specific powers granted directly to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution

Implied powers

authority and actions taken by the federal government that are not directly written in the U.S. Constitution, but are reasonably assumed and necessary to carry out

Reserved powers

political powers that are not given to the federal government by the constitution, but are instead kept by state governments or the people.

Full faith and credit

requires each U.S. state to respect the public acts, records, and court rulings of every other state

Privileges/immunities

stops a state from treating visitors from other states unfairly compared to its own residents

Dual Federalism

strictly divided between the federal and state governments, with each level having separate and distinct spheres of authority. (strict roles for each part of gov)

Cooperative Federalism

Different levels of gov work together

Fiscal federalism

Grants where federal gov share revenue to state & local gov

system of dividing tax collection, spending, and public service responsibilities among national, state, and local governments

Formula grants

money is distributed automatically to states, local governments, or eligible institutions based on a mathematical formula set by law

(medicaid)

strings attached

Block grant

fixed sum of money used of a variety or purposes

(edu grants, post covid)

less strings attached

Categorical grants

Project and Formula Grants

federal funds given to state and local governments with strict rules that limit spending to specific purposes defined by law

strings attached

Project grants

Based on competitive applications by states and individuals

(uni research, street paving)

Devolution

- transferring responsibility for policies for fed. gov to state & local (10th amendment)

- limits almost all power from flowing to national

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

Argued for natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness), popular sovereignty, and the social contract. List of grievances.

Articles of Confederation (1781)

Created a weak central government and left ultimate sovereignty with individual states.

- single unit of gov --> congress

- unicameral

one vote per delegate elected each yr

The Constitution of the United States (1787)

Establishes the framework of the federal government, separation of powers, federalism, and individual liberties.

Federalist No. 10 (1787)

James Madison argued that a large republic controls the damage of political factions.

Brutus No. 1 (1787)

An Anti-Federalist essay warning that a large national government threatens individual liberties and state power.

Federalist No. 51 (1788)

Madison details how separation of powers and checks and balances prevent tyranny.

Federalist No. 70 (1788)

Alexander Hamilton defends a single, energetic executive president.

Federalist No. 78 (1788)

Hamilton outlines the importance of an independent judiciary and judicial review.