Chapter 6: Constitutional Foundations 

studied byStudied by 20 people
5.0(3)
Get a hint
Hint

________ presented his Virginia Plan, which proposed a strong national government, before the Convention officially began.

1 / 74

75 Terms

1

________ presented his Virginia Plan, which proposed a strong national government, before the Convention officially began.

James Madison

New cards
2

________ is defined by political scientist Harold Laswell as "who gets what, when, and how.

Politics

New cards
3

The ________ debated on representation in the national legislature and arrived at the Great (Connecticut) Compromise.

Constitutional Convention

New cards
4

The ________ became America's first national government in May 1775.

Second Continental Congress

New cards
5

________: Voluntary agreement between members of society and government, defining and limiting rights and duties.

Social contract

New cards
6

________ was chosen as the president of the Convention.

George Washington

New cards
7

The Preamble lists the six goals for the ________ and explains why the Constitution was written.

American government

New cards
8

________ and usage: Traditions that have been incorporated into the political system and which have lasted over time have changed the meaning of the Constitution, such as senatorial courtesy in the Senate and the "no- third- term "tradition in the presidency until the Twenty- Second Amendment made it part of the Constitution.

Custom

New cards
9

________ had limited powers, such as borrowing money, creating a national army and navy, declaring war, creating post offices, and signing treaties.

Congress

New cards
10

The ________ is the introductory statement that precedes the main text of the Constitution.

Preamble

New cards
11

________: a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states.

Federalism

New cards
12

People have ________ (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) given by God, not the king.

inalienable rights

New cards
13

Promoting the ________: providing public services and economic health of the nation.

general welfare

New cards
14

The ________ and Slave Trade Compromise addressed the differences between northern and southern states regarding exports and the slave trade.

Commerce

New cards
15

Aristocracy- Rule by the elite, determined by ________ /wealth.

social status

New cards
16

From 1607 to ________, the American colonies were in a continuous state of political self- development.

1776

New cards
17

Insuring ________: preservation of public order.

domestic tranquility

New cards
18

________: People are the source of all governmental power, with ultimate power and authority resting with "we the people.

Popular sovereignty

New cards
19

________: Many groups hold significant power, leading to gridlock and ineffectiveness.

Hyperpluralism

New cards
20

________ are written changes to the Constitution.

Formal amendments

New cards
21

The ________ is divided into three major parts: the Preamble, articles, and amendments.

Constitution

New cards
22

________ wrote about the need for branches of government.

Montesquieu

New cards
23

________: People give authority to the government and exercise power through elected representatives.

Republicanism

New cards
24

The First ________ was held in Philadelphia in 1774 and included delegates from 12 colonies.

Continental Congress

New cards
25

Enlightenment ________ like John Locke & Thomas Jefferson supported the concept of a social contract.

Era philosophers

New cards
26

________ adopted Locke's ideas in the Declaration of Independence.

Jefferson

New cards
27

Before ________, Britain provided defense and manufactured goods for the colonies, which in return provided raw materials and markets for manufactured goods.

1750

New cards
28

________ are created by men and require the consent of the ________.

Governments

New cards
29

The American government is based on ideas of limited government, ________, popular sovereignty, republicanism & social contract.

natural rights

New cards
30

Securing the blessings of liberty: promoting ________.

individual freedoms

New cards
31

________ (1803) is a landmark case in United States history that established the principle of judicial review.

Marbury v Madison

New cards
32

Establishing ________: reasonable, fair, and impartial law.

justice

New cards
33

________ was one of the appointees who did not receive his commission as a justice of the peace for the District of Columbia under Jefferson's administration.

William Marbury

New cards
34

The Convention was held in ________ in May 1787 with the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.

Philadelphia

New cards
35

Written by ________, it attempts to convince people not to ratify the Constitution.

Anti Federalist Robert Yates of New York

New cards
36

The ________ established a permanent colony at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607.

early British colonial empire

New cards
37

________ believes that any damage caused by factions could be controlled by the government under the new Constitution.

Madison

New cards
38

________- citizens choose officials to make policy decisions (most "democratic "nations)

Representative Democracy

New cards
39

The ________ is the process in which the U.S. Constitution can be changed without actually changing its written wording.

Informal Amendment Process

New cards
40

The ________ would have representation in the lower house based on the population of the state and equal representation of the states in the upper house.

bicameral legislature

New cards
41

The ________ and balances prevents any branch of the federal government from becoming more powerful than the other two.

constitutional system of checks

New cards
42

________ actions: The manner in which presidents use their powers can create informal amendments and expand presidential authority.

Executive

New cards
43

________: A small group of powerful elites form a ruling upper class and make decisions in their self- interest.

Elite Theory

New cards
44

________: Bureaucrats hold real power over public policy due to their role in the day- to- day workings of government.

Bureaucratic Theory

New cards
45

________- Inherited power, formal restrictions limit power, usually ceremonial status for monarch.

Constitutional Monarchy

New cards
46

creation of a strong union of the states while maintaining state sovereignty

Forming a more perfect union

New cards
47

preservation of public order

Insuring domestic tranquility

New cards
48

protection and maintenance of national defense

Providing for the common defense

New cards
49

Lack of Government

Anarchy

New cards
50

Rule by One

Autocracy

New cards
51

Inherited power, no restrictions on ruler's power

  • Absolute Monarchy

New cards
52

Inherited power, formal restrictions limit power, usually ceremonial status for monarch

Constitutional Monarchy

New cards
53

Seized power, maintained by force, opposition restricted

Dictatorship

New cards
54

Rule by a few

Oligarchy

New cards
55

Rule by the elite, determined by social status/wealth

  • Aristocracy

New cards
56

Rule by the People

Democracy

New cards
57

Citizens make policy decisions

Direct Democracy

New cards
58

citizens choose officials to make policy decisions (most "democratic" nations)

Representative Democracy

New cards
59

Governance relies on the consent of the governed, either directly or through representatives

Participatory Democratic Theory

New cards
60

Interest groups compete to promote their preferred policies, leading to bargaining and compromise

Pluralist Theory

New cards
61

Bureaucrats hold real power over public policy due to their role in the day-to-day workings of government

Bureaucratic Theory

New cards
62

basic rights guaranteed to all people and cannot be denied by any government/individual

Natural rights

New cards
63

People are the source of all governmental power, with ultimate power and authority resting with "we the people"

Popular sovereignty

New cards
64

People give authority to the government and exercise power through elected representatives

Republicanism

New cards
65

Voluntary agreement between members of society and government, defining and limiting rights and duties

Social contract

New cards
66

executive, legislative, and judicial

The delegates agreed on a republic form of government with a federal system and three branches

New cards
67

the belief that government has only the powers given to it and is not all-powerful

Limited government

New cards
68

the people are the source of government's authority

Popular sovereignty

New cards
69

power is separated among three branches of government, each with its own powers and duties, and is independent of and equal to the other branches

Separation of powers

New cards
70

each branch is subject to restraints by the other two branches

Checks and balances

New cards
71

the Preamble, articles, and amendments

The Constitution is divided into three major parts

New cards
72

Legislative Branch

Article I

New cards
73

Executive Branch

Article II

New cards
74

Congress has passed various acts that have altered or made clear the meaning of the Constitution, such as creating lower courts under Article III through the Judiciary Act of 1789

Legislative actions

New cards
75

The manner in which presidents use their powers can create informal amendments and expand presidential authority

Executive actions

New cards

Explore top notes

note Note
studied byStudied by 5 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 14 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 79 people
... ago
5.0(4)
note Note
studied byStudied by 2 people
... ago
4.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 73 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 27 people
... ago
4.5(2)
note Note
studied byStudied by 9 people
... ago
5.0(1)
note Note
studied byStudied by 32 people
... ago
4.5(2)

Explore top flashcards

flashcards Flashcard (335)
studied byStudied by 33 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (115)
studied byStudied by 14 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (27)
studied byStudied by 6 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (44)
studied byStudied by 8 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (94)
studied byStudied by 3 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (75)
studied byStudied by 307 people
... ago
4.5(2)
flashcards Flashcard (172)
studied byStudied by 2 people
... ago
5.0(1)
flashcards Flashcard (632)
studied byStudied by 70 people
... ago
5.0(1)
robot