Unit One Foundations

22nd Amendment

Limited the President to two terms.

12th Amendment

Changed the process of running for President and Vice President in the Electoral College.

17th Amendment

Provided for the direct election of Senators.

25th Amendment

Addresses presidential disability and succession.

Implied Powers

Not specifically stated in the Constitution but considered reasonable under the elastic clause.

Reserved Powers

Powers set aside for the states in the 10th Amendment.

Enumerated Powers

Specifically granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8.

Commerce Clause

Gave the federal government power over foreign and interstate trade.

Supremacy Clause

States that the Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land.

Virginia Plan

Proposed by Madison, setting up the government with three branches with checks and balances.

Anti-Federalists

Believed the most power should remain with the states and local governments.

Ex Post Facto Laws

Retroactive criminal laws prohibited in the Constitution.

Extradition

The legal process where an alleged criminal is surrendered to a state where the crime allegedly was committed.

Federalist Papers

Series of essays designed to explain and defend the newly written Constitution.

Pluralism

Theory that government is a competition among groups and compromise resolves issues.

Elite Theory

Negative view that the rich and powerful will rule everything.

Hyperpluralism

Theory that many groups are so strong that government is weakened and gridlock occurs.

Republic

Also called “Indirect Democracy” or “Representative Democracy.”

Social Contract Theory

Says people surrender some power in return for government protection.

Political Efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation matters.

Public Agenda

Issues that attract the attention of public officials and others involved in government.

Bully Pulpit

Term for the President getting more attention when discussing a topic.

Unitary Government

Power is concentrated in the national (or central) government.

Confederation

Power is in the states, with the central government only having powers given to it by the states.

Federal System

Power is shared between the central government and sub-governments.

Political Culture

Sets of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government.

Two-thirds (2/3)

Fraction needed for the proposal of an amendment to the Constitution.

Three-fourths (3/4)

Fraction needed for the ratification of an amendment to the Constitution.

National Convention

An amendment could also be proposed by a national convention called by two-thirds of the state legislatures.

State Conventions

An amendment could be ratified by state conventions instead of state legislatures.

21st Amendment

The only amendment ratified using state conventions instead of state legislatures.

States

Power was concentrated in the states under the Articles of Confederation.

The Great Compromise

Proposed a bicameral legislature with one house based on population and the other with equal state representation.

Montesquieu

Enlightenment philosopher whose ideas influenced Madison on Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher Jefferson drew from for ideas of Natural Rights.

Property

John Locke mentioned life, liberty, and property as natural rights.

Linkage Institutions

Channels through which people’s concerns become part of the political agenda.

Article V

Provides for the Constitution’s flexibility with an amendment process.

Article II

Gives the powers of the Executive Branch.

Article III

Tells the powers of the Judicial Branch.

Legislative Branch

Only the legislative branch was established in the Articles of Confederation.

Reapportionment

Changes in Congressional seats among the states due to population shifts.

Census

Taken every decade to determine the population of the United States.

House of Representatives

The only directly elected position in the original Constitution.

Declaration of Independence

Foundation document describing a government based on unity, natural rights, and the social contract.

Apportionment

The reallocation of seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years due to the Census.

Redistricting

The process of drawing electoral district boundaries in the United States.

Thomas Jefferson

Main writer of the Declaration of Independence.

Northwest Ordinance

Document outlining rules for a new state to join the U.S. during the Articles of Confederation.

Nine (9)

Percentage of the states needed to add an amendment to the Articles of Confederation.

Originalism

The approach of interpreting government documents as the founding fathers intended.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries after Census results.

Habeas Corpus

Court order requiring explanation