Study Guide- Unit Test 1

American Dream

The belief that anyone, no matter their background, can achieve success and a better life through hard work and opportunity.

Conservative

Someone who favors limited government, traditional values, and more personal responsibility.

Democracy

A system of government where power comes from the people, usually through voting.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote on laws and decisions themselves, instead of electing representatives.

Government

The system or group of people that makes and enforces laws for a country or community.

Indirect Democracy

Citizens elect representatives who make decisions and laws on their behalf (also called a republic).

Liberal

Someone who supports government action to improve society, expand rights, and solve social problems.

Libertarian

Someone who believes in maximum personal freedom and very little government involvement in people’s lives.

Majority Rule

The idea that the decision supported by more than half the people is followed.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement made by the Pilgrims in 1620 to form a self-governing community, one of the first steps toward democracy in America.

Moderate

A person whose political views are in the middle, not strongly liberal or conservative.

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen.

Natural Law

The belief that people have rights given by nature or God, not by governments.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a small, powerful group of people.

Personal Liberty

The freedom for individuals to act and think as they choose, as long as they don’t harm others.

Political Culture

The shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about government and politics in a society.

Political Equality

The idea that all people have the same political rights and opportunities (like voting).

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about the role of government and how society should work (ex: liberal, conservative).

Politics

The process of making decisions about government, laws, and policies.

Popular Consent

The belief that government gets its power only when people agree to be governed.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the people are the ultimate source of government’s power.

Republic

A type of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

Social Conservative

A person who believes government should promote traditional family values and moral standards.

Social Contract

The theory that people give up some freedoms to government in exchange for protection of rights.

Totalitarianism

A system where the government has total control over all aspects of people’s lives.

Anti-Federalist

People who opposed the Constitution in 1787 because they feared a strong central government would take away individual rights.

Articles of Confederation

America’s first government after independence; weak central government, most power in states.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, protecting freedoms like speech, religion, and due process.

Checks and Balances

System where each branch of government (legislative, executive, judicial) can limit the power of the others.

Committees of Correspondence

Colonial groups before the Revolution that spread news and coordinated resistance against Britain.

Confederation

A system where states keep most of the power and the central government is weak.

Constitution

The supreme law of the U.S. that outlines government structure and citizens’ rights.

Declaration of Independence

Document (1776) declaring the colonies free from Britain, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution (ex: declare war, coin money).

Federal System

A government where power is divided between national and state governments.

The Federalist Papers

Essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to support ratifying the Constitution.

Federalist

Supporters of the Constitution who wanted a stronger central government.

First Continental Congress

Meeting in 1774 where colonies discussed British policies and organized boycotts.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Part of the Constitution requiring states to respect other states’ laws and court decisions.

Great Compromise

Agreement at the Constitutional Convention: Congress would have two houses (Senate = equal, House = population).

Implied Powers

Powers not written directly in the Constitution but allowed under the 'necessary and proper' clause.

Mercantilism

Economic system where colonies exist to benefit the mother country (Britain).

Necessary and Proper Clause

Part of the Constitution giving Congress flexibility to make laws needed to carry out its powers.

New Jersey Plan

Plan at the Constitutional Convention favoring small states; wanted equal representation in Congress.

Second Continental Congress

Meeting in 1775 that managed the Revolutionary War and wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into three branches to prevent tyranny.

Shay’s Rebellion

Uprising of farmers in 1786 showing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Stamp Act Congress

1765 meeting of colonies to protest British taxes, step toward unity.

Supremacy Clause

States that the U.S. Constitution and federal laws are the highest law of the land.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that each enslaved person counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxes.

Virginia Plan

Constitutional proposal favoring large states; wanted representation based on population.

Constitution – Articles 1–7

Sections of the Constitution explaining powers of each branch, states, amendment process, and ratification.

Critical Period

Time under the Articles of Confederation (1781–1789) when the U.S. was weak and struggling.

Electoral College

System used to elect the U.S. president; voters choose electors, electors choose president.

Inherent Powers

Powers the national government naturally has (like controlling borders or foreign policy).

Aristocracy

Government ruled by the wealthy or noble class.

Block Grant

Federal money given to states for general purposes with flexibility in how it’s spent.

Categorical Grants

Federal money given to states for specific purposes (like building highways or schools).

Charter

A legal document granting permission to create a government or colony.

Civil War

War (1861–1865) between the North (Union) and South (Confederacy) over slavery and states’ rights.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by both national and state governments (like taxing).

Cooperative Federalism

Federal and state governments working together to solve problems (ex: New Deal programs).

Dillon’s Rule

Local governments only have powers that states give them.

Dual Federalism

System where state and federal governments stay mostly separate ('layer cake federalism').

Great Society

Programs by President Lyndon Johnson in the 1960s to fight poverty and racial injustice.

New Deal

Programs by President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s to fight the Great Depression.

Nullification

The idea that states can cancel (nullify) a federal law they don’t like (later ruled unconstitutional).

Progressive Federalism

Modern system where states sometimes set their own policies and the federal government allows it (ex: marijuana laws).

Reconstruction

Period after the Civil War when southern states were rebuilt and freed slaves gained rights.

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states under the 10th Amendment (like education, marriage laws).

Secession

The act of leaving a country (ex: Southern states leaving the Union in 1860–61).

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review; the Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional.

Shelby County v. Holder (2013)

Weakened the Voting Rights Act, allowing states more freedom to change voting laws.

Barron v. Baltimore (1833)

Showed that originally, rights protections were only against the federal government.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Increased tensions over slavery; ruled enslaved people as property, not citizens.

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Strengthened federal power over the economy; Congress has power over interstate commerce.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Expanded federal power; affirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws.

Federalist No. 10

Defends the Constitution, showing how it protects against factions and tyranny of majority.

Federalist No. 51

Justifies the structure of the Constitution and how it prevents tyranny.

Federalist No. 78

Defends the federal judiciary and argues for judicial review.

Brutus No. 1

Opposes the Constitution, warning that a large republic will become too powerful and take away liberty.

Popular Sovereignty

Government power comes from the people.

Natural Rights

John Locke’s idea that people are born with rights (life, liberty, property).

Social Contract

People agree to form governments that protect rights; citizens can overthrow abusive governments.

Republicanism

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Limited Government

Government power is restricted to protect against tyranny.

Participatory Democracy

Broad participation by citizens (e.g., referendums, protests).

Pluralist Democracy

Policy shaped by competing interest groups (e.g., NRA, NAACP).

Elite Democracy

Power in the hands of the wealthy/educated (e.g., Electoral College, campaign donors).

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Debate over strong central government; Federalists supported it, Anti-Federalists wanted more state power.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting freedoms like speech, press, religion, due process.

Articles of Confederation

Weak national government with most power in states; revealed limitations during Shays’ Rebellion.

Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Compromise leading to Constitution ratified with Bill of Rights.

Separation of Powers

3 branches of government to prevent tyranny.

Federalism

Division of power between state & national governments.

Full Faith & Credit Clause

States honor each other’s laws.

Extradition Clause

Return fugitives to state of crime.

Fiscal Federalism

Federal influence through money.

Categorical Grants

Strict requirements (e.g., highway funds tied to drinking age).

Block Grants

States have flexibility (e.g., welfare programs).