GOVT 2305 Terms Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, constitutional principles, political theories, and figures from GOVT 2305.

George Washington

First U.S. President, historically recognized as the 'Father of the Country'.

Benjamin Franklin

U.S. Diplomat and the oldest member of the Constitutional Convention.

John Locke

Enlightenment philosopher who theorized the state of nature and natural rights to life, liberty, and property.

Life, Liberty, Property

The core natural rights identified by philosopher John Locke.

Thomas Jefferson

Primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Unalienable rights stated by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence.

Declaration of Independence

The historic document declaring the thirteen American colonies free from British rule.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak central government.

Shays Rebellion

An armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional convention proposal favoring large states with representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional convention proposal favoring small states with equal representation for each state.

The Great Compromise

An agreement establishing a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

The 3/5 Compromise

An agreement to count three-fifths of the enslaved population for representation and taxation purposes.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the U.S. Constitution who favored state sovereignty and advocated for a Bill of Rights.

The Federalist Papers

A collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

Co-author of The Federalist Papers and advocate for a strong national government.

James Madison

Federalist leader and prominent architect of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Preamble to the United States Constitution

The introductory statement establishing the goals and principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government where power is divided between a national government and regional state governments.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional provision requiring states to respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

The Supremacy Clause

Constitutional clause establishing that federal law and the Constitution are the supreme law of the land.

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

1st Amendment

Protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Restricts the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Guarantees due process, protection against self-incrimination, and protection against double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury and the right to counsel.

8th Amendment

Protects against excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

9th Amendment

States that rights not explicitly listed in the Constitution are still retained by the people.

Article I

The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the Legislative Branch.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body made up of two chambers or houses, such as the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a specific political party or group.

17th Amendment

Established the direct popular election of U.S. Senators by the voters of each state.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill through prolonged debate.

Vote of Cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster and bring a matter to a vote.

Article II of the U.S. Constitution

The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the Executive Branch headed by the President.

22nd Amendment

Limits the President of the United States to serving a maximum of two terms.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to declare legislative and executive actions unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that firmly established the principle of judicial review.

Article III

The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the Judicial Branch.

Egalitarianism

A political belief or philosophy favoring equality for all people in society.

A heuristic

A mental shortcut, such as a political party label, used by individuals to simplify decision-making.

Federalist #10

An essay by James Madison addressing the dangers of political factions and how a large republic controls them.

Citizens United v. FEC

A landmark Supreme Court ruling that deregulated corporate independent political expenditures under the First Amendment.

Lobbying

Seeking to influence decisions made by public officials and legislators.

Narrowcasting

Targeting media programming toward a specific, specialized audience rather than the general public.