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Natural Rights
the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property
Social Contract Theory
agreement between the people and their government, defining the rights and duties of each. Government protects people and people give the government power
Popular Sovereignty
A government in which the people rule by their own consent.
Limited Government
A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
Separation of Powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Republicanism
A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
represenative democracy
People elect represenatives to carry on the work of government for them.
Pluralistic Democracy
a model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete with each other to influence policy
elite democracy
a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
Equal Protection Clause
14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house
Electoral College
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
3/5 Compromise
-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Impeachment
An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
enumerated powers
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.
implied powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
neccessary and proper clause
the "implied powers" clause located in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution. It states that aside from the enumerated powers given to the federal government, it also has the power to pass any law that can be traced back to those powers "delegated" in the Constitution.
reserved powers
Powers given to the state government alone
concurrent powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
block grants
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services
categorical grants
Federal grants given to states for specific purposes, such as building an airport
Mandates
terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants
Due Process
fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Commerce Clause
The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
revenue sharing
federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states
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