Foundational Principles of Democracy and Government

A set of flashcards covering key definitions, political theories, and constitutional compromises from the lecture notes.

Democracy

Government where the people have political power.

Representative Democracy

Government structure in which people elect representatives to make decisions for them.

Participatory Democracy

Form of democracy in which people have direct and active involvement in government, with examples including voting, town meetings, and ballot initiatives.

Pluralist Democracy

Form of democracy where different interest groups (such as environmental groups, businesses, and labor unions) compete to influence government.

Elite Democracy

Form of democracy where a small group of wealthy, powerful, or influential people has a large amount of political influence.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the people are the source of government power.

Limited Government

Principle that government power is restricted by laws and the Constitution.

Republicanism

System where people elect representatives to govern on their behalf.

Social Contract

Agreement in which people agree to give government some power in exchange for protection and order.

Natural Rights

Rights people are believed to have simply because they are human, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Faction

A group of people with a shared interest that may try to influence government.

Federalist Papers

Essays written to support ratification of the Constitution.

Shays' Rebellion

A rebellion by Massachusetts farmers that showed the Articles of Confederation's national government was too weak.

Ratification

The process of officially approving the Constitution.

Great Compromise

Agreement that created Congress with the House based on population and the Senate with 2 representatives per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement that counted three-fifths of enslaved people when determining representation and certain taxation.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause that allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its constitutional powers; also called the Elastic Clause.

Article V

Section that explains how to amend/change the Constitution.