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Filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period of time.
Government
A system for implementing decisions made through the political process.
What are the two key purposes of government?
to provide order
to promote the general welfare
monarchy
the one and for the common interest
tyranny
the one and for the interest of the ruler(s)
aristocracy
the few and for the common interest
oligarchy
the few and for the interest of the ruler(s)
polity
the many and for the common interest
democracy
the many and for the interest of the ruler(s)
Separation of powers
The division of power among three branches of government.
Checks and balances
Each branch of government has some power over the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Federalism
The division of power between local, state, and national levels of government.
Public Goods
Goods or services that, if provided to one person, become available to all.
Collective Action Problems
Situations in which a group would benefit from working together, but each individual might be better off not working together.
Free Rider Problem
When individuals can benefit from a public good without contributing to its provision.
Tragedy of the Commons
A specific collective action problem where not working together results in overuse or depletion of a resource.
Free Market
A system based on competition between businesses without government intervention.
Redistributive policies
Policies aimed at creating social equity through taxation.
Norms
Unwritten rules and informal agreements about how government and society should operate.
The Declaration of Independence
A document that explains the reasons for the American colonies' separation from British rule.
the preamble (the declaration of independence)
explains why they are writing
the declaration of natural rights (the declaration of independence)
lists the God-given rights of all men
the lists of grievances (the declaration of independence)
lists the colonists’ objections to British government
the resolution of independence (the declaration of independence)
officially declares independence
Federalists
Supporters of a strong central government.
Anti-Federalists
Supporters of giving more power to the states.
Virginia Plan
A proposal for representation in Congress based on population.
New Jersey Plan
A proposal for equal representation in Congress for each state.
Connecticut Compromise
A compromise that created a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and representation based on population in the House of Representatives.
3/5ths compromise
each enslaved person counted as 3/5
The structure of the Constitution
The organization and layout of the Constitution, including the Preamble, articles I - VII, and the ammendments.
The Federalist Papers
A series of essays written to explain and justify the framework created by the Constitution.
Ratification
The process of formally approving the Constitution by the states. Only need 9 out of 13 states to agree
positive powers
things each branch can do
negative powers
power to limit another branch
shared powers
powers they have to share
implied powers
powers not specifically stated but likey given the descriotion of the specific powers
Powers of Congress
The specific powers granted to Congress, including the power to raise and spend money, regulate commerce, establish courts, declare war, and raise armies.
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
A clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its other powers.
powers exclusive to the president
commander in chief of the armed forces
receive ambassadors and foreign ministers
issue pardons
shared powers
negotiate treaties and appoint to the federal courts
war powers
powers congressional checks
impeachment
the power of the purse
making laws or not
powers presidential checks
the veto
power to appoint judges
powers judicial review
none
the supremacy clause
says that if there is a federal law in conflict with a state law, the federal law takes precedence
10th Amendment
Amendment that states that powers not specifically listed as national are reserved for the states.
14th Amendment
Amendment that extended the rights in the Bill of Rights to the state level and prohibits states from depriving individuals of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Clause in Article IV of the Constitution that requires each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Clause in Article IV of the Constitution that requires states to treat visitors from other states the same as their own citizens.
McCulloch vs Maryland
Supreme Court case that upheld the national government's right to establish a bank and reaffirmed the idea of national supremacy.
Gibbons vs Ogden
Supreme Court case that established Congress's authority over interstate commerce, including navigation.
Barron vs Baltimore
Supreme Court case that held that the provisions of the first eight amendments applied only to the national government, not to the states.
Dred Scott vs Sanford
Supreme Court case that treated Scott as property, not as a person, and declared portions of the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.
Remedial Legislation
National laws that were enacted to stop discriminatory state laws.
four important characteristics from the last 60 years that pushed us towards more national power
reliance on the national government in times of crisis/war
the rights revolution of the 60s
the great society programs
the rise of coercive federalism
Commerce Clause
Clause in Article I of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.
Coercive federalism
The rise of the national government's power over the states through the use of funding and mandates.1. Federalism:A type of government where power is divided among political units (local, state, and federal).
Autonomy
The ability to self-govern or make decisions independently.
Distinct Powers
Powers that are specifically granted to either the national government or the state government.
Police Powers
Powers held by the state government to maintain public health, safety, and order.
Concurrent Powers
Powers that are shared by both the state and federal governments.
Dual Federalism
A type of federalism where the state and national governments are distinct entities providing separate services.
Cooperative Federalism
A type of federalism where the national and state governments work together to provide services.
Picket Fence Federalism
A subtype of cooperative federalism where policy makers work together within the same policy area spanning national, state, and local governments.
Fiscal Federalism
Federal funds provided to state and local governments to provide services.
Coercive Federalism
When the national government pressures the states to change their policies by using regulations, mandates, or conditions.
Unfunded Mandates
National government passes laws that require states to do things but doesn't provide them with the funds to do them.
Categorical Grants
Aid provided for a specific purpose.
Block Grants
Aid provided to be used in a policy area but the state can choose how to use it.
Devolution
Giving more power back to the states.
Competitive Federalism
A form of federalism where states compete with each other to attract businesses and jobs.
Unitary governments
National government has ultimate authority over others.
Confederal governments
States hold power over a limited national government.
Civil Liberties
Basic political freedoms to protect citizens from governmental abuses.
civil rights
protection from discrimination
1st Amendment
The amendment that protects freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
freedom of religion
you can believe what you want, belong to any religion or no religion.
freedom of speech
you can voice your opinions using words, symbols, or action
freedom of petition
you can criticize the government, and you can complain about policies that affect you negatively and ask for change
Establishment Clause
Part of the First Amendment that prohibits Congress from sponsoring or endorsing any religion.
Free Exercise Clause
Part of the First Amendment that protects the practice of religion from government interference.
Strict Scrutiny
The highest level of scrutiny applied by the court to laws that attempt to regulate the content of speech.
Intermediate Scrutiny
A level of scrutiny applied by the court to laws that must be content neutral and further an important government interest.
Symbolic Speech
Nonverbal expression or actions that convey a message. Forms of communication that do not involve spoken or written words, such as signs and symbols.
Freedom of Assembly
The right of individuals to gather peacefully and express their opinions, protected by the government as long as they do not incite violence or discriminate against certain groups.
Freedom of the Press
The right of the media to publish information without prior restraint, with few limitations imposed by the government.
Prior restraint
The act of preventing the publication of information by the government, usually justified by social or political importance for a limited period of time.
the pentagon papers
an internal investigation into what happened in Vietnam, showed that the president had not been completely honest about what had happened.
Wikileaks
91,000 reports about the war on Afghanistan leaked by them.
Slander
Spoken false statements that harm a person's reputation.
Libel
Written false statements that harm a person's reputation.
Commercial Speech
Public expression aimed at making a profit, such as advertising, which can be regulated by the government if it involves illegal activities, is misleading, or conflicts with a substantial government interest.
2nd Amendment
The right to bear arms, with limited Supreme Court rulings related to the "well regulated militia" aspect of the amendment.
Due Process Rights
Protections against the government taking away life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures.
Fourth Amendment
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, requiring law enforcement to obtain a warrant based on probable cause.
Fifth Amendment
Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and outlines when the government can take property.
Sixth Amendment
Guarantees the right to legal counsel, a speedy trial, and an impartial jury.
Eighth Amendment
Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
Shared powers
War powers held by both the president and Congress.
Exclusive powers
Powers held exclusively by a specific branch of government.
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