Studied by 2 peopleLimited Government
The democratic ideal that suggests that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Natural Rights
The democratic ideal that suggests that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property
Popular Sovereignty
The democratic ideal that proposes that it is the people who should hold absolute power
Social Contract
The democratic ideal that suggests people should give up some rights to their government in return for security
Declaration of Independence
The document that formally separated the United States from Britain and outlined the democratic ideals of the new country
Constitutional Convention
Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to form a new government
Participatory Democracy
A theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly oversee the government
Pluralist Democracy
A theory of democracy that holds that competition between groups / factions keeps democracies balanced
Elite Democracy
A theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing, qualified leaders
Federalist 10
A foundational document outlining the way in which a large republic can limit factions
Federalist 51
A foundational document suggesting that checks and balances and separation of powers is the way to control an ambitious government
Brutus 1
A foundational document that says a large republic is inferior to small, locally-controlled states within a confederacy
Articles of Confederation
A foundational document that served as America's first government and provided sovereignty to the States
Shays' Rebellion
Rebellion in 1786 / 1787 that showed the weakness of the early federal government in maintaining order
Connecticut Compromise
System outlined by the Constitution that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the U.S. population, and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives.
Electoral College
System outlined by the Constitution that provides for a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
3/5 Compromise
System outlined by the Constitution that slaves would be worth 3/5 of a person for counting a State's population
Amendment Process for the Constitution
Requires a 2/3 vote in Congress or in a Constitutional Convention to propose, and a 3/4 vote by the states to be ratified
Commerce Clause
Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Clause of the Constitution setting forth the implied powers of Congress to fulfill their enumerated powers
McCulloch v. Maryland
Supreme Court case that ruled that the federal government had the power to establish a national bank as an implied power under the Necessary and Proper Clause
US v. Lopez
Supreme Court case that ruled that the federal government could not use the Commerce Clause to justify regulating guns in schools
10th Amendment
Amendment of the Constitution that provides states the right to Reserved Powers
Supremacy Clause
Clause of the Constitution that describes the Constitution as outweighing / overruling federal laws, and federal laws as outweighing / overruling state laws
Enumerated Powers
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.
Concurrent Powers
The powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
Reserved Powers
Powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states
Unfunded Mandates
Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.
Categorical Grants
Federal grants given to states for specific purposes, such as for education programs
Block Grants
Federal grants given to states that leave most of the decisions about how the money will be used to the states
Senate
The upper house of Congress, made up of two representatives from each state
House
The lower house of Congress, made up of a number of representatives proportional to each states' population
Senate Majority Leader
The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy
Speaker of the House
The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Rules Committee
A standing committee of the House of Representatives decides which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered
Filibuster
A practice in the Senate that stems from unlimited debate and allows a Senator to delay a vote on a bill by continuously talking
Cloture
A procedure which requires 60 votes and ends a filibuster
Discharge Petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will bring a bill out of its committee and to the full floor for debate
Mandatory Spending
Budget categories that must be funded at a certain level by law, for example, entitlement programs such as Social Security
Discretionary Spending
Budget categories that may be funded at a level determined by Congress, for example, military spending
Interest
The price paid at a given rate for the use of borrowed money
Keynesian Economics
Theory that suggests the government should boost the economy by spending, especially on infrastructure or other programs that will create jobs
Supply-Side Economics
Theory that suggests the government should boost the economy by cutting taxes
Pork Barrel
The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes in a congressperson's own district or state
Logrolling
Vote trading between two congresspeople
Divided Government
One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
Gridlock
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
Trustee Model
A system where congresspeople see it as their role to make the decision they think is best when voting
Delegate Model
A system where congresspeople see it as their role to vote as a perfect representation of their constituents as possible
Politico Model
A system where congresspeople vote in such a way to please as many people as possible, including party leaders, voters, and the media
Formal Powers of the President
Executive powers directly stated in the Constitution; e.g., the veto
Informal Powers of the President
Executive powers not directly stated in the Constitution; e.g., executive agreements
Commander-in-Chief
The role of the president that allows them to order troops
Executive Agreements
Informal agreements between the president and other world leaders
Executive Orders
Formal orders issues by the president that carry with them the force of a law
Signing Statements
Occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president
Lame Duck
A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection / cannot be reelected any more
22nd Amendment
Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents.
Federalist 70
A foundational document that suggests the country should have a strong, unified, energetic executive branch
Advice and Consent
Term in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.
Power of the Purse
Congress' power to influence public policy by setting the budget for the federal government
Origination Clause
Part of the Constitution describing that all taxation bills must begin in the House of Representatives
Bully Pulpit
The ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals
Citizens United v. FEC
Supreme Court case that ruled that corporations may spend an unlimited amount toward elections and campaigns so long as they remain independent, under the First Amendment
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court case that established the judicial branch's power of judicial review
Federalist 78
Foundational document that outlines the importance of judicial review in protecting the Constitution and the judicial branch's independence
Stare Decisis
The practice of relying on precedent in deciding most cases
Precedent
A previous court case ruling
Judicial Activism
A judicial philosophy in which judges interpret the Constitution as "living," adapting it to the current times and issues
Judicial Restraint
A judicial philosophy in which judges play a minimal role, only intervening / striking down laws when absolutely necessary
Judicial Review
Allows the court to determine the Constitutionality of laws and actions of the government
Bureaucracy
A large organization consisting of all government officials who carry out the daily work of the government, organized under the executive branch
Patronage System
A method of choosing bureaucrats based on their party loyalty / contributions
Merit System
A method of choosing bureaucrats based on their expertise or qualifications for the job
Iron Triangles
A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
Bureaucratic Discretion
Bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress
Oversight
Congress' ability to check the bureaucracy through hearings, investigations, and the power of the purse
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Regulatory agency responsible for the environment
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)
Regulatory agency responsible for investments and trading markets
FEC (Federal Election Commission)
Regulatory agency responsible for elections and campaign finance laws
Civil Liberties
Constitutional freedoms granted to individuals
Civil Rights
Constitutional protections from discrimination granted to groups based gender, race, age, etc.
1st Amendment
Amendment protecting free speech, religion, and the press
2nd Amendment
Amendment protecting the states' right to a militia and an individual's right to bear arms
4th Amendment
Amendment protecting individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
Amendment protecting individuals from self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and eminent domain without compensation
8th Amendment
Amendment protecting individuals from cruel or unusual punishment, often associated with death penalty cases
Engel v. Vitale
Supreme Court case ruling that a school's morning prayer violated the Establishment Clause
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Supreme Court case ruling that a state's compulsory education for an Amish family violated the Free Exercise Clause
Schenck v. United States
Supreme Court case ruling that speech that caused a "clear and present danger" was not protecting as free speech
Tinker v. Des Moines
Supreme Court case that protected a student's right to symbolic, non-disruptive speech in school
New York TImes v. United States
Supreme Court case ruling that the government almost never had the right to exercise prior restraint (the censorship of the press before publishing)
Clear and Present Danger
Speech that can be limited on the basis of its consequences; e.g., "falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre"
Symbolic Speech
An action that carries a message and is therefore protected as speech
Time, Place, and Manner Restrictions
Regulations regarding how the freedom of expression may occur, but not limiting that expression altogether
McDonald v. Chicago
Supreme Court case ruling that the 2nd Amendment is incorporated to state and local governments
Selective Incorporation
Process of applying the Bill of Rights' fundamental rights to the states through the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment
Gideon v. Wainwright
Supreme Court case ruling that the right to an attorney extends to all cases, even when the accused cannot afford an attorney
Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court case ruling that early term abortions are protected under the right to privacy
Right to Privacy
The right to be left alone by the government, interpreted through a combination of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 9th amendments.
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