American Government Unit One Foundations Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the origins of government, Enlightenment influences, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitutional Convention.

Limited government

A system where government power is not absolute, influenced by historical documents and philosophers.

Magna Carta

An English document that addressed unfair taxes and the treatment of prisoners, influencing the concept of limited government.

English Bill of Rights

A document establishing that there is no absolute authority in government.

John Locke

An Enlightenment philosopher who influenced American government with the concept of natural rights.

Montesquieu

An Enlightenment philosopher known for the concept of separation of powers.

Declaration of Independence

A document asserting the existence of unalienable rights.

Articles of Confederation

America's first form of government which featured thirteen sovereign states.

Land Ordinance of 1785

A system used to survey and divide land for usage.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A significant law passed under the Articles of Confederation regarding the expansion of the United States.

Shays's Rebellion

An uprising by poor farmers that highlighted flaws in the Articles of Confederation, such as the lack of revenue collection.

Virginia Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention regarding how states should be represented, which faced opposition from smaller states.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal at the Constitutional Convention regarding representation that faced opposition from larger states.

Connecticut Compromise

A plan that balanced representation and formed the basis for our Congress today.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement addressing the slavery question that provided a Southern advantage in representation.

Electoral College

A design for selecting the executive branch related to state representation.

State of Nature

A concept describing a condition where there are no laws.

Legislative Branch

The part of government (Congress) responsible for making laws.

Executive Branch

The part of government responsible for carrying out the laws.

Judicial Branch

The part of government that interprets the laws.

Social Contract Theory

The theory that people give up some rights for laws and order/protection.

Evolutionary Theory

The theory that government origins began within the family unit.

Force Theory

The theory that government was established when someone took control through violence.

Divine Right Theory

The theory that government authority is granted through the authority of God.

Nation

A group of people united by a common bond.

State

A community that occupies a territory with an organized government.

Country

A term used to describe a territory or geographic area.

Sovereignty

The authority to rule over territory boundaries.

Federal System

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

Unitary System

A system where all powers are controlled by a central government.

Confederate System

A loose union of sovereign states.

Principles of Democracy

Fourteen general principles including citizen participation, freedom, fair elections, rule of law, and majority rule.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership and a mixed economy in the USA.

Socialism

An economic system where the government regulates the economy and controls welfare programs.