Foundations of American Democracy

Electoral College: A system for electing the president where electors from each state vote based on the state’s popular vote.

Enumerated powers: Powers specifically listed in the Constitution as belonging to the national government.

Natural Law: The idea that laws should reflect universal moral principles found in human nature.

Natural Rights: Basic rights such as life, liberty, and property that governments are created to protect.

Majoritarianism: A principle where the majority of people hold decision-making power.

3/5 Compromise: An agreement counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Great Compromise: An agreement creating a bicameral Congress with equal Senate representation and population-based House representation.

Federalist: A supporter of the Constitution who favored a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalist: An opponent of the Constitution who feared centralized power and supported stronger state governments.

Impeachment: The process where the House of Representatives charges a federal official with wrongdoing.

Popular sovereignty: The idea that government authority comes from the people.

Social contract: The theory that people give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of rights.

Elite theory: The belief that a small, powerful group controls political decisions.

Pluralist theory: The belief that many competing groups share political power.

Shays’ Rebellion: A farmer uprising that exposed weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Participatory democracy: A system where citizens are directly involved in political decision-making.

Commerce Clause: Gives Congress the power to regulate trade between states.

Full Faith and Credit Clause: Requires states to recognize legal decisions and records of other states.

Supremacy Clause: Establishes that federal law overrides state law when they conflict.

Elastic Clause: Allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

Extradition: The process of returning a fugitive to the state where the crime occurred.

Exclusive powers: Powers held only by the national government.

Reserved powers: Powers given to the states by the Tenth Amendment.

Concurrent powers: Powers shared by both state and national governments.

Dual federalism: A system where state and national governments operate separately in distinct areas.

Cooperative federalism: A system where state and national governments work together on policies.

Privileges and Immunities Clause: Prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states.

Implied powers: Powers not directly stated but inferred from enumerated powers.

Categorical grants: Federal funds given to states for specific purposes with strict guidelines.

Block grants: Federal funds given to states for general purposes with fewer restrictions.

Power to tax: The authority of government to collect money from citizens.

Doctrine of nullification: The idea that states can reject federal laws they consider unconstitutional.

Mandates: Federal requirements that states must follow, sometimes without funding.

Tenth Amendment: Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states.

Eminent domain: The government’s power to take private property for public use with compensation.

McCulloch v. Maryland: Ruled that Congress has implied powers and that states cannot tax the federal government.

United States v. Lopez: Limited Congress’s Commerce Clause power by ruling gun possession near schools is not economic activity.

Clean Air Act: Regulates air pollution to protect public health and the environment.

Clean Water Act: Sets standards to control water pollution in the United States.

Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in public life.