Important words -

(chapter #1)

Natural Rights - Right to life, liberty, and property which the government can’t take away.

Social Contract - People allow government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

Popular Sovereignty - Government’s right to rule comes from the people

Republicanism - Authority of the government comes from the people. (Representative government, not a direct democracy)

Participatory Democracy - Theory that widespread political participation is essential for a democratic government and citizens can join groups outside of government control. Joining these voluntary groups prepares citizens for the democratic process.

Pluralist Theory - Theory of democracy that emphasizes the roles of groups in policy making process which results in bargaining and compromise. An example of interest groups that seek to influence policy outcomes is the National Rifle Association.

Elitist Theory - Theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in policy making decisions. Represented by wealthy interest groups and donors.

(chapter #2)

Articles of Confederation - First form of American government, adopted in 1777. Loose league of friendship between the states, intentionally weak central government without the power to tax or control trade.

Shays Rebellion - Farmers uprising against the government of Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays. Showed how weak the Articles of Confederation is.

Constitutional Convention - May 1787, delegates from 12/13 states met in Philadelphia to amend the Articles.

Virginia Plan - Three branches of government with bicameral legislature, larger states had more representation in both houses, lower house elected by people and upper house elected by lower house.

New Jersey Plan - Unicameral legislature with each state allotted one vote.

Great Compromise - Bicameral legislature, lower house elected by the people with representation based on state population and upper house elected by state legislatures, two per state.

Bicameral - Two houses

Three-Fifths Compromise - Slaves count as 3/5 of a person in calculating state’s representation.

Compromise of Importation - Slave trade not restricted til 1808.

Separation of Powers - Design of government that distributes powers across institutions to avoid making one branch too powerful.

Expressed or Enumerated Powers -  Authority specifically granted to a branch of government in the constitution

Necessary and Proper or Elastic Clause - Article 1, Section 8, granting congress necessary powers to carry out enumerated powers.

Implied Powers - Authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers.

Supremacy Clause - Constitution and all national treaties and laws shall be the supreme law of the land.

Federalists - Supporters of the proposed constitution with a strong national government. Published Federalist papers to sell the constitution to the public.

Antifederalists - Opposed proposed constitution, wanted stronger state governments, mistrusted powerful elites and feared the constitution would trample people and states rights.

Federalist No 51 - Written by Madison, he argued that people put their needs before the nation and the constitution prevents this from happening.

Faction - Group of self interested individuals who use government to get what they want, taking other people’s rights in the process.

Federalist No 10 - Written by Madison, advocated for a large constitutional republic. Believing a republican form of government would prevent factions of majority.

Brutus No 1 - Antifederalist papers, argued that the country is too big to be governed as a republic and the constitution renders states useless.

Federalism - The sharing of power between the national and state governments

(chapter #3)

Federalism - Divided power between national and state governments, national government is more powerful than states.

Enumerated or Expressed Powers - Powers granted to the national government in the constitution (especially congress)

Exclusive Powers - Powers only the federal government may exercise.

Implied Powers - not specifically granted to the federal government but implied to be granted.

Commerce Clause - grants congress the power to regulate commerce between foreign countries, states and tribes.

Necessary and Proper Clause - grants congress the power to legislate itself as it sees fit in order to carry out it's implied powers

Supremacy Clause - Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land.

Tenth Amendment - Reserved powers not given to the national government, given to the states and people, this protects states authority.

Reserved Powers - Powers granted to the states (provide police and fire departments, conduct elections and establish local, town, county and regional government)

Concurrent Powers - Powers that the federal and state governments share (borrow money, regulate interstate commerce, create and operate court systems.

Full Faith and Credit Clause - Requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state.

Extradition - Requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where a crime was allegedly committed.

Fourteenth Amendment - People born in the US are citizens and states can’t deny citizenship or equal protection under the law.

Selective Incorporation - Process through which the supreme court applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on a case by case basis (states can’t make laws that take away citizens rights)

Categorical Grants - provided to states with specific provisions on their use (limits how states can spend their funding)

Unfunded Mandate - national government requiring states to pay for programs without providing funds.

Block Grants - Form of grant-in-aid that gives states more control over how to disperse federal funds

Revenue Sharing - Federal government apportions tax money to the states with no strings attached (ended because too costly)

Privileges and Immunities Clause - prevents states from discriminating against people out of state.