Civil Liberties

Democracy - government based upon the values of equality, freedom and voting

Republic - government in which power is determined through elections

Federalism - sharing power amongst states and a national government

Participatory democracy - citizens decide directly on policy and politicians implement

Pluralist democracy - no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete

Elite democracy - small number of wealthy, well-educated, influence political decision making.

Constitution - a rulebook for government power and procedures

Preamble - the intro to Constitution explaining 6 reasons of government (union, justice, tranquility, defense, general welfare, liberty)

Reserved Powers - powers granted specifically to states or the people in the Bill of Rights

Enumerated Powers - powers explicitly granted specifically to US Congress by The Constitution

Implied Powers - powers that are unwritten and not specifically stated in the Constitution

Concurrent Powers - powers that are granted to both the states and the national government

Delegate Powers - powers explicitly granted to the Federal government by US Constitution

Equal Protection Clause - Constitutional phrase added by the 14th amendment that expands civil liberty protections by race and gender

Elastic Clause - Constitutional phrase that expands the powers of the Federal Government to due what is “necessary & proper”

Federalist #10 - argues republics are better than direct democracies and protect minorities

Brutus #1 - argues the federal government will abuse power and a Bill of Rights is needed

Federalist #70 - argues in favor of the unitary executive (President) to ensure accountability

Federalist #51 - argues checks & balances prevent branches of gov from becoming too powerful

Bicameral Legislature - a Congress which makes laws made up of two houses

Senate - House of Congress in which each state has two Senators

House of Representatives - House of Congress, seats are awarded by state population

Executive Branch - Lead Executive & managerial state departments that enforce the law

Executive Order - directive issued by the president to the Executive Branch departments

Judicial Branch - courts that interpret and make rulings on the law

Civics - the rights and responsibilities of citizens and their interaction with government

Articles of Confederation - first American gov which was intentionally weak with little power

Federalists - founding fathers that wanted The Constitution & a strong national government

Filibuster - prolonged speech that blocks voting on a bill in Congress

Habeas Corpus - due process rights require an explanation for arrest or imprisonment

Bill of Attainder - you cannot be punished without a trial

Bill of Rights - first 10 amendments (changes) to Constitution that limits government power

Double Jeopardy - prevents an accused person from being tried again for the same crime

Selective Incorporation - States themselves cannot decide if Bill of Rights applies to them

Title IX - Part of the 1972 education related additions to the Civil Rights Act that ban gender discrimination

Supremacy Clause - Constitutional phrase that allows federal law to often supersede state law