Civics Unit Essentials: Citizenship, Democratic Principles, Federalism

Key Terms and Concepts

Natural rights: Inherent rights that belong to individuals; government exists to protect these rights.
Social contract: Agreement between the people and the government establishing legitimacy and limiting authority; government derives power from the consent of the governed.
Articles of Confederation: First U.S. constitution (ratified 1781); weak central government; no executive or federal judiciary; Congress lacked power to tax or regulate commerce; led to Constitutional Convention.
Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise): Created bicameral Congress; Senate with equal representation; House representation by population.
Three-Fifths Compromise: Enslaved people counted as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation; reflected compromise on slavery.
Popular sovereignty: Government based on the consent of the governed; authority derives from the people.
Republicanism: Government elected by the people; representatives act for the common good.
Limited government: Government powers confined by the Constitution.
Separation of powers: Division of government into legislative, executive, judicial branches.
Checks and balances: Each branch can limit others to prevent tyranny.
Federalism: Division of power between national and state governments.
Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically granted to the federal government in the Constitution.
Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by federal and state governments.
Reserved Powers: Powers kept for the states (10th Amendment).
Commerce Clause: Congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Native tribes.
Necessary and Proper Clause: Elastic Clause; allows Congress to pass laws needed to execute its enumerated powers.

A. Citizenship and Rights

What it means to be a citizen of the USA: A citizen has a set of rights (e.g., voting, free speech, due process) and responsibilities (e.g., obey laws, pay taxes, serve on juries, participate in civic life).

B. Enlightenment Ideals and Founding Documents

Key Enlightenment ideals: natural rights, social contract, consent of the governed, republicanism, limited government, separation of powers.
Reflection in the Declaration of Independence: assertion of unalienable rights, equality, government by consent of the governed, right to alter or abolish government.
Reflection in the Constitution: popular sovereignty in the Preamble; limited government; separation of powers; checks and balances.

C. Causes of the American Revolution

Core causes: taxation without representation; British imperial policies (Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Intolerable Acts); restriction on colonial autonomy; colonial resistance; influence of Enlightenment ideas.

D. Constitutional Compromises

Great (Connecticut) Compromise: Bicameral Congress; Senate with equal representation; House by population.
Three-Fifths Compromise: Enslaved people counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation.
Evaluation: Addressed representation and congressional structure; created future tensions over slavery and federal-state power.

E. Core Democratic Values and Principles for Elections

Popular sovereignty; Rule of law; Limited government; Individual rights; Accountability and transparency; Political equality and fair elections.

F. Federalism

Concept: Division of power between national and state governments; both have sovereign domains.
Powers: Enumerated (federal); Reserved (states); Concurrent (both).
Changes over time: Expansion of federal power via Commerce Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause; impact of Civil War, New Deal, Great Society; ongoing debates about devolution.
Why changes occurred: To address national problems, ensure uniform standards, protect rights, and adapt to economic and social changes.