Question | Answer |
Natural Rights | Rights inherent in human beings, such as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" |
Consent of the Governed | People must all agree on who their leaders are and what policies are chosen |
Limited Government | Places clear restrictions on what leaders can do |
Constitution | A nation's basic law; it creates political institutions and assigns or divides power |
Articles of Confederation | The first constitution adopted by the US. It established a legislature but gave most authority to the states |
Shays' Rebellion | A series of attacks on courthouses led by a small band of farmers to block foreclosure proceedings |
Factions | Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth; James Madison attacked them in Federalist Papers #10 |
New Jersey Plan | Proposal at the Constitutional Conention that called for equal representation of each state regardless of population |
Virginia Plan | The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in proportion to that state's population |
Writ of Habeas Corpus | A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody |
Separation of Powers | A feature of the COnstitution that requires each of the three branches of government to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot gain too much control |
Checks and Balances | Features of the Constitution that limit government's power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions |
Republic | A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws |
Federalists | Supporters of the Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption |
Anti-Federalists | Opponents of the Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption |
Federalist Papers | A collection of 85 articles written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison to defend the Constitution in detail |
Marbury v. Madison | The 1803 Supreme Court case in which Chief Justice John Marshall asserted the Court's power of judicial review |
Judicial Review | The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress are in accord with the Constitution |
Federalism | A way of organizing the nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people |
Unitary Governments | A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government |
Supremacy Clause | Article VI of the Constitution states that the Constitution, national laws, and treaties are supreme over state laws |
Tenth Amendment | This states that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states, are reserved to the people |
McCulloch v. Maryland | An 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments |
Enumerated Powers | Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution |
Implied Powers | Powers of the federal government that go beyond those recorded in the Constitution |
Elastic Clause | This authorizes Congress to pass all laws that are "necessary and proper" |
Gibbons v. Ogden | An 1824 Supreme Court decision which interpreted the elastic clause and gave Congress the power to regulate commerce |
Full Faith and Credit | Requires each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgements rendered by other states |
Extradition | A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed |
Privileges and Immunities | This accords citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states |
Dual Federalism | A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies |
Cooperative Federalism | A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between the states and the national government |
Fiscal Federalism | THe pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system |
Categorical Grants | Federal grants than can only be used for specific purposes, that come with strings attached, such as nondiscriminaition provisions |
Project Grants | Federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications |
Formula Grants | Federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation |
Block Grants | Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services |
Government | The institutions and processes through which public policies are made |
Public Goods | Goods such as clean air and clean water that everyone must share |
Politics | The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue |
Political Participation | All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue |
Single-issue Groups | Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics |
Linkage Institutions | The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda; including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media |
Policy Agenda | The issues that attract the serious attention of the public officials and other people actually involved in politics |
Democracy | A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that the policy represents and responds to the public |
Majority Rule | A fundamental principle that states that any policy or choice requires the majority's vote |
Minority Rights | A principle that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities |
Pluralist Theory | A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own policies |
Elite and Class Theory | A theory of government that contends that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of the government |
Hyperpluralism | A theory of government that contends that groups are so strong that the government is weakened |