2022-23 Vocab A-J

Question 1

Alexander Hamilton

Answer 1

A founding father, first secretary of treasury, and created the first national bank.

Question 2

Anti-Federalists

Answer 2

People who are against the proposed Constitution because they favor strong state governments.

Question 3

Articles of Confederation

Answer 3

A governing document that created the union of the 13 colonies (3 sovereign states) where the states, not the union, were supreme.

Question 4

Baron de Montesquieu

Answer 4

Proposed power in government should be divided into branches so no one (branch or person) is too powerful.

Question 5

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 5

A 2-house legislature.

Question 6

Bill of Rights

Answer 6

A list of rights and freedoms that people possess that no one can take away from them. The first ten amendments in the Constitution are referred to as the Bill of Rights.

Question 7

Bureaucrats

Answer 7

An official employed in a government administration.

Question 8

Checks and Balances

Answer 8

Each branch has the power to prevent another branch from making policy.

Question 9

Concurrent Powers

Answer 9

Powers given to states and the federal government in the Constitution.

Question 10

Confederation

Answer 10

A system in politics where there is a weak central government with limited powers and strong states with ultimate power.

Question 11

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 11

A proposal was made at the Constitutional Convention, 1787, creating a bicameral legislature with a House of Reps and a Senate. A Senate with equal representation of the states, and a legislature apportioned according to the population.

Question 12

Consent of the Governed

Answer 12

A theory that states have governments because the people allow it and have given their consent.

Question 13

Constitutional Convention

Answer 13

A meeting attended by state delegates, 1787, to fix the Articles of Confederation (AoC)

Question 14

Democracy

Answer 14

System of government where the people hold the power.

Question 15

Denied Powers

Answer 15

Powers denied to the nation and state governments to maintain balance.

Question 16

Direct (participatory)

Answer 16

A system where the people vote directly for policies.

Question 17

Elastic Clause

Answer 17

A statement giving Congress the right to pass all the laws necessary for carrying out enumerated powers.

Question 18

Electoral College

Answer 18

Constitutionally required process for picking the president through a slate (a group of candidates that run in multi-seat or multi-position elections on a common platform) of electors in each state who vote for a nominee for president in the election.

Question 19

Elite & Class Theory

Answer 19

Theory that all elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in making policies.

Question 20

Enumerated Powers

Answer 20

Powers only for the national government through the Constitution, also called express powers.

Question 21

Ex post facto law

Answer 21

A law punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed.

Question 22

Factions

Answer 22

A group of self-interested people.

Question 23

Federalism

Answer 23

Powers are shared between the national government and the states.

Question 24

Federalist No. 10

Answer 24

An essay by Madison argues that the dangers of factions can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government.

Question 25

Federalist No. 51

Answer 25

An essay by Madison where he argues that the separation of powers and federalism prevent tyranny.

Question 26

Federalist Papers

Answer 26

A series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay published between 1787 and 1788 laying out the theory behind the Constitution.

Question 27

Federalists

Answer 27

Supported the proposed Constituion and the idea of a strong national government.

Question 28

Government

Answer 28

Rules and institutions that make up the system of policymaking.

Question 29

Hyperpluralism

Answer 29

A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened.

Question 30

Implied Powers

Answer 30

Authority of the federal government that goes beyond the expressed powers. Powers not granted specifically to the national government but are considered necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Question 31

Indirect Democracy

Answer 31

Political system where voters pick representatives that vote on public policy matters.

Question 32

Individualism

Answer 32

A belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for their decisions.

Question 33

Inherent Powers

Answer 33

Powers a branch of government has that weren't listed in the Constitution.

Question 34

James Madison

Answer 34

4th U.S. president, wrote the federalist papers which greatly contributed to the ratification of the Constitution.

Question 35

John Locke

Answer 35

Argued that people are born with natural rights no one can take away and that government is based on a social contract.

Question 36

Judicial Review

Answer 36

The Supreme Court has the authority to strike down a law or excutive action if it conflicts with the Constitution.