Unit 1

Question 1

John Locke

Answer 1

Natural rights: you have rights simply for the reason you were born: these rights are yours and are unalienable and can not be taken away

Question 2

Natural Rights

Answer 2

You have rights simply for the reason you were born: these rights are yours and are unalienable and can not be taken away
no one can be subjected to the political power of another without consent

Question 3

Social Contract

Answer 3

Rousseau - The agreement between the people who are the source of the power, and the government who protect everyone’s natural rights
agreement of free and equal people certain natural rights in exchange for security and find a government committed to the general good

Question 4

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 4

Governments get their power from the people, consented by the people - people are the source of the power

Question 5

Participatory Democracy

Answer 5

a government where all or most of its citizens participate directly in either holding office or making policy
Purist form: vote directly for laws and other matters

Question 6

Representative Democracy

Answer 6

Where we elect people to vote on laws - larger the population the better this is

Question 7

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 7

People with widely varying interests find others who share interests and unite/organize into groups (citizens) to influence political decisions
- has and creates competition
- helps protect against elite

Question 8

Elite Democracy

Answer 8

Small group of elite power. Electoral college demonstrates this; elected representatives make decisions and hold trust of people who elected them

Question 9

Annapolis Convention

Answer 9

The first attempt at solving the problems of the Articles of Confederation: nothing happened or got done here - set date for next convention

Question 10

Shay’s Rebellion

Answer 10

A rebellion lead by Daniel Shay and other ex Rev. soldiers due to high taxes and high interest rates - states could not gather militia to put down
- Convinced states to go to convention: lack of centralized military power

Question 11

Constitutional Convention

Answer 11

Convinced states to show up; proposed to start from scratch: lead by Washington - set up gvmnt
- showed willingness for compromise and change

Question 12

Virginia Plan

Answer 12

VA had largest population: wanted representation in Congress based on population
Bicameral House Legislature
Citizens elect lower house and they elect upper house

Question 13

New Jersey Plan

Answer 13

Smaller states scared they’d be powerless against PA, NY, and VA who had large populations
Equal representation in a unicameral legislature

Question 14

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 14

Put both plans together to please both sides: Bicameral with senate and equal number of representation based on population and elected by House with proportionate population representation

Question 15

Bicameralism

Answer 15

2 house legislature

Question 16

3/5 Compromise

Answer 16

relates directly to power of each state - more population = more representation; more population = more taxes
- total population + 3/5 of enslaved persons

Question 17

Electoral College

Answer 17

Electoral College: buffer between people and presidency
- nobody in Congress; representatives in each state determined by # of people in Congress

Question 18

Expressed Powers
- Enumerated or Formal

Answer 18

Expressed powers are powers that are listed in the Constitution
- For Congress specifically: Enumerated
Overall - Formal/Expressed Powers

Question 19

Commerce Clause

Answer 19

Gvmnt could tariff imports but not exports
Fed gvmnt could regulate trade between states - interstate commerce
States control intrastate commerce

Question 20

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 20

Last Clause in Article 1, section 8
Gives Congress power to make all laws that are necessary and power - Congress can basically make any laws they wish but they have to relate it back to the Constitution

Question 21

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 21

Saying states have to play nice with each other
- Ex. Maryland has to respect driver license of other states
Other states can view rights and docs - carry over states

Question 22

Proposing and Ratifying amendments

Answer 22

Proposing: 2/3 of both House and Senate or states
Ratification: 3/4 of states

Question 23

Supremacy Clause

Answer 23

Highest form of law in legal system in US - the federal law/Constitution takes precedence over the state laws/constitutions

Question 24

Federalists

Answer 24

Supported the Constitution ratification and a strong central government

Question 25

Antifederalists

Answer 25

generally opposed the ratification of the Constitution and a strong central government

Question 26

Pluralism

Answer 26

many different groups with many different opinions and viewpoints coexist and work with each other politically

Question 27

Bill of Rights

Answer 27

Suggested by anti-federalists to ensure civil liberties in each of the amendments - technically part of the Constitution

Question 28

Separation of Powers

Answer 28

Separation of Federal level and state levels + local levels plus the separation of responsibilities within the fed government

Question 29

Checks and Balances

Answer 29

Each branch has a way to check the power of another branch in order to make sure one does not have more power over another

Question 30

Advice and Consent

Answer 30

The power of the US Senate to be consulted on for treaties and approving appointments

Question 31

Impeachment

Answer 31

the process to remove a federal officer
House has the power to impeach and the Senate has the power to try president and investigation is done by Chief justice

Question 32

Judicial Review

Answer 32

The power of the courts to conduct investigations - courts call into question Constitutionality of executive orders and Congressional laws

Question 33

Federalism

Answer 33

where the power is divided between national/central government and states

Question 34

Unitary System

Answer 34

A single central government has total control over all other subdivisions

Question 35

Delegated vs Reserved Powers

Answer 35

Delegated powers are the powers stated specifically for Congress
Reserved powers are powers that are reserved for the states

Question 36

Concurrent Powers

Answer 36

Powers shared between the federal and state governments such as taxation, establishing courts, spending money

Question 37

Dual (layer cake) Federalism

Answer 37

Distinct powers of government with power in specific areas

Question 38

Cooperative (marble cake) Federalism

Answer 38

overlapping levels of power in similar areas requiring cooperation and consistency

Question 39

Fiscal Federalism

Answer 39

Having to do with money, especially as an incentive to states

Question 40

Categorical (formula) grants

Answer 40

For a specific purpose/category - where the money needs to be spent; there is usually a formula and lots of requirements
- example of school lunch

Question 41

Block Grants

Answer 41

A block of money that is given to states for them to use as they see fit

Question 42

Federal Mandates

Answer 42

an fiscal order from the federal gvmnt that all states and local levels must follow

Question 43

Devolution

Answer 43

The dissolving of Federal power to the states

Question 44

Clean Air Act 1970

Answer 44

Example of an unfunded mandate
- you have to provide your state with clean air, and pay for it yourself

Question 45

Americans with Disabilities Act

Answer 45

Another example of unfunded mandate
- In order to accommodate those with disabilities, passed this and said you need accessible areas and you have to fund it