Unit 1 Flashcards

(38 cards)

1
Q

A procedure to change the U.S. Constitution in one of two ways: 1) 2/3 of both Houses of Congress approve then 3/4 of states ratify, OR 2) 2/3 of a national convention then 3/4 of special state conventions (the latter has never been done).

A

Amendment Process

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2
Q

A person opposed to the proposed Constitution who favored stronger state governments and adding individual rights to the U.S. Constitution.

A

Anti-Federalists

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3
Q

A governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the union, were supreme.

A

Articles of Confederation

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4
Q

A type of grant-in-aid that gives states officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds.

A

Block Grants

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5
Q

A grant-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use.

A

Categorical Grants

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6
Q

People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.

A

Centralist

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7
Q

A design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy.

A

Checks and Balances

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8
Q

Power of Congress that grants them the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.

A

Commerce Clause

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9
Q

Powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution.

A

Concurrent Powers

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10
Q

A national legislative (law-making) body that was created under the Articles of Confederation and in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

A

Congress

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11
Q

People who favor state or local action rather than national action.

A

Decentralist

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12
Q

A constitutionally required process for selecting the president through slates of electors chosen in each state, who are pledged to vote for a nominee in the presidential election.

A

Electoral College

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13
Q

The theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.

A

Elite Democracy

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14
Q

Powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution; also called expressed powers.

A

Enumerated Powers

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15
Q

A group of self-interested people.

A

Faction

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16
Q

The branch of the federal government that interprets the laws of the nation.

A

Federal Judiciary

17
Q

Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the state governments.

A

Federal Revenue Sharing

18
Q

The sharing of power between national governments and the states.

19
Q

Supporters of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government.

20
Q

Constitutional Amendment asserting that persons born in the U.S. are citizens and prohibits states from denying persons due process or equal protection under the law.

A

Fourteenth Amendment

21
Q

An agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the VA and NJ Plans; it settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally.

A

Great Compromise

22
Q

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

A

Implied Powers

23
Q

A political system in which there are certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights and liberties.

A

Limited Government

24
Q

Spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget.

A

Mandatory Spending (Mandates)

25
The right to life, liberty, and property, which governments cannot take away.
Natural Rights
26
Language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause
27
The theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government.
Participatory Democracy
28
The theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process.
Pluralist Democracy
29
Process by which individuals or groups make choices to create public policy based on current issues at the national, state, or local government levels.
Policymaking
30
The belief that the authority and legitimacy of government is based on the consent of the individuals living within its boundaries.
Popular Sovereignty
31
The elected head of a republican state whose role is to carry out laws created by the federal legislature.
President
32
A form of government in which elected leaders represent the interests of the people.
Republicanism
33
Powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people.
Reserved Powers
34
A design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own.
Separation of Powers
35
A popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts.
Shay’s Rebellion
36
An agreement whereby individuals voluntarily commit to establish a government that will protect the common interests of all.
Social Contract
37
Reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis for federalism.
Tenth Amendment
38
An agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating a state’s representation.
Three-Fifths Compromise