Unit 1 Flashcards
(38 cards)
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).
Amendment Process
A person opposed to the proposed Constitution who favored stronger state governments and adding individual rights to the U.S. Constitution.
Anti-Federalists
A governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the union, were supreme.
Articles of Confederation
A type of grant-in-aid that gives states officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds.
Block Grants
A grant-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use.
Categorical Grants
People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.
Centralist
A design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy.
Checks and Balances
Power of Congress that grants them the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity.
Commerce Clause
Powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution.
Concurrent Powers
A national legislative (law-making) body that was created under the Articles of Confederation and in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
Congress
People who favor state or local action rather than national action.
Decentralist
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.
Electoral College
The theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process.
Elite Democracy
Powers explicitly granted to the national government through the Constitution; also called expressed powers.
Enumerated Powers
A group of self-interested people.
Faction
The branch of the federal government that interprets the laws of the nation.
Federal Judiciary
Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the state governments.
Federal Revenue Sharing
The sharing of power between national governments and the states.
Federalism
Supporters of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government.
Federalist
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.
Fourteenth Amendment
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.
Great Compromise
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.
Implied Powers
A political system in which there are certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights and liberties.
Limited Government
Spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget.
Mandatory Spending (Mandates)