Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Gov. > Unit 1 - Foundations > Flashcards

Unit 1 - Foundations Flashcards

(57 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

amendments

A

the process by which changes are made to the constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

anti-federalist

A

opposition to the ratification of the constitution (small farmers), favored strong state government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

articles of confederation

A

governing document that created a union of 13 sovereign states where the states, not the national government, were supreme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

bill of rights

A

first 10 amendments, protects individual liberties and limits the power of the federal government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

bicameral

A

two-house legislature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

checks and balances

A

each branch has power over the other branches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

commerce clause

A

grants congress authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

concurrent powers

A

both state and federal governments share them in the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

declaration of independence

A

1776, america’s DNA and political culture, “all men are created equal”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

electoral college

A

selects the president from the votes of the people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

elite democracy

A

Small minority with economic power controlling the government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

enumerated/Expressed powers

A

Powers granted to the national government through the constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

factions

A

self-interested individuals who form groups to use the government to get what they want, lobbying

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

federalist papers

A

essays to promote the ratification of the constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

federalism

A

sharing of power between the national and federal government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

federalists

A

supported the constitution and a strong national government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

fiscal federalism

A

federal government’s use of GIA to influence policies in different states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

grants In aid

A

federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives from the national government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

categorical grants

A

GIA with provisions on use, national government source of power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

unfunded mandates

A

federal requirement that states must follow without being provided funding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

block grant

A

GIA gives state officials more authority in use of federal funds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

full Faith and Credit clause

A

states must recognize public acts, rewards, and civic courts from other states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

great compromise

Study These Flashcards
A

connecticut compromise from constitutional convention, created a bicameral legislature, house of reps, and a senate

24
Q

house of representatives

Study These Flashcards
A

power to initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials, 435 members

25
impeachment
the process by which a government official is charged with misconduct while in office
26
James madison
key founding father of the constitution, wrote the federalist papers, initially against bill of rights then changed mind
27
judicial review
the power to overturn a law that violates the constitution
28
limited government
restricting the power of government and protecting the rights of individuals
29
mandates
official order or commission to do something
30
national supremacy
supremacy clause, federal government laws and constitution take president over state laws and constitution
31
natural Law/locke
social contract, universal morals from god
32
necessary and proper clause (elastic)
federal government has authority to pass laws to carry out enumerated papers
33
new Jersey plan
unicameral legislature, equal representation regardless of population
34
participatory democracy
the people have to participate, ex. ballot measures
35
pluralist democracy
groups with diverse interest work to compete to influence government policy
36
popular sovereignty
power of the government comes from the consent of the people
37
preamble
"we the people..." vision statement, redo of the articles of confederation
38
ratification
approving a proposed law or constitutional amendment
39
representative republic
citizens elect representative to make laws on their behalf, form of governement
40
republicanism
political ideology, citizens elect the government to run on their behalf
41
reserved powers
Powers that are not explicitly given to the government via the Constitution and are therefore reserved for the states
42
senate
upper chamber of Congress, each state has 2 senators, 100 total; can approve treaties, confirm presidential appointments, and pass legislation
43
separation of powers
no branch becomes too powerful (checks and balances)
44
shay's rebellion
Daniel shay's, in Mass, rebellion to overturn political power due to debt, hard money, and raised taxation
45
social contract
individual's give up come personal freedoms in exchange for the protection of their rights and the maintenance of social order
46
supremacy clause
establishes the constitution and the laws of the federal government passed under its authority as the highest law in the land
47
3/5 compromise
1787, constitutional convention, enslaved people were counted as 3/5 of a person when determining state's population representation in the house of reps and for taxation purposes, win for the south!
48
veto
constitutional power of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming a law unless overruled by a 2/3 majority vote in both houses of congress
49
Virginia plan
1787, constitutional convention, strong national government with three branches: legislative, executive, judicial
50
declaration of independence
declared separation from governing official, new independent government, sovereign nation, + enlightenment theories (1776 - natural rights, social contract, popular sovereignty, republicanism)
51
U.S. constitution
1787, replaces articles of confederation, establishes a strong federal government, declared certain rights to states, protected liberties (1- leg, 2- exec, 3- judicial, IV- relationships between states, V- amendment process, VI- debt from confederation and federal supremacy, VII- ratification)
52
fed. 10
within federal papers, large republic from constitution is the ideal form of government (minority and majority rights), defending constitution against critics; democracy is key, diverse groups and different opinions, factions are inevitable and dangerous + easier to control in large republic
53
Brutus no. 1
1787, after constitution signing, state governments as the source of power for new nation, republic could only work on a smaller scale and as large as it is it does not protect democracy, establishes necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause
54
articles of confederation
1777, league of friendship, FAILED, established a weak executive and lacked any way to police states without money or military control
55
fed. 51
urged the ratification of the constitution, 1787, "if men were angels no government would be necessary", checks and balances, popular sovereignty, divided legislature, large republic
56
amendment 10
any powers not specified for the fed. Gov. are withheld for the states
57
1st amendment
5 f-reedoms, (assembly, petition, religion, speech, press) free exercise

Gov. (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions