unit 1 - intro and federalism

Question 1

state of nature

Answer 1

the hypothetical conditions of what the lives of people might be like before government

Question 2

natural rights

Answer 2

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on government

Question 3

consent of the governed

Answer 3

popular sovereignty
government derives its authority by sanction of the people

Question 4

limited government

Answer 4

certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect natural rights of citizens

Question 5

declaration of independence

Answer 5

philosophical rationale for indepdendence
list of grievances and abuses by the british king

Question 6

john locke

Answer 6

english philosopher known as the father of liberalism
natural rights
consent of governed
limited government

Question 7

articles of confederation

Answer 7

first national constitution of the united states; it was adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781
it established a confederation, a “league of friendship and prepared union” among 13 states and former colonies

Question 8

weaknesses of the articles of confederation

Answer 8

• one vote for each state, regardless of size
• congress powerless to lay and collect taxes or duties
• congress can’t regulate foreign and interstate commerce
• no executive to enforce acts of congress
• no rational court system
• amendment only with consent of all states
• a 9/13 majority required to pass laws

Question 9

james madison

Answer 9

wrote the us constitution
wrote federalist papers

Question 10

fed 51

Answer 10

checks and balances and separation of powers among three branches of government

Question 11

shays rebellion

Answer 11

series of attacks on courthouses by farmers
first large problem under articles that revealed its incompetency
helped birth of constitution

Question 12

constitutional convention

Answer 12

took place in pennsylvania to draft the constitution

Question 13

compromises in philadelphia conference

Answer 13

equality and representation of the states ( NJ plan = equal Virginia = population great comp = bicameral legislature)
slavery ( three fifths compromise)
voting (left to states to decide

Question 14

brutus 1

Answer 14

thought the federal government was given too much power
a large republic is dangerous and undermines the states

Question 15

federalist papers

Answer 15

85 articles written by alexander hamilton, john jay, and james madison to defend the constitution

Question 16

fed 10

Answer 16

factions are dangerous and a large republic helps to control them since more representatives means more opinions are heard
factions will compete with one another and do a checks and balances

Question 17

participatory democracy

Answer 17

emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society
most or all citizens participate in politics directly

Question 18

pluralist democracy

Answer 18

-organized groups compete with each other to influence policy
- power is widely dispersed between groups
- individual interests are represented through responsive group leadershi[

Question 19

elite democracy

Answer 19

• small number of people who are well-educated and wealthy influence decision making
• governing is limited to small group

Question 20

antifederalists

Answer 20

small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers
strong state government
weak national government
direct election of officials
shorter terms
rule by the common mass
strengthened protection for individual liberties
brutus 1 participatory

Question 21

federalists

Answer 21

large landowners, wealthy merchants
weaker state governments
indirect election of officials
longer terms
government by the elite
expected few violations of individual liberties
Fed 10 pluralist democracy

Question 22

federalism

Answer 22

way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the land and people
unitary, confederal, and federal systems

Question 23

unitary confederal and federal systems

Answer 23

unitary = all power resides in central government
confederal = spreads power among subunits ( weak central govt)
federal = divides power between central govt and subunits

Question 24

why is federalism important

Answer 24

decentralizes our politics so more people can participate

decentralizes our policies so policy making is shared between levels and can be made separately
local action for local concerns and national action for wider concerns

Question 25

enumerated powers

Answer 25

constitution grants the national government specific powers

Question 26

reserved powers

Answer 26

those not given to national government are given to the states 10th amendment

Question 27

concurrent powers

Answer 27

powers that belong to both the national and state governments

Question 28

implied powers

Answer 28

congress has the power to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying into execution the existing laws

Question 29

necessary and proper clause

Answer 29

elastic clause allows congress to act on implied powers

Question 30

supremacy clause

Answer 30

asserts the authority of national government over the states

Question 31

mcCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 31

McCulloch worked for the federal bank in Maryland and refused to pay the tax that Maryland tried to put on the bank and said that the state could not tax the federal government The supreme court upheld that maryland could not tax branches of the federal government

Question 32

commerce clause

Answer 32

congress has the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Question 33

gibbons v. ogden

Answer 33

commerce clause Ogden had a license from the state of new york to navigate between nyc and new jersey shoes gibbons had been given permission to use the same waterways by the federal government gibbons was denied acces to the hudson bay by new york supreme court ruled in favor of gibbons that new york couldn’t grant exclusive rights to navigate waterways

Question 34

heart of atlanta motel v. us

Answer 34

commerce clause and civil rights discrimination affects interstate commerce since hotel is next to interstates and received most of its business from that so congress ruled against it in this case the heart of atlanta motel refused to accept black americans

Question 35

united states v. lopez

Answer 35

lopez was arrested for bringing a gun to his high school and was charged under the gun-free school zones act lopez argued that the law exceeded congress’s power under the commerce clause supreme court agreed and struck down the law

Question 36

two types of federalism

Answer 36

dual federalism cooperative federalism

Question 37

dual federalism

Answer 37

both the states and national government remain supreme within their own spheres

Question 38

cooperative federalism

Answer 38

powers and policies are shared between states and national government

Question 39

categorical grants

Answer 39

made for specific defined purposes usually require states to match it

Question 40

block grants

Answer 40

consolidate several categorical grants into a single block for broad activities

Question 41

devolution

Answer 41

a transfer of responsibility from federal to state governments

Question 42

mandate

Answer 42

official orders to carry something out