Unit 1 Key Terms + Concepts

Question 1

politics

Answer 1

activities of gov. concerning political relations between countries; debate and conflict among individuals/parties hoping to achieve power

Question 2

government

Answer 2

rules + institutions that make up system of policymaking

Question 3

democracy

Answer 3

system of gov. where power is held by the ppl.

Question 4

inalienable rights

Answer 4

rights gov. cannot take away

Question 5

linkage institutions

Answer 5

channels that connect individuals w/gov. = elections, political parties, interest groups, media

Question 6

participatory democracy

Answer 6

theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic gov.

Question 7

elite democracy

Answer 7

theory of democracy that elites have disproportionate amount of influence in policymaking process

Question 8

pluralist democracy

Answer 8

theory of democracy that emphasizes role of groups in policymaking process

Question 9

constitutional republic

Answer 9

democratic system w/elected reps in which const. is supreme law

Question 10

declaration of independence

Answer 10

doc. approved by continental congress on july 4th 1776 announcing separation of american colonies from g.b.

Question 11

natural rights

Answer 11

right to life, liberty, property; gov. can’t take away

Question 12

social contract

Answer 12

ppl. allow gov. to rule over them to ensure orderly + functioning society

Question 13

popular sovereignty

Answer 13

idea that gov.’s right to rule comes from the ppl.

Question 14

republicanism

Answer 14

system where gov.’s authority comes from the ppl.

Question 15

articles of confederation

Answer 15

governing doc. that created union of 13 sovereign states; states were supreme

Question 16

shays’ rebellion

Answer 16

popular uprising by farmers against gov. of massachusetts

Question 17

factions

Answer 17

group of self-interested ppl.

Question 18

new jersey plan

Answer 18

unicameral legis. w/equal votes for each state

Question 19

virginia plan

Answer 19

three-branch gov. w/bicameral legis. where more populous states would have more representation in congress

Question 20

bicameral

Answer 20

2 house legis.

Question 21

unicameral

Answer 21

1 house legis.

Question 22

connecticut (great) compromise

Answer 22

adopted at const. convention providing states w/equal representation in senate + proportional representation in house of reps.

Question 23

3/5ths compromis

Answer 23

3/5ths of slave pop. would be counted for determining direct taxation + representation in house of reps.

Question 24

commerce compromise

Answer 24

permitted tariffs on imports from foreign countries, not on exports from u.s.; gave federal gov. more power

Question 25

writ of habeus corpus

Answer 25

right of ppl. detained by gov. to know charges against them

Question 26

bills of attainder

Answer 26

when legis. declares someone guilty w/out trial

Question 27

ex post facto laws

Answer 27

law punishing ppl. for acts that were not crime at time they were committed

Question 28

separation of powers

Answer 28

limits power of each branch to avoid one branch from becoming too powerful

Question 29

checks + balances

Answer 29

each branch has powers that can prevent other branches from making policy

Question 30

amendment

Answer 30

const. provision for making changes to const.

Question 31

federalists

Answer 31

supporter of const.; wanted strong nat. gov.

Question 32

anti-federalists

Answer 32

opposed proposed const.; wanted stronger state gov.'s

Question 33

federalist paper #10

Answer 33

madison argues that dangers of factions can be mitigated by large republic + republican gov.

Question 34

federalist paper #51

Answer 34

madison argues that separation of powers prevents tyranny of the majority

Question 35

brutus 1

Answer 35

antifederalist paper arguing that country is too large to be governed as republic; const. gave too much power to nat. gov.

Question 36

federalism

Answer 36

sharing of power between nat. + state gov.'s

Question 37

unitary system

Answer 37

central gov. has all power over subnat. gov.'s

Question 38

confederal system

Answer 38

subnat. gov.'s have most of power

Question 39

enumerated/expressed powers

Answer 39

powers explicitly granted to nat. gov. through const.

Question 40

exclusive powers

Answer 40

powers only nat. gov. can exercise

Question 41

implied powers

Answer 41

authority of federal gov. that goes beyond expressed powers; not specifically granted but necessary

Question 42

necessary + proper (elastic) clause

Answer 42

article 1, section 8, granting congress powers necessary to carry out enumerated powers

Question 43

supremacy clause

Answer 43

const. provision declaring that const. + all nat. laws + treaties are supreme law of the land

Question 44

10th amendment

Answer 44

reserves powers not delegated to nat. gov. to states + ppl.

Question 45

reserved powers

Answer 45

powers not given to nat. gov., which are retained by states + ppl.

Question 46

concurrent powers

Answer 46

powers granted to both states + federal gov. in const.

Question 47

full faith + credit clause

Answer 47

const. clause requiring states to recognize public acts, records, civil court proceedings from another state

Question 48

extradition

Answer 48

requirement that officials in one state return defendant from another state where crime was committed

Question 49

privileges + immunities clause

Answer 49

prevents states from discriminating against ppl. from out of state

Question 50

dual federalism

Answer 50

form of american federalism in which states + nation operate independently in their own areas of public policy

Question 51

cooperative federalism

Answer 51

form of american federalism in which states + nat. gov. work together to shape public policy

Question 52

grants-in-aid

Answer 52

federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives

Question 53

fiscal federalism

Answer 53

federal gov.'s use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in states

Question 54

categorical grants

Answer 54

grants-in-aid provided to states w/specific provisions for their use

Question 55

unfunded mandates

Answer 55

federal requirement states must follow w/out being provided funding

Question 56

block grant

Answer 56

type of grants-in-aid that gives state officials more authority in disbursement of federal funds

Question 57

revenue sharing

Answer 57

when federal gov. apportions tax money to states w/no strings attached

Question 58

devolution

Answer 58

returning more authority to state/local gov.'s

Question 59

mcculloch v. maryland

Answer 59

supreme court ruled that congress had implied powers under necessary + proper clause of article 1, section 8 of const. to create second bank of u.s. + that maryland lacked power to tax bank

Question 60

u.s. v. lopez

Answer 60

supreme court ruled that gun-free school zones exceeded power of federal gov. + commerce clause + was unconst.; first time that supreme court ruled against granting federal gov. more power