Government Vocabulary
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54 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Democracy | A form of government in which all people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. |
| Constitution | A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. |
| Stamp Act | Passed in 1765. A direct tax imposed by the British parliament specifically on the colonies of British America. Required that many printed materials in the colonies be produced on stamped paper, which would help pay for the troops stationed in North America after the British victory in the Seven Years War. |
| Plato | A classical Greek (Athenian) philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle. Wrote 'The Republic'. |
| Aristotle | A Greek (Athenian) philosopher, a student of Plato, and a teacher of Alexander the Great. Very important in Western philosophy. Their official philosophy became the official philosophy of the Roman Catholic Church. |
| Constitutional Government | A government based on a constitution. Maybe even limited by a constitution. |
| Roman Republic | The period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. (509BC-27BC) |
| Republic | A form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, retain supreme control over the government, at least in theory, and where offices of state are not granted through heritage. |
| Declaration of Independence | This document was adopted on July 4, 1776. It established the 13 American colonies as independent states, free from rule by Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson wrote the majority of this document. |
| Natural Rights | The idea that all humans are born with rights which include the right to life, liberty, and property |
| Articles of Confederation | This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage. |
| Continental Congress | The legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution; they issued the Declaration of Independence and framed Articles of Confederation. |
| Shay's Rebellion | This conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes. |
| Tyranny | A form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.) |
| The Great Compromise | This plan or compromise was proposed by Roger Sherman, He proposed that the Congress would have two houses. A Senate and a House of Reps. Each state would have equal representation. And they would be based on population. |
| The three fifths Compromise | Compromise that determined how enslaved person would be counted for taxation and representation...3/5 of all population of slaves would be counted for representation and taxation. |
| Federalists | Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution. |
| Anti-Federalists | People who opposed the Constitution. They wanted a Bill of Rights. |
| Bill of Rights | The first ten amendments of the U.S. Constitution, containing a list of individual rights and liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. |
| Enfranchisement | The right to vote. |
| Rational Basis | In U.S. constitutional law, the lowest level of scrutiny applied by courts deciding constitutional issues through judicial review |
| Strict Scrutiny | a Supreme Court test to see if a law denies equal protection because it does not serve a compelling state interest and is not narrowly tailored to achieve that goal |
| Adversary system | A judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences. |
| Due process of law | principle in the 5th Amendment stating that the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals |
| Fundamental rights | rights that are implicitly or explicitly guaranteed by the constitution; laws that interfere with constitutional rights are subject to strict scrutiny |
| Procedural due process | Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power. |
| Substantive due process | The government must create fair policies and laws |
| 14th amendment | Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws |
| Grandfather Clause | an exemption based on circumstances existing prior to the adoption of some policy |
| 5th amendment | right to grand jury, indictment, no double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, due process of law |
| 15th amendment | citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude |
| 19th amendment | gave women the right to vote |
| President | the office of the United States head of state |
| Vice President | an executive officer ranking immediately below a president |
| Cabinet | persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers |
| Executive order | a rule issued by the president that has the force of law |
| Electoral College | the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president |
| Ambassador | a diplomat of the highest rank |
| Executive Branch | the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws |
| Commander in chief | the officer who holds the supreme command; the president |
| 22nd amendment | limits the number of terms a president may be elected to serve |
| impeachment | a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office |
| cloture | terminate debate by calling for a vote |
| Interest groups | organization of people who share political, social or other goals; and agree to try to influence public policy to achieve those goals. |
| constituents | people a member of Congress represents |
| filibuster | a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches; used only in the senate; need 60 votes to stop it. |
| pocket veto | indirect veto of legislation by refusing to sign it |
| lobbying | direct contact made by an interest group representative in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors; bribery by interest groups |
| bill | a statute in draft before it becomes law |
| Senate | Upper house of congress; has 100 members; represents the States |
| House of Representatives | Lower house of congress: has 435 members; |
| Speaker of the House | Presides over the house chamber; Decides when debates happen; makes sure resolutions happen, appoints committees, stop lobbyists. |
| Seniority | years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members |
| Congress | the legislature of the United States government |
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