 | Term | Definition |
| |
conservative |
prefers slow and moderate change; least amount of government influence |
| |
democracy |
system that gives power to the people |
| |
direct democracy |
all free male citizens came together to pass laws and elect leaders |
| |
indirect (representative) democracy |
a system that gives citizens opportunity to vote for reps. |
| |
natural law |
certain ethical principals that can be understood by reason |
| |
oligarchy |
few rule in own self interest |
| |
political culture |
common attitudes, beliefs, and core values about government |
| |
republic |
people were represented by more educated or wealthier citizens who elected leaders |
| |
social contract |
people giving their consent to be governed |
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social contract theory |
argued people are free and equal (under gods eye); required all give their consent |
| |
anti-federalists |
favored strong state gov / weak national gov; opposed US Constitution |
| |
articles of confederation |
loose "leage of friendship" between the 13 states |
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bill of rights |
1st 10 amendments to the US Constitution |
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checks and balances |
executive/legislative/judicial; all check eachother |
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confederation |
independent states; national gov gathers powers from states |
| |
unitary gov vs. federlism gov |
unitary: 1 level controls and makes rules | federalism: stems of branches, closer to people |
| |
the federalist papers |
85 essays; Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay |
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new jersey plan |
1 house legislature [ 1 vote per state ], Congress as 'supreme law', and supreme judiciary limited power |
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three-fifths compromise |
each slave were counted as 3/5 of a person for population |
| |
virginia plan |
creation of 3 branch gov, 2 house legislature [ 1 from people, 1 from legislatures ], legislature to select executive and judiciary |
| |
conecticut compromise |
convention to give same number of reps in Senate regardless of size; reps in House was by population |
