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GOV

Terms in this set (75)

Amendment 1
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
Amendment 2
Right to bear arms
Amendment 3
No one may be forced to house soldiers
Amendment 4
Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
Amendment 5
Rights of the criminally accused (indictment by grand jury, no double jeopardy, no self-incrimination, due process of the law, eminent domain)
Amendment 6
Rights to a speedy trial by jury (speedy trial, impartial jury, informed of charges, right to an attorney)
Amendment 7
Rights to a jury trial in CIVIL CASES, more than
$20, people sue over money/property
Amendment 8
No excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment
Amendment 9
People have other basic rights not listed in Constitution
Amendment 10
All powers not given to the federal government are left for the states to take care of/decide
Amendment 11
Federal courts do not have jurisdiction in cases against a state
Amendment 12
Provides for separate elections for president and vice president
Amendment 13
Abolishes Slavery
Amendment 14
Provides equality for all citizens; state governments must follow previously passed amendments
Amendment 15
All male have the right to vote
Amendment 16
Congress has the power to pass direct taxes, such as income tax
Amendment 17
Senators are to be elected by the voters in their state; governor fills state senator positions if position opens during a term
Amendment 18
Selling and drinking of alcoholic beverages is made illegal (prohibition)
Amendment 19
Gives women the right to vote
Amendment 20
Beginning of President, VP and Congress terms in office begins in January; presidential succession can take place before Presidential inauguration
Amendment 21
Selling and drinking of alcoholic beverages is made legal (allowed again, #18 was repealed or cancelled by this amendment)
Amendment 22
Presidents may serve no more than 2 terms or a total of 10 years
Amendment 23
District of Columbia is allowed presidential Electoral College votes
Amendment 24
Eliminated poll tax (no required payment needed to vote)
Amendment 25
Provides for presidential succession and filling a vacant office of vice president, if VP dies or his removed from office
Amendment 26
Lowers voting age from 21 to 18
Amendment 27
Congressional compensation increases may not take effect until after that congressional term is over (their pay raise doesn't go into effect until new term)
Direct Democracy
citizens meet and vote directly on government decisions
Representative Democracy
citizens choose officials who make decisions on government policy
Magna Carta (1215)
the first ever attempt to limit the power of the British King, guaranteed all people certain rights
Social Contract Theory
principle that people enter into a social contract with the government and allow to be ruled
consent of the governed
principle that there are no supreme rulers, all rulers depend on the approval of the people, when governments fail to protect rights the people have the right to change the government
Natural Rights
principle that all people are born with certain rights: life, liberty, and property
Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson's statement of political liberalism (limited government to protect life liberty and pursuit of happiness; right to revolution).
Common Good
Belief in doing what's best for the nation overall
Popular Sovereignty
belief that the ultimate authority rests with the people
Majority Rule
Belief that government is run based on the will of the majority
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
3/5 Compromise
each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes
Conneticut Compromise
Bicameral Congress; House is based on state population, Senate with equal representation
Virginia Plan
"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan
A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress
Federalists
supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
people who opposed the Constitution
Article 1 of the Constitution
Legislative Branch
Article 2 of the Constitution
Executive Branch
Article 3 of the Constitution
Judicial Branch
Article 4 of the Constitution
Relations among states
Article 5 of the Constitution
Amending the Constitution
Separation of Powers
Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Confederacy
A loose union of independent states; name of government used by the southern states that seceded during the Civil War
Unitary Federalism
A centralized system of government in which all power is vested in a central government
Dual Federalism (layer cake)
clear division of governing authority between national and state governments
Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake)
state and federal government work together to improve the lives of citizens
Fiscal Federalism
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government's relations with state and local governments.
categorical grants
Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport
block grants
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services
revenue sharing
federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states
Mandates
terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants
expressed powers
Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers"
implied powers
Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.
inherent powers
Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community
Federal Powers (inherent, expressed, implied)
regulate interstate commerce, coin/print money, provide army, declare war, establish federal courts, set foreign policy, make laws "necessary and proper"
Federal and State Powers (Concurrent)
levy taxes, spend for general welfare, enact and enforce laws
State Powers (Reserved Powers)
set times and manner of elections, ratity amendment to the us constitution, take measure for public health, safety and morals, exert powers the constitution does not delegate to the national government, establish local governments, regulate intrastate commerce
Denied Powers
powers the Constitution denies to the national government
supremecy clause
Makes National law supreme over state laws in constitutional affairs
Interstate Commerce Act
Established the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) - monitors the business operation of carriers transporting goods and people between states - created to regulate railroad prices
Take Care Clause
The constitutional requirement (in Article II, Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Iron Triangle
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
revolving door
government officials often retire and move on to work as lobbyists for interest groups
Logrolling
An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills
pork barrel spending
A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency
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