Foundational Documents
Created a weak central Government
Articles of Confederation
a model of democracy that stresses vigorous competition among various interests in a free society; no one group dominates politics
pluralist democracy
An armed uprising in Massachusetts (mostly in and around Springfield) during 1786 and 1787.
Shays' Rebellion
Wrote The Leviathan
Thomas Hobbs
The supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure of the national government and defining the rights and freedoms of American citizens.
US Constitution
meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition
1st amendment
A series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Federalist Papers
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
republic
a group, usually within a larger group, that has different ideas and opinions than the rest of the group.
Faction
Wrote Second Treatise of Civil Government
John Locke
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and press; right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; etc.
The Bill of Rights
New Jersey Plan
proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote
the power of the legislature, executive, and judicial branches of government to block some acts by the other two branches
checks and balances
An essay written as part of the Anti-Federalist Papers, in which the author raised concerns about the concentration of power in the national government and the potential for elected representatives to become an elite class, disconnected from the people they were supposed to represent.
Brutus No. 1
a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders; elite holds power
elite democracy
A political system where the powers of the government are restricted by law, usually through a written constitution
Limited Government
Name the philosopher that coined the term The Social Contract
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
the division of powers between national and state governments, and is central to the American structure of government.
Federalism
called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's population
Virginia Plan
a political system in which ultimate authority is shared between a central government and state or regional governments
federalism
argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one person or a single group
Federalist #51
a system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf
participatory democracy
one house
unicameral
the law of God and that this law is acknowledged through human sense and reason.
natural law
A principle stating that all government power comes from the people. The government exists only with consent from its citizens who are the source of all authority.
Popular Sovereignty
agreement that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress
Three-fifths Compromise
powers of the federal government that go beyond those in the Constitution
Implied powers
an American statesman, diplomat, expansionist, philosopher, author of Federalist 10, and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of United States from 1809-1817. He is hailed as "Father of Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting U.S constitution, and the Bill Of Rights.
James Madison
A form of government where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
Direct Democracy
The formal approval or acceptance of a decision, action, or plan. In the context of US Government, it often refers to the process by which proposed laws or constitutional amendments are approved and become legally binding.
Ratification
belief that a ruler's authority comes directly from God
divine right
Federal law has authority over state laws when the two are in conflict.
Supremacy Clause
proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of congress, ratified by 3/4 of state legislation
formal amendment process
the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
10th Amendment
Document adopted on July 4th, 1776, which announced that thirteen American colonies were no longer under British rule and had become independent states.
Declaration of Independence
powers directly stated in the Constitution
Expressed powers
Agreement for counting African slaves in determining representation in the House for representation and taxation purposes
Three-Fifths Compromise
a legal document written by English lords in 1215 that stated certain rights and limited the power of the King
Magna Carta
Outlines what congress is allowed to do
Article 1
outlines the Amendment process
Article 5
Supreme Court ruled that states had no right to interfere with federal institutions within their borders and that a national bank was constitutional; strengthened federal power
McCulloch v. Maryland