Constitutional Principles
This document declared that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This constitutional principle addresses the division of power between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This theory of democracy argues that interest groups compete for influence in different areas of public policy.
What is pluralist democracy?
This compromise resolved disputes between large and small states over legislative representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
This ideal of democracy emphasizes the protection of individual rights and liberties against government overreach.
What is limited government?
This compromise at the Constitutional Convention provided a bicameral legislature with representation by population and equal state representation.
What is the Connecticut (Great) Compromise?
Powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states are reserved for the states according to this amendment.
What is the Tenth Amendment?
This democratic model emphasizes the direct participation of citizens in policymaking.
What is participatory democracy?
This compromise counted slaves as a fraction of a person for the purposes of representation and taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The Declaration of Independence argues that governments derive their just powers from this source.
What is the consent of the governed?
The creation of three branches of government is an example of this constitutional principle.
What is separation of powers?
The clause that ensures federal law prevails in case of conflict with state law.
What is the supremacy clause?
This theory argues that a small, wealthy elite holds significant power in policy areas.
What is elitist democracy?
This major philosophical difference between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists revolved around whether or not this should be included in the Constitution.
What is a Bill of Rights?
This principle is demonstrated by the Senate's power to approve treaties and presidential appointments, acting as a check on executive power.
What is checks and balances?
This Enlightenment philosopher argued that individuals are born with natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, and influenced the Declaration of Independence.
Who is John Locke?
This landmark case ruled that Congress had implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause, and that states could not interfere with federal institutions.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
Brutus 1 was concerned about this feature of the Constitution, which gives the federal government supremacy over the states.
What is the supremacy clause?
The framers created a system of government that relies on popular sovereignty, yet limited direct democracy with this method of electing the president.
What is the Electoral College?
Federalist No. 10, written by Madison, warned against the dangers of these groups, which could potentially dominate the political process in a pure democracy.
What are factions?
The approval of the Senate for Presidential treaties shows this principle.
What are checks and balances?
The court case in 1995 ruled that Congress exceeded its authority under the commerce clause, which limited the power of the federal government.
What is United States v. Lopez?
According to Federalist No. 10, this type of government, which uses elected representatives, can better control factions.
What is a (large) republic?
The 1990s saw a shift in federalism with court rulings that emphasized this type of federalism, which promotes returning power to the states.
What is devolution?
Montesquieu argued that this structure was essential to prevent tyranny, inspiring the framers' creation of a divided government in the U.S. Constitution.
What is separation of powers?