Terms and Philosophies
According to this term, power is held by the people, who exercise it through the electoral process.
What is popular sovereignty?
The document that preceded the U.S. Constitution, establishing a weak central government and granting most power to the states.
What are the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union?
This branch of government is responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring they are constitutional.
What is the judicial branch?
This principle divides governmental powers between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
This amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the First Amendment?
This term asserts that individuals possess certain fundamental rights that cannot be taken away or violated.
What are natural rights?
This compromise at the Constitutional Convention resolved the dispute over representation in Congress by creating a bicameral legislature.
What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
The principle of dividing governmental powers between the national and state governments is known as this
What is federalism?
This clause in the Constitution establishes that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
This amendment to the Constitution grants women the right to vote.
What is the 19th Amendment?
This concept suggests that individuals implicitly agree to live under a government in exchange for protection of their natural rights.
What is the social contract?
This series of essays written in support of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution argued for the necessity of a strong central government
What are the Federalist Papers?
This clause in the Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states.
What is the Commerce Clause?
The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to whom?
What are the states or the people?
This clause requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause?
This political philosophy emphasizes the importance of individual liberty and limited government intervention.
What is republicanism?
This event occurred in response to the proposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution, with opponents fearing it would grant too much power to the federal government.
What is the Anti-Federalist opposition?
The "elastic clause" or "necessary and proper clause" grants Congress the authority to pass laws that are deemed necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers. In which article of the Constitution is it found?
What is Article I?
The process by which the Supreme Court applies the Bill of Rights to the states through the 14th Amendment is known as what?
What is selective incorporation?
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as what?
What are the Civil War Amendments or the Reconstruction Amendments?
According to this theory, society is made up of various interest groups competing for influence over public policy.
What is pluralist theory?
This amendment to the Constitution grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves.
What is the 14th Amendment?
This principle ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the other branches.
What are checks and balances?
This principle ensures that no single branch of government holds complete authority, as powers are separated among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
This process allows individuals charged with a crime to challenge the legality of their detention.
What is the writ of habeas corpus?