Enlightenment & Ideals of Democracy
This English philosopher’s concept of "natural law" argued that people are born free and equal with rights to life, liberty, and property.
Who is John Locke?
Town hall meetings, local policy votes, and state ballot initiatives are modern examples of this model of democracy.
What is participatory democracy?
Written under the pseudonym "Publius," these 85 essays were designed to convince states—especially New York—to ratify the Constitution.
What are The Federalist Papers?
Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state receive in the Confederation Congress regardless of its population?
What is one vote?
Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, this agreement created a bicameral legislature with a population-based House and an equal-representation Senate.
What is the Great Compromise?
In The Spirit of the Laws, Baron de Montesquieu argued for this structural mechanism to prevent administrative government from becoming too powerful.
What is the separation of powers?
In this type of democracy, decision-making is dominated by interest groups competing in a "marketplace of ideas" to influence policy.
What is a pluralist democracy?
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that the "mischiefs" of these political interest groups are best controlled by a large republic.
What are factions?
Altering or amending the Articles of Confederation required this threshold of state agreement. (must provide # of states required)
What is a unanimous vote (all 13 states)?
Article V of the Constitution outlines the process to alter the document, requiring a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by this fraction of states.
What is three-fourths (3/4) of the states?
Adopted in 1620 by the Pilgrims, this early agreement grounded in self-rule served as an early model for a "civil body politic".
What is the Mayflower Compact?
Elon Musk's participation in government/elections and the original unamended selection of U.S. Senators by state legislatures reflect this model of democracy.
What is an elite democracy?
This key Anti-Federalist document argued that a vast republic would distance rulers from the people and erode individual liberties. (must provide the #)
Who is Brutus (Brutus No. 1)?
This 1786 armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers exposed the federal government's inability to maintain order or raise a military.
What was Shays' Rebellion?
This compromise resolved representation disputes between Northern and Southern states regarding how enslaved populations would be counted.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s concept that the ultimate ruling authority rests with the people is known by this political term.
What is popular sovereignty?
This state-level process allows citizens to gather petition signatures to hold a direct vote to uphold or defeat a law passed by their legislature.
What is a referendum?
Brutus No. 1 specifically warned that these two constitutional clauses gave the national government unchecked, dangerous authority.
What are the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Supremacy Clause?
The Articles of Confederation prevented the national government from collecting funds directly because Congress lacked the power to do this.
What is levy/mandate taxes?
Located in Article VI, this clause establishes that the U.S. Constitution and national laws take precedence over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu argued that allocating power across legislative, executive, and judicial branches prevents this form of government.
What is tyranny?
Anti-Federalists feared that the vast size of the United States would make it impossible to maintain this type of democracy favored for smaller communities.
What is participatory democracy?
In Federalist No. 51, James Madison defended the Constitution's design by stating this famed quote about human nature and governance:
What is "If men were angels, no government would be necessary"?
Enacting standard national legislation under the Articles required the approval of this many states out of thirteen.
What is nine states?
To gain the support of reluctant Anti-Federalists during ratification, Federalists promised to add these amendments to protect individual liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?