Foundational Ideas
This principle holds that governmental authority ultimately comes from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
The first governing document of the United States created a national government that was too weak to tax effectively.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Supporters of ratification and a stronger national government were known by this name.
Who were the Federalists?
Federalism divides political power between these two levels of government.
What are the national and state governments?
This document argues that government exists to protect natural rights and derives its power from the consent of the governed.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This Enlightenment thinker argued that people possess natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
Who is John Locke?
This event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles and helped generate support for a stronger national government.
What is Shays’ Rebellion?
Opponents of ratification worried that the proposed Constitution gave too much authority to this level of government.
What is the national/federal government?
These constitutional powers belong specifically to the national government.
What are enumerated powers?
This document warns that a large national republic would threaten individual liberty and state authority.
What is Brutus No. 1?
Under this democratic model, citizens have the greatest direct influence over government decision-making.
What is participatory democracy?
This compromise created a bicameral Congress with proportional representation in one chamber and equal state representation in the other.
What is the Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise?
In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that a large republic helps control the harmful effects of these groups.
What are factions?
This clause establishes that valid federal laws generally prevail over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
This document argues that a large republic can better control factions than a small republic.
What is Federalist No. 10?
Interest groups competing to influence public policy most closely reflect this model of democracy.
What is pluralist democracy?
This constitutional principle divides governmental authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is separation of powers?
Brutus No. 1 argues that the United States is too large for this form of government to function effectively.
What is a republic?
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court relied on this clause to uphold Congress's power to establish a national bank.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
This document argues that each branch needs constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments by the others.
What is Federalist No. 51?
A small number of wealthy or highly influential individuals exercising disproportionate political power reflects this model.
What is elite democracy?
Requiring the House and Senate to pass legislation before the president may sign or veto it demonstrates this constitutional principle.
What are checks and balances?
Madison argues in Federalist No. 51 that this human characteristic makes governmental checks on power necessary.
What is human nature/self-interest? "Men are not angels."
In United States v. Lopez, the Supreme Court limited Congress's ability to use this constitutional power.
What is the Commerce Clause?
Identify the document from the argument: A government must first be able to control the governed and then be forced to control itself.
What is Federalist No. 51?