Ideals of Democracy
Suggested Natural Laws should govern society (Life, liberty, property) and that the governed should consent to the government.
Who is John Locke
It was unable to impose taxes, had no regulation between states (esp. Commerce), no national court system, currency, nor military, and each state casts one vote regardless of population.
What were the problems with the articles of confederation?
Citizens of Sovreign states elect leaders for a limited time who make and execute the law.
What is republicanism?
A list of essential rights that the government can not take away.
What is the Bill of Rights?
Written to show how a new constitution will protect the liberty of its citizens against tyranny of the majority
What is Federalist no. 10?
Suggested a governed state is best for society. People need to give up some of their rights for the good of all.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
Agreed on a Bi-cameral legislature consisting of the Senate (2 votes per state) and the House of representatives (votes based on population
What is the Great Compromise?
Government where people entrust elected officials to act in their best interest.
What is a representative democracy?
Either 2/3 of both houses of congress or 2/3 of state legislation
What are the 2 ways a proposal for amending the constitution can be proposed?
Argued people wouldnt tolerate state taxes because of federal taxes and will cause states to die. Also supported strong state governments and answered the question of whether a confederated government is best for the US
What is Brutus no. 1.
Suggested a "social contract" where free and equal people commit to serve the general good. Also suggested popular sovereignty where the people are the authority.
Who is Jean- Jacques Rousseau?
Gave congress the power to regulate trade between states and set tarrifs
What is the commerce clause?
Addressing national issues with free federal dollars; Grant-in-aid programs ("power of the purse")
What are federal grants?
3/4 of states have to agree in order to do this
What is the requirement for ratification of amending a constitution?
Established the supremacy of national laws over state law. Set the precedent that whenever federal and state law are in conflict, federal law trumps state law.
What is McCulloch V. Maryland (1819)?
Suggested a republican government with limited and separated powers (the three branches)
Who is Baron de Montesquieu?
Electing a precident through states, who decide how to choose electors
What is the Electoral College?
National power is above the states but is limited by the enumerated powers (Article 1, Section 8)
What is the supremacy clause?
This process is described in Article 5 of the US Constitution.
What is the process for amending the constitution?
Argued If people were angels we wouldnt need a government and if angels govern people we wouldnt need checks internallly, but people are not like angels. Suggested Checks and balances to ensure the government can protect peoples liberties while not having enough power to destroy them. Also discussed federalism and bicameral legislature.
What is Federalist 51?
The three forms of representative democracy's:
-One is the broad involvement of citizens through voting for laws
-One where people join interest groups
-One where elected representatives act as trustees for the people who elect them
What is participatory, pluralist and elite representative democracies?
2 perspectives that led to the creation of the Great Compromise. One wanted representation based on population while the other wanted equal representation for states.
What is the Virginia plan and the New Jersey plan?
Implied or necessary and proper that are not listed in the powers.
What is the elastic clause?
Examples include presidents vetoing legislature, and the legislature can impeach the president and remove him from office.
What are examples of how the 3 branches of the government limit each other through checks and balances?
Court case about federalism and the balance of power between national and state governments. The US argued guns in school were related to interstate commerce and therefor had the authority to pass laws on the matter.
What is United States V. Lopez (1995)