Ideals of Democracy
What are natural rights, according to John Locker?
Life, Liberty, and Property (rights inherent to all people that cannot be taken away)
Define 'participatory democracy'
Broad participation by citizens in politics and civil society.
Who were the Federalists, and what did they support?
Supported Constitution and strong central government.
Name one weakness of the Articles of Confederation:
No power to tax; no executive; no national court system; no power to regulate commerce; no national defense, etc.
What is 'Federalism'?
A system dividing power between national and state governments.
Define "social contract" and explain its role in U.S. founding documents.
Agreement where people give up some freedoms in exchange for government protection; seen in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
What is the main difference between pluralist and elite democracy?
Pluralist: Power spread among interest groups
Elite: Power concentrated in wealthy/influential few
Who were the Anti-Federalists, and what did they oppose?
Opposed the Constitution; wanted stronger state governments and protections for individual rights.
What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Shays' Rebellion (1786-87)
Define concurrent powers and give one example:
Powers shared by both federal and state governments (e.g., taxation, lawmaking, building roads).
Which philosopher argued for a strong central authority in Leviathan?
Thomas Hobbes
Federalist 10 reflects which model of democracy?
Pluralist (and elite, kinda) - Factions controlled in a large republic through representation.
What argument does Madison make in Federalist 10 about factions?
A large republic dilutes factions and prevents tyranny of the majority.
Explain the Great (Connecticut) Compromise
Bicameral legislature: House of Representatives based on population, Equal representation in the Senate.
What did the Supreme Court rule in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?
Upheld national supremacy (Supremacy Clause) and implied powers (Necessary and Proper Clause); States cannot tax federal banks.
How do separation of powers and checks and balances limit government?
They divide authority across three branches and give each the ability to restrain the others.
Brutus No. 1 reflects which model of democracy and why?
Participatory - Belief in small republics where people are more directly represented.
How does Brutus 1 argue against a large republic?
It would be too big to represent people directly; elites would take over; liberty would be at risk.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise, and why was it significant?
Enslaved persons counted as 3/5 for representation and taxation; gave southern states more seats in the House of Representatives.
What did the Supreme Court rule in U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?
Limited Congress's Commerce Clause power - gun possession in school zones is not "economic activity".
Give one example of how limited government is written into the Constitution:
Examples: Bill of Rights, Enumerated powers, Impeachment process, Tenth Amendment
Give one modern example of participatory democracy in action:
Town Halls, Ballot Initiatives, Protests, Grassroots Movements (e.g., Black Lives Matter).
Addition of the Bill of Rights.
Name two unresolved issues from the Constitutional Convention that still affect debates today:
Legacy of slavery and representation/race relations; State Power vs. Federal Power; Scope of executive authority.
Explain how the Commerce Clause has shifted the balance of power between states and the Federal Government:
Expanded federal power by allowing Congress to regulate wide areas of economic activity, though sometimes restricted (e.g., U.S. v. Lopez).
Explain how one constitutional compromise at the Constitutional Convention continues to shape American politics today:
Great Compromise: Still gives small states equal representation in the Senate.
Electoral College: Presidential elections not done by popular vote.
Three-Fifths: Legacy of slavery still influences representation and race relations.