Democratic Ideals
The concept that government's authority comes solely from the consent of the people.
Popular Sovereignty?
The principle that government power is divided among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is Separation of Powers?
The armed uprising that signaled the collapse of the Articles of Confederation.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
Powers, such as establishing courts and taxing, that are shared by both the federal and state governments.
What are Concurrent Powers?
The federal power to coin money, which is specifically listed in Article I of the Constitution.
What are Delegated (or Enumerated) Powers?
I will except "Exclusive Powers" as well
This foundational document states that individuals are entitled to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This document was written to persuade citizens, particularly in New York, to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
What is Federalist No. 51 (or any other Federalist Paper)?
The document that argued against the ratification of the Constitution, fearing the new national government was too strong.
What is Brutus No. 1?
The type of grant that gives states broad discretion on how to spend federal money (e.g., community development).
What is a Block Grant?
The Supreme Court case that limited Congress’s use of the Commerce Clause by ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional.
What is United States v. Lopez?
This model of democracy is characterized by group-based activism and competition among interest groups.
What is Pluralist Democracy?
The compromise that established the bicameral legislature, with one house based on population and one based on equal representation.
What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
A major economic weakness of the Articles of Confederation was the national government's lack of power to do this.
What is the power to tax?
A system of federalism where state and national governments operate in distinct spheres, like layers in a cake.
What is Dual Federalism (or Layer Cake Federalism)?
The term for a federal requirement that states must follow without being provided sufficient federal funding.
What is an Unfunded Mandate?
What is the principle that the government must be restricted by a Constitution to protect individual rights?
What is Limited Government?
What is the clause that grants Congress the implied powers necessary to carry out its enumerated functions?
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (or Elastic Clause)?
What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment in the context of federalism?
What is the Reserved Powers Doctrine (reserving powers not given to the federal government for the states)?
What is the clause that makes federal law superior to state law when a conflict arises?
What is the Supremacy Clause?
What is the constitutional basis used in the McCulloch v. Maryland ruling to justify Congress creating a national bank?
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Name the document that argues a large republic is better than a small one at controlling the power of factions.
What is Federalist No. 10?
The agreement to count a portion of enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Name the document that warns a powerful central government will lead to the destruction of the states' ability to represent the people.
What is Brutus No. 1?
Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of a federal system for a country as large and diverse as the United States.
What is Federalism? (e.g., Advantage: policy innovation; Disadvantage: policy inconsistency across states)
Explain how the ruling in United States v. Lopez shifted the balance of power back toward the states.
By limiting the power of Congress under the Commerce Clause, which reinforced the principle of Reserved Powers for the states.