Democracy Schemocracy
This principle says that government gets its power from the people, or the "consent of the governed."
What is popular sovereignty?
This document explains natural rights, consent of the governed, and the colonists' grievances against King George III.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This compromise created a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for every state.
What is the Great Compromise?
This system divides governmental power between the national government and state governments.
What is federalism?
Maryland attempted to tax the Second Bank of the United States, leading to this landmark 1819 Supreme Court case.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
Life, liberty, and property are examples of these rights that government exists to protect.
What are natural rights?
This first national governing document created a weak central government that could not directly tax citizens or effectively enforce national laws.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This Constitutional Convention compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population when determining representation and direct taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This amendment reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states or the people.
What is the 10th Amendment?
Congress banned guns near schools, but the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had exceeded its Commerce Clause authority in this 1995 case.
What is United States v. Lopez?
Citizens participate directly in government by voting on laws or policy decisions themselves.
What is participatory democracy?
This document argues that factions are dangerous but can best be controlled in a large republic with many competing interests.
What is Federalist No. 10?
This system for choosing the president was created as a compromise between direct popular election and having Congress select the president.
What is the Electoral College?
The national government and state governments can both collect taxes. Powers held by both levels of government are called this.
What are concurrent powers?
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court used this clause to support Congress's authority to create a national bank even though creating a bank is not specifically listed in the Constitution.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Environmental organizations, business groups, labor unions, and other groups compete to influence government policy.
What is pluralist democracy?
This document argues that a large republic and powerful national government could threaten individual liberty and state authority.
What is Brutus 1?
The Constitution gives legislative, executive, and judicial responsibilities to different branches of government.
What is separation of powers?
Wisconsin receives federal money for a broad program, but the state has significant freedom to decide exactly how the money will be spent.
What is a block grant?
In McCulloch v. Maryland, this constitutional clause helped the Court rule that Maryland could not interfere with a constitutional action of the national government.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
In this model of democracy, a relatively small number of wealthy, educated, or powerful people have the greatest influence over government decisions.
What is elite democracy?
"Ambition must be made to counteract ambition." This document argues that the structure of government should prevent any one part of government from becoming too powerful.
What is Federalist No. 51?
Congress passes a bill. The president vetoes it. Congress then votes to override the president's veto. This constitutional principle is being demonstrated.
What are checks and balances?
The federal government requires states to carry out a new program but does not provide enough federal money to pay for it.
What is an unfunded mandate?
McCulloch v. Maryland and United States v. Lopez reached different conclusions about federal power. One generally expanded national power while the other placed limits on it.
What is McCulloch expanded federal power, while Lopez limited federal power?