Ideals/Types of Democracy
An agreement between the citizens of a state and their governing body, wherein the citizens forfeit some freedoms in return for protections from the state
Social contract
A document written by this author highlighted how leaving factions unregulated threatened the individual rights of Americans
James Madison
What is the power to vote out an elected official out of office after supporting an unpopular bill?
Impeachment
Anti-Federalist essay written in 1787 opposing the proposed constitution.
Brutus 1
These powers are specifically granted to the federal government in the Constitution.
Enumerated Powers
The Declaration of Independence lays the foundation for this core ideal of American government, centered around the consent of the governed
Popular Sovereignty
This document was ratified as a result of blatant weaknesses present in the Articles of Confederation
The U.S. Constitution
What is the system by which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders?
A republic (Republicanism)
A paper where James Maddison explored majority rule and advocated for a republican form of government.
Federalist 10
In this system of government, national and state governments share power and derive all authority from the people.
Federal system
Interest groups like the NRA and Planned Parenthood compete fairly in what sort of democracy
Pluralist democracy
This event highlighted the weakness of a lack of a centralized military under the Articles of confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
What is the final step for a bill to become a law?
The President signs the bill into law; or Congress overrides the veto if the Senate and House pass the bill by a two thirds majority
An essay in the federalist series that addresses the means under which the government can sustain a system of checks and balances. Key essay advocating for the separation of powers in government.
Federalist 51
This clause ensures that judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in any other state.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
These two philosophical documents represent the tensions between the participatory model of democracy and the pluralist/elite models
Federalist No.10 and Brutus 1 OR Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers
This political party believed that a strong central government posed a threat to Americans’ individual rights
Democratic-Republicans
What is the structural reason that allows there to be variations in policies among the states?
Federalism (or the states have their own sovereignty on some issues like education spending)
A response to the claims by many states that the constitution infringed on the natural rights of mankind. A document deemed as necessary to safeguard individual liberty.
Bill of rights
In this type of federalism, power is divided between the federal and state governments. It is also known as layer-cake federalism.
Dual Federalism
The United States government is based upon these five ideals
Limited government, natural rights, popular sovereignty, republicanism, and social contracts
Lack of power to regulate trade, impose taxation, and lack of a uniform currency under the Articles of Confederation led to this happening in the United States
Economic Issues (disorganization, inflation, not able to pay veterans, etc.)
What were the four compromises that had to be made in order for the Constitution to be ratified?
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise, the Electoral College, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Compromise on the importation of slaves
A document written by the “founding fathers” declaring sovereignty from Britain, and laying out the democratic ideals under which the American government was built.
Declaration of Independence
This court case declared that Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers and establish supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws.
McCullough v. Maryland