A government makes and enforces its own laws without approval from any other authority.
What is "sovereignty"
100
The idea that the powers of government are divided into three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
What are separation of powers?
100
These first 10 amendments of the Constitution outline some of our basic human rights.
What is the Bill of Rights?
100
It is the division of power between the national and state governments.
What is federalism?
100
It states why the Constitution was written.
What is the Preamble?
200
Population, territory, sovereignty and government.
What are the essential features of a state?
200
This uprising of farmers who were protesting the way debtors were being treated, highlighted the need for a stronger national government
What is Shays' Rebellion?
200
Responsibilities that all three branches work together on like conducting war, spending money, and passing legislation.
What are shared powers?
200
These are powers that are directly stated in the Constitution.
What are expressed powers?
200
It was the document that came before the Constitution and is thought of a a kind of "first Constitution."
What are the Articles of Confederation?
300
This idea states that before government there was a "state of nature" from which people gave up their freedom to the state in exchange for order and security.
What is social contract theory?
300
It settled a disagreement over how many representatives each state would have in the House by counting slaves as less than 1 person.
What is the 3/5th's Compromise.
300
This branch of the federal government can make treaties with foreign countries, appoints federal judges, gives State of the Union addresses, and makes sure the laws of Congress are being followed.
What is the executive branch?
300
Any powers that the national and state governments DO NOT have.
What are denied powers?
300
These are monies that are set aside for a specific purpose.
What are allocated funds?
400
In this type of democracy, voters elect representatives to run the nation's government.
What is a republic?
400
Congress could not tax, regulate trade, or enforce any of its laws for example.
What are some weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
400
These are the "Big 6" ideas in the U.S. Constitution.
What are Limited Government, Checks and Balances, Federalism, Judicial Review, Popular Sovereignty, Separation of Powers?
400
These are two different positions one can take regarding the balance of power in a federal system.
What are nationalist and states' rights approaches?
400
These laws have an end date.
What are sunset laws?
500
A government in which a constitution has authority to place clearly recognized limits on the powers of those who govern.
What is a constitutional government?
500
It was a meeting of representatives who wrote our Constitution in 1787.
What is the Constitutional Convention?
500
Congress has the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" to deal with unexpected situations.
What is the elastic clause?
500
It is an example of the federal government expanding their power via commerce laws.
What is Congress passing laws about racial segregation because discrimination interferes with commerce (which they regulate)?
500
A system where the government does not have absolute power.