Key Vocabulary
A system of government where power is divided between a central national government and state or regional governments.
What is federalism?
A form of government in which citizens vote directly on laws and policies rather than electing representatives.
What is direct democracy?
The nation's first governing document, which created a weak central government and a loose alliance of states.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
One major drawback of the Articles of Confederation was that the national government lacked the power to collect these.
What are taxes?
Under the U.S. Constitution, this principle ensures that the federal government's authority comes directly from the people, while federalism preserves power for these regional governments.
What are popular sovereignty and states (or state governments)?
A supreme, independent authority and power possessed by a state or governing body.
What is sovereignty?
A state ruled by a single person who holds all political power, often inherited.
A state ruled by a single person who holds all political power, often inherited.
The founding document containing the famous phrase, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..."
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Formal approval or agreement to adopt a constitution or treaty.
What is ratification?
The power of courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
A form of government in which power is held by a small group of elites.
What is an oligarchy?
Rights that belong to all human beings, which cannot be taken away, such as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
What are unalienable rights (or human rights)?
Settlement of a debate where each side gives up something to reach an agreement, vital during the Constitutional Convention.
What is a compromise?
The principle of dividing government powers among distinct branches to prevent any single branch from gaining too much control.
What is separation of powers?
A government led by religious leaders or governed according to religious laws.
What is a theocracy?
The idea that a government's authority and legitimacy come directly from the people.
What is consent of the governed (or popular sovereignty)?
How marginalized groups throughout U.S. history used the Declaration of Independence's core promise to fight for civil rights, voting access, or equality.
How did groups use "all men are created equal" and "unalienable rights" to drive social change?
A two-chamber or two-house legislative system, such as Congress.
What is bicameral?
A system where citizens elect officials to make laws and govern on their behalf.
What is a representative democracy?
The political group that advocated for a stronger national government and favored ratifying the new U.S. Constitution.
Who were the Federalists?
Major weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation—such as no executive branch to enforce laws, no judicial branch, and an inability to tax or regulate trade—led leaders to create this framework.
What is a stronger U.S. Constitution with a powerful federal government?