Ideas Behind American Government
According to John Locke, what three natural rights belong to every person?
Life, liberty, and property.
What form of democracy allows citizens to vote directly on laws and policies?
Direct
What major source of revenue could Congress not collect under the Articles of Confederation?
Federal taxes. Congress could request money from the states but could not require payment.
What compromise created a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for every state? Give both names
The Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise.
Which group supported ratification of the Constitution and a stronger national government?
The Federalists.
What theory holds that people surrender some freedom to a government in exchange for order and protection?
Social Contract
What form of democracy allows citizens to elect officials who make policy on their behalf?
Representative democracy.
How many states had to approve an amendment to the Articles of Confederation?
All 13
What compromise counted three out of every five enslaved people when determining representation and direct taxation?
3/5th
What protection did the Anti-Federalists argue was missing from the original Constitution?
A bill of rights protecting individual liberties.
What principle states that government receives its power from the consent of the people?
Popular sovereignty.
Which model of democracy emphasizes broad participation by ordinary citizens in politics and civil society?
Participatory democracy.
Which two branches of government did the Articles of Confederation fail to create?
A separate executive branch and a national judicial branch.
What clause allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers?
The Necessary and Proper Clause, also called the Elastic Clause.
In Federalist No. 10, what name does Madison give to a group united by an interest that may threaten the rights of others or the public good?
A faction.
How does the Declaration of Independence reflect Locke’s political philosophy?
It argues that people possess natural rights, governments exist to protect those rights, and citizens may replace a government that violates the social contract.
Which model argues that political power comes from competition among interest groups?
Pluralist
What uprising convinced many political leaders that the national government needed greater power to maintain order?
Shays Rebellion
What is the difference between separation of powers and checks and balances?
Separation of powers gives different responsibilities to each branch. Checks and balances allow each branch to limit the actions of the others.
Why did Madison believe a large republic could control factions better than a small republic?
A large republic would contain more competing interests, making it harder for one faction to gain majority control. Elected representatives would also help filter public opinion.
How does the Gettysburg Address connect to the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration established equality and natural rights as founding ideals. Lincoln argued that the Civil War tested whether a nation founded on equality and government by the people could survive.
How does elite democracy differ from pluralist democracy?
Elite democracy argues that a small number of wealthy, educated, or influential people dominate political decisions. Pluralist democracy argues that competing groups share and contest political power.
Identify two weaknesses of the Articles that the Constitution addressed.
Giving Congress the power to tax, regulate interstate commerce, and enforce national laws. The Constitution also created the executive and judicial branches and gave the national government greater military authority.
According to Federalist No. 51, how does the Constitution reduce the danger of government officials abusing their power?
It divides authority among competing branches and gives each branch the means to check the others. Officials’ competing ambitions help prevent any branch from gaining complete control.
Why did Anti-Federalists believe the Necessary and Proper Clause and Supremacy Clause threatened the power of the states?
They feared Congress could use the Necessary and Proper Clause to expand its authority, while the Supremacy Clause would allow federal laws to override conflicting state laws.