Constitutional Framework
The first three articles of the Constitution establish these three branches of government.
What are the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches?
The principle where power is divided among the three branches of government.
What is the "separation of powers?"
Individuals showing up to vote for a local referendum is an example of this model of democracy
What is participatory democracy?
Delegates originally met in 1787 to revise this failed government framework.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
In Federalist 10, Madison describes these as groups of citizens united by a common interest that can threaten the rights of others.
What are factions?
The US Congress is broken up into two chamber, the House and the Senate. This concept is known as
What are checks and balances?
The US Electoral College is often used as an example of this model of democracy
What is elite democracy?
This plan favored large states by calling for representation based on population.
→ What is the Virginia Plan?
What is the Virginia Plan?
The Anti-Federalist writer Brutus believed that the best way to preserve liberty was to keep government...
What is small, close to the people, limited
The “necessary and proper” clause of the Constitution, also known as this, allows Congress to make laws that are to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is the "elastic clause?"
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government"
This core principle is represented in the quote above
What is "popular sovereignty?"
Special Interests like the NRA, NAACP, and ACLU are great examples of this model of democracy.
What is pluralism?
This compromise boosted Southern states’ representation in the House by allowing part of their ‘population’ to count toward seats, even though that group had no political rights.”
What is the 3/5's Compromise?
James Madison in Fed 10 worried about factions but argued they could best be controlled in this type of system.
What is a large republic?
This system divides power between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
The Bill of Rights is a great example of this core principle
What are natural rights?
The 17th Amendment is a great example of how the election of Senators went from this model of democracy to this type of democracy
What is elite ----> participatory?
This compromise established two chambers of Congress, one based on population and the other with equal representation for each state.
What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
Brutus argued the proposed Constitution gave the central government too much power, particularly these two "clauses"
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
What is the Supremacy Clause?
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times in its history. The process of amending the Constitution can be found in this Article.
What is Article V?
This principle means that the government must operate within boundaries set by the Constitution and cannot assume powers not granted to it.
What is limited government?
In Federalist 10, Madison argues that a large republic with many factions prevents any one group from dominating. This reflects which model of democracy?
What is pluralist democracy?
This 1786–1787 uprising convinced many leaders that the national government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak to maintain order, helping to spur calls for a stronger Constitution.”
What is Shay's Rebellion?
John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison all teamed up to write 85 Federalist Papers under this pseudonym
Who is Publius?