Study Chapter2 Flash Cards

 
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Chapter2

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Virginia plan:
- A plan proposed by the larger states during the constitutional convention in which representation in the national legislature was based on population. The plan also included a variety of others proposals to strengthen a national government.
Three-fifths compromise:
- The states decision during the constitutional convention to court each slave three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining the number of house districts per state based on population
Republicanism:
- The belief that a form a government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders is the best form of government
Republican democracy:
- A form of government in which the interests of the people are represented through elected leaders.
Power of the purse:
- The constitutional power of congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing, or cutting their funding to punish executive agencies.
Pluralism:
- The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within a government will strengthen the system, ensuring that no group possesses total control.
Parliamentary system:
- A system of government in which legislative and executive power are closely joined. The legislature (parliament) selects the chief executive (prime minister), who forms the cabinet from members of the parliament
New Jersey Plan:
- In response to the Virginia plan, smaller states of the constitutional convention offered this plan in which each state would receive equal representation in the national legislature, regardless of size.
Natural rights:
- Also known as “unalienable rights”, the declaration of independence defines them as “Life ,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
National supremacy clause:
- Part of article VI, section 2, of the constitution stating that the constitution is the “supreme law of the land”, meaning national laws take precedent over state laws if the two conflict.
Monarchy:
- A form of government in which power is held by a single person, or monarch, who comes to power through inheritance rather than election.
Limited government:
- A system in which the powers of the government are restricted to protect against tyranny.
Judicial review:
- The supreme courts power to strike down a law or executive branch action that it finds unconstitutional.
Implied powers:
- Powers supported by the constitution that are not expressly stated to it.
Impeachment:
- A negative or checking power of congress over the branches allowing them to remove the president, vice president, or other “officers of the united states” abuses of power.
Great compromise:
- A compromise between the large and small states, proposed by Connecticut, in which congress would have two houses: a senate with two houses: a senate with two legislators per state, and a house of representatives in which each state’s representation would be based on population
Federalist:
- Those at the constitutional convention who favored a strong national government over strong state government.
Federalist papers:
- A series of eighty-five articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and john jay that sought to sway public opinion toward the federalists position.
Factions:
- Groups of like-minded people who try to influence the government. America’s government is set up to avoid domination by any one of these groups.
Executive powers clause:
- Part of article II, section 1, of the constitution that states, “the executive power shall be vested in a president of the united states of America. This broad statement has been used to justify many assertions of presidential power.
Enumerated powers:
- Powers explicitly granted to congress, the president, or the supreme court in the first three articles of the constitution. Examples include congress’s power to “raise and support armies” and the president’s power as commander in chief
Elastic clause:
- Part of article I, section 8, of the constitution that grants congress the power to pass any law that is related to one of its expressed powers
Constitutional revolution:
- A significant change in the constitution that may be accomplished either through amendments (as in after the civil war) or shifts in the supreme court’s interpretation of the constitution (as In the new deal era)
Consent of the governed:
- The idea that government gains it legitimacy through regular elections in which the people living under that government participate to elect their leaders
Commerce clause:
- Part of article I, section 8, of the constitution that gives congress “the power to regulate commerce…among the several states”. The Supreme Court’s interpretation of this clause has varied, but today it serves as the basis for much of congresses’ legislation.
Bills of rights:
- The first ten amendments to the constitution; they protect individual rights and liberties
Articles of confederation:
- Written in 1776, these were the first attempt at a new American government. It was later decided that the articles restricted national government too much, and they were replaced by the constitution
Antifederalists:
- Those at the constitutional convention who favored strong state governments over a strong national government.
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