Chapter 4 Foundations of American Democracy

Some freedoms sacrificed (respecting government) in exchange for government protection

Described by John Locke; life, liberty, and property; must be protected by the government

Supports individualism and natural rights, popular sovereignty, encourages civic participation

Elected officials representing a group of people

The idea that government power derives from the consent of the governed

Broad participation in politics/society by people at various statuses

Group-based activism by citizens with common interests who seek the same goals

Power to the educated/wealthy, discourages participation by the majority of people

A formal declaration of war between America and Great Britain written by Thomas Jefferson, including a list of grievances

Outlined the first US government, predecessor to the Constitution

• created federalism

• ended the Revolutionary War on favorable terms for the United States

• established the Northwest Ordinance

The way in which federal and state/regional governments interact and share power

• Could not impose taxes

• No national military

• No national currency

• No Supreme Court

• No executive branch

• No control over taxes imposed between states and could not control interstate trade

• Needed unanimous votes to amend it and 9 states to approve legislation before it was passed

A meeting of the framers in Philadelphia during which the government’s structure was debated and decided

Legislature with one house

Legislature with two houses

Bicameral legislature based on population size; supported by larger states

Unicameral legislature with one vote per state; supported by smaller states

Created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives (based on population) and Senate (equal representation)

Enslaved people would be counted as 3/5 of a person when deciding seats in the House of Representatives

Supporters of the Constitution; advocated for a strong central government

Opponents of the Constitution; preferred smaller state governments

Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay; a collection of articles supporting the Constitution

Written by James Madison and supported by Anti-Federalists; the first 10 amendments of the Constitution which protects the rights of citizens from the government

Composed of elected officials from each state based on population (each given 2 votes + 1 vote per member of House of Representatives) with a total of 538 electors

Argued that the national government had too much power, an army could prevent liberty, and representatives may not truly be representative of the people

Addresses dangers of factions + how to protect minority interest groups in a nation ruled by majority, argues that a large republic keeps any single faction from taking control

Argued that separation of powers would make the government efficient, dividing responsibilities and tasks

Argued that the executive branch should only have one member: the president, proposed term limits as another way to limit the president’s power

Addressed concerns about the power of the judicial branch, argued that the judicial branch would have the least amount of power under the Constitution but would also have the power of judicial review

Described the legislative branch

Described the executive branch

Same effect as law, bypasses Congress in policy-making, not mentioned in the Constitution but used as part of the enforcement duties

Similar to treaties between country leaders, bypass ratification power of the Senate

Described the judicial branch

Supreme Court increased its own power by giving itself the power to overturn laws passed by legislature (judicial review)

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws passed by legislature which are unconstitutional

Aka the elastic clause; allows Congress to make any legislation that seems “necessary and proper” to carry through its powers

Supremacy of Constitution and federal laws over state laws

A system in which decisions are made by an external member-state legislation; decisions on daily issues are taken by special majorities, consensus, or unanimity

Court ruled that states could not tax national bank because of the supremacy clause (issues between state and federal laws should be ruled in favor of federal) and necessary and proper clause (banks were necessary to implement federal powers)

Held that the Gun-Free School Zones Act was unconstitutional because the commerce clause didn't allow regulation of carrying guns

Powers that belong to the national government

Powers that belong to the states

Any power not given to the national government nor denied to the states in the Constitution belongs to the states

Powers shared by federal and state government

Paid for by federal government through grants-in-aid, mostly administered by states

Aid with strict rules from the federal government about how it should be used

Aid that lets the state use the money how it wants

Assigns different tasks to each branch of government

• Legislative makes laws

• Executive enforces laws

• Judicial interprets laws

Each branch checks the other; designed to prevent any branch of government from becoming dominant, requires different branches to work together and share power

The power of the president to reject laws

The addition of a provision to the Constitution

Delegates elected to vote on an amendment

• Proposed amendment approved by 2/3 of both houses

• 3/4 of state legislatures must ratify the amendment

Ended prohibition, used a ratifying convention

A governor’s veto

The power to reject specific parts of a bill; denied to presidents by Supreme Court