Fields Unit 1 Vocab

The process of influencing the actions and policies of government

The rules and institutions that make up the system of policy making

Legislation passed in 1984 to ensure students have equal access to extracurricular activities and clubs in public schools, regardless of their religious or political affiliations.

Issue: Can public schools deny equal access to religious student groups? Holding: No, public schools must allow religious clubs if they allow other non-curricular clubs. Significance: Upheld the Equal Access Act, protecting students' First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and speech in public schools.

system of gov where power is held by the people

The right to life, liberty, and the property, which the gov cannot take away

people allow their gov to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

• Advocated for the separation of powers

• Believed in a system of checks and balances

• Ideas influenced the creation of modern democratic governments

• Advocated for limited government intervention.

• Argued for the protection of individual rights and order without excessive control.

• Emphasized the importance of consent and voluntary cooperation in governance.

set of beliefs, customs, traditions, values that Americans share

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another . . .”

Set the stage for the argument that the British government was no longer legitimate.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

List of grievances against the King of England.

Mainly included charges against misrepresentation in gov.

Denunciation of the British people (how US will be separate)

Pledge by the signers to each other to protect “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.”

The principle of political power resting with the people, who have the right to govern themselves through elected representatives and participate in decision-making.

A system in which the government’s authority comes from the people.

rights that gov cant take away (pursuit of happiness are among those inherent, self-evident rights)

The belief that individuals should be able to achieve their goals through hard work, sacrifice, and their own talents

social, political, and economic freedoms

Theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic gov (EX: ACLU, NRA, AARP)

An Independent association outside the gov control

Theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in policy making process

Theory of democracy that elites (rich people) have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policy making process

structure of gov including Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary powers

A democratic system with elected representatives in which the constitution is the supreme law

document that sets out fundamental principles of gov and establishes the institutions of gov

a gov ruled by representatives of the people

A governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the union, were supreme

A one-house legislature

A two-house legislature

a popular uprising against gov of Massachusents

Names the Union as “The United States of America.”

Provides that states retain sovereignty not delegated to the national government.

Creates a “league of friendship” for defense and security.

protects equal treatment and freedom of movement for citizens.

Allocates one vote in Congress for each state.

Gives the national government the power to declare war.

Gives states the power to assign military ranks

Expenditures by the United States will be paid with funds raised by state legislatures.

Gives Congress the power to declare war and peace, appoint tribunals for crimes on the seas, regulate the post office, appoint a president, and request requisitions from the states. Nine states are required to consent to declare war

Allows a “committee of the states” to exercise the powers of Congress when Congress is not in session

Provides that Canada may join the Union.

Provides that the Confederation accepts the war debt.

Provides that amendments require approval of all state legislatures.

Creates a bicameral legislature, establishes requirements for serving in the House of Representatives and Senate, lists expressed powers of Congress, and allows for implied powers.

Creates the presidency, establishes requirements for office, lists expressed powers of the executive.

Creates a Supreme Court and provides that Congress may establish lower federal courts.

Sets forth the relationships between states.

Establishes the process for amending the Constitution.

Establishes that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

Describes how the Constitution will be ratified.

Sovereignty comes from the people, and the Constitution will create a “more perfect Union.”

Bicameral

Lower House:

• Number of seats apportioned by state population.

• Members directly elected by citizens.

Upper House:

• Number of seats apportioned by state population.

• Members elected by lower house (from list supplied by state legislatures).

Legislature has strong powers, including the ability to veto state laws.

Unicameral

Legislature:

• Equal representation for states regardless of state population. Members appointed by the states.

Legislature has similar power as under the Articles of Confederation but can also levy taxes and regulate commerce.

Bicameral

House of Reps:

• States represented according to population.

• Members directly elected by citizens.

Senate:

• States represented equally (two senators per state).

• Members appointed by state legislatures.

• Legislature has broad powers over commerce and the ability to make laws as necessary.

• House of Representatives has the “power of the purse” to levy taxes.

A plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress

A plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress

a meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation

the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

when the legislature declares someone guilty without trial

laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed

a committee at the constitutional convention that worked out the compromise on representation.

An agreement for plan of go that drew upon both the Virginia and NJ plans; settled issue of state rep by calling for a bicameral legislature with HOR apportioned proportionately and Senate apportioned equally.

Agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as 3/5 of a person in calculating a state’s rep

Congress could not restrict the slave trade till 1808

• Executes laws.

• Works to shape legislative agenda.

• Has power to veto legislation.

• Nominates judges to the federal judiciary.

• Nominates key executive branch officials.

• Gives State of the Union Address.

• Writes nation’s laws.

• Can override a presidential veto.

• Determines number of Supreme Court justices.

• Creates lower courts.

• Interprets contested laws.

• Can declare both federal and state laws unconstitutional.

• President acts as commander in chief of the military.

• Sets foreign policy agenda.

• Negotiates treaties.

• Declares war.

• Senate ratifies treaties.

Oversees federal bureaucracy.

• House issues articles of impeachment; Senate holds impeachment trials (over president, executive branch officials, and federal judges).

• Budget authority and oversight over executive branch agencies. Senate confirms judicial nominees.

• Senate confirms key executive branch officials.

May declare executive branch actions in conflict with the Constitution

a design of gov that distributes powers across institutions in order to acoid making one branch too powerful on its own

a design of gov in which each branch has powers that can prevent other branches from making policy

divides power between the national and state governments

authority specifically granted to a branch of the government Constitution

language in Article I, Section 8 granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.

constitutional provision declaring that the constitution and all federal laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land

the process by which changes may be made to the constitution

• Supporters of the Constitution

• Advocated for Strong National Government

• Included wealthy merchants and southern plant owners

• Opposers of the Constitution

• Advocated for Strong State Government

• Included rural areas, more farmers and shopkeepers

A series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that lay out the theory behind the constitution

group of self-interested people who use gov to get what they want → tramples over other’s rights

Essay in which Madison argues that dangers of factions can be mitigated by a large republic and republican gov

Essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny

Antifed paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that constitution gave too much power to national government

2/3 Votes in both house and congress OR Constitutional congress called by 2/3 States

3/4 of 50 States legislatures OR 3/4 of State constitutional conventions

a system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments.

system where the subnational governments have most of the power.

powers explicitly granted to the national government through the constitution (AKA Expressed Powers)

Includes:

• Coin money

• Declare war

• Raise and support armed forces

• Make treaties

• Provide for the naturalization of citizens

• Regulate interstate and foreign trade and trade with indian tribes

powers only the national government may exercise