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31 Cards in this Set
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Federalists |
-Strong beliefs in centralized (federal) government -Didn't believe there was a need for a bill of rights because the government only had powers given by the states -Famous members include Alexander Hamilton and James Madison |
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Anti-Federalists |
-Believed in stronger localized (state) governments -Opposed strong federal government -Believed in the need for a bill of rights, thinking they needed a guarantee that a national government wouldn't take their rights -Believed "The tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants" frequently -Famous members include Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Patrick Henry |
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Articles of Confederation |
-America's first constitution -Was more of a "Firm League of Friendship" between states -No powerful centralized government -No national currency, power to levy taxes, enforce laws, regulate treaties , or regulate interstate commerce (for federal government) -No national court system -Every state had 1 vote in legislature -Every state must approve amendments (hard to change) |
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Bill of Rights |
A guarantee of individual liberties and due process through the law added to a constitution.
Here in the Us, that includes the first 10 amendments. |
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Constitutional Democracy |
-Enforces recognized limits on those who govern -Voice of people heard -Written set of rules, constitution -Free, fair, frequent elections (often the case) |
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Hobbes' Theory |
-Social contract exists to save people from their own "brutish" nature -Believed in absolute monarchy -Believed Government should have a higher say than church -Believed social contract was between people and the king had no end to uphold, therefore they had no right to revolt |
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Locke's Theory |
-Believed some rights were inalienable (unable to be surrendered) -Believed the sovereign must have the "consent of the governed" -Believed it was the right of the people to revolt against a tyrant -Believed people had the right to do what ever they wanted to their property as long as it didn't infringe on the rights of others -"Govern Lightly" -Believed humans innately need to be saved from themselves with a scoial contract |
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Montesquieu's Theory |
-People are naturally fearful, but society makes them sociable. Government was created to regulate disagreements in these societies (wars, fights, crime, etc.) -Checks and Balances -Separation of Powers |
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Rousseau's Theory |
-People are essentially good, however greed corrupted people, and greed created social contracts -Believer in direct democracy -"We the People" -"Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains" -Believed, like Jefferson, that everyone must be involved in and care about the government |
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Constitutional Convention |
Ran from May through September in 1787. The original purpose was to revise the articles, not replace them. However, federalist leaders such as Hamilton and Madison "hijacked" the meeting, changing the focus to replacement of the articles. |
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Virginia Plan |
-Bicameral
-Favored large states -Upper house elected by popularity and wealth -Lower house appointed by upper house -The greater the population, the greater the representation -Devised by Edmund Randolph |
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New Jersey Plan |
-Unicameral
-Favored small states -Members appointed by state legislature -Every state has the same number of votes -Devised by William Patterson |
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Connecticut Compromise |
-Bicameral
-Upper house members appointed by state legislature, lower house by popular vote (currently both are appointed by popular vote) -The upper house, the senate, has two senators per state, thus each state has equal representation in this house -The lower house, the house of representatives, has representative proportional to the population of each state. -Devised by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth |
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Bicameral Legislature |
A legislature that has two houses, or assemblies
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Three-fifths compromise |
Every slave was counted as 3/5 of a person in terms of taxation and representation in the house of representatives. This was because the South wanted power and wanted to count the slaves when it was to their advantage, whereas the North found this unfair. This compromise also included a provision to end the importation of slaves by the year 1808.
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Voting rights |
The rights all voters have to fair, frequent and free elections, in which every participant casts only one vote.
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How was the constitution ratified? |
A clause of the articles of declaration was disregarded in that it was declared that 9 states would need to vote to ratify it instead of all 13. Ratification was determined through popular election in each state. Anti-federalists did not want to ratify the constitution unless it had a bill of rights, so eventually it was agreed that one would be added and the constitution was ratified.
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Declaration of Independence |
Our official document sent to the British to announce our independence from them. Heavily influenced by the philosophies of Locke (consent of the governed, unalienable rights, responsibility to revolt against a tyrant)
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Direct Democracy |
Government in which citizens vote on laws and select authorities directly |
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English/British Influence |
Some of the constitution was drawn from the Magna Carta, a constitution that King John was forced to sign in the middle ages. Also, the ideas of a bicameral legislature and, of course, the philosophy of John Locke.
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Factions |
A faction is a group of citizens with a primary interest or goal that is contradictory to the rights of other citizens.
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Federalism |
The division of powers between national and state governments |
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Federalist papers |
A series of pro-constitution papers written anonymously by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. They were published in newspapers and were mainly aimed at New York to convince everyone that the constitution was a good idea.
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Majority v. Plurality |
Majority: The politician has more than 50% of the votes
Plurality: The politician has the greatest % of the votes (Not necessarily more than 50%) In the US, a politician must have the majority to be elected |
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Natural rights |
An idea derived from the theory of John Locke. Natural rights are unable to be surrendered, or are inalienable. They usually include life and liberty. John Locke's third was property, whereas ours from the declaration of independence is Pursuit of Happiness. |
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Republic- representative democracy |
Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws |
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Shay's Rebellion |
A rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out. |
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Social Contract |
An implied agreement between the people and the sovereign. People will obey the sovereign in turn for regulation, peace, and safety. The sovereign could be a group, individual, or system.
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"State of Nature" |
A state without government where all individuals are naturally equal, and free of law to do what ever they need or want to survive. Some philosophers (Hobbes, Locke) believed this to be a hell, whereas others (Rousseau) believed it to be a paradise.
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Constitutionalism |
-Checks and Balances -Federalism -Separation of Powers -Rule of law -Due Process (Fair treatment through normal judicial system) -Bill of Rights` |
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Democratic Values |
-Personal Liberty -Respect for the Individual -Equality of Opportunity -Popular Consent |
