Pols 1101 Ch. 1

Front 1

democracy

Back 1

Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections.

Front 2

direct democracy

Back 2

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

Front 3

representative democracy

Back 3

Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.

Front 4

constitutional democracy

Back 4

Government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections.

Front 5

constitutionalism

Back 5

the set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights, that requires our leaders to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act or make laws. We then hold them politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers.

Front 6

statism

Back 6

the idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.

Front 7

popular consent

Back 7

the idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.

Front 8

majority rule

Back 8

governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.

Front 9

majority

Back 9

the candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election

Front 10

plurality

Back 10

the candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not necessarily more than half.

Front 11

Constitutional Convention

Back 11

the convention in Philadelphia, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, that debated and agreed on the Constitution of the United States.

Front 12

bicameralism

Back 12

The principle of a two-house legislature

Front 13

Virginia Plan

Back 13

the initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.

Front 14

New Jersey Plan

Back 14

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.

Front 15

Connecticut Compromise

Back 15

The compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Front 16

three-fifths compromise

Back 16

the compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives

Front 17

Federalists

Back 17

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government

Front 18

Antifederalists

Back 18

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government generally.

Front 19

'The Federalist'

Back 19

Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1787 and 1788

Front 20

natural law

Back 20

God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.

Front 21

separation of powers

Back 21

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law.

Front 22

checks and balances

Back 22

A constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.

Front 23

judicial review

Back 23

the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or, in a state court, the state constitution.

Front 24

writ of mandamus

Back 24

a court order directing an official to perform an official duty.

Front 25

congressional elaboration

Back 25

Congressional legislation that gives further meaning to the Constitution based on the sometimes vague constitutional authority, such as the necessary and proper clause.

Front 26

Impeachment

Back 26

a formal accusation by the lower house of a legislature

Front 27

executive order

Back 27

a directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law

Front 28

executive privilege

Back 28

the power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Front 29

impoundment

Back 29

presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.