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| Democracy | The doctrine that says that the majority of a group can make decisions for the entire group. |
| Constitutional Democracy | The dominant form of democracy in the 21st century in which the sovereign power of the government is spelled out in the Constitution. |
| Direct Democracy | System of government where the people directly participate in decision making. |
| Republic | System where elected representatives that make decisions on the behalf of the people |
| Articles of confederation | During the period of the American revolutionary war, these set of documents governed (1781). IT aws our first set of laws that allowed our independence and influenced the constitution. |
| Shays Rebellion | In hopes of preventing foreclosures, ex-revolutionary war soldiers, caused a rebellion affecting the sitting of courts in western Massachusetts. It is important because it showed that citizens were capable to stand up to what we believe and was a key factor that questioned how much power governement had in people's lives. |
| Constitutional Convention 1787 | A meeting held to create a new founded constitution as well as fix the ways of the confederation. It was important because it set the infrastructure to our present time society, government and the documents governing us now. |
| Ratification | a formally approved law with legal authority. |
| Federalists | a political party that in the U.S. favored a strong centralized federal government. |
| Anti-federalists | a group who opposed the federal Constitution and desired a stronger state government. |
| Compromise | A settlement in which each side makes concessions. (Without compromise, nothing would be settled.) |
| Bicameralism | Composed of or based on two legislatice chambers or branches; a bicameral legislature. One of the foundations of American Government and furthers the separation of powers and checks and balances |
| Ratification | Affirmation or approval; adoption of an action that was done on one's behald and treating that ction as if it had been authorized by that person before the fact of it having been done. Ratification by a two-thirds vote of Congress is needed to propose a constitutional amendment, which must then be ratified by three-fourths of the states for it to take effect |
| Federalists | A U.S. political party founded in 1787 to advocate the establishment of a strong federal government and the adoption by the states of the Constitution. The party gained prominence in the 1790s under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. (The Federalists was one of the first political parties in the United States and their values carry on to the Democratic party of today.) |
| Separation of power | the 3 branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) have their given independent powers so there's a balance of powers Ex) Judicial review |
| Checks & Balances | this allows for all 3 branches to "check" on each other and "balance" each other out. the goal is to make sure that not one branch has more power than the others. Ex) The president's power to veto legislation passed by Congress and The Supreme Court interprets laws |
| Legislative Branch | The Legislative Branch consists of the HOuse of Representatives and the Senate, creating the Congress. Congress passes legislation and declare war. There are 100 senators (2 per state) and 435 members in the House of Representatives |
| Divided Government | A government in which one party holds the presidency and the other party holds the legislative branch |
| Impoundment | The refusal of the president to spend money alloted to him by Congress |
| Judicial Branch | The branch of government that is responsible of administering justice |
| Necessary and Proper Clause | Allows the U.S. Government to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoimg powers. |
| States Right Doctrine | Reserves to the state government all powers not specifically granted by that document to the federal government. |
| McCulloch vs. Maryland | State of Maryland voted to tax all bank business not done with state banks. Meant to tax people who lived in maryland and did business in other states. |
| Demographics | Physical features of a population like age, sex, family size, education, and population. |
| Race | A group of people that are put together on the basis of common history, geographic placement, or nationality. |
| Ethnicity | A distinguishing quality or association resulting from cultural or racial ties. |
| Commerce Clause | U.S congress has power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the general States, and with the Indian Tribes." It is important because it regulates commerce between states, extending federal power over state. |
| Full Faith and Credit Clause | States must respect the "public acts, records, and judicial procedings" of other states. Ex: a case settled in one state can't be retried in another state. |
| Extradition | A person who commits a crime, that leaves to another state, and then is found must be sent back to the state where they had commited the crime to be tried in court. |
| Divided Government | a government in which one party holds the presidency and the other party holds one or both of the houses (Senate and House of Representative) |
| Impoundment | The refuseal of the president to use money alloted to him by Congress |
| Judicial Branch | Branch of Government that is responsible for administering justice |
| Centralist | A person that believes the federal government should have more control. They are considered liberals and democrats. |
| Decentralist | A person that believes the federal government should have less control. They are considered conservatives and republicans. |
| National Supremacy | When national law "overrides" state law. This deals with the balance of federal power and stae power. |
| Devolution Revolution | The effort to transfer some federal responsibilities to the states. Emerged under Reagan (1980s), who believed states should be supreme. |
| Executive branch (Brought To YOu BY Ricky) | Implements and enforces the laws written by congress and the President is the chief executive. He appoints the heads of Federal Agencies which have been created to regulate and enforce Federal Laws. |
| Executive order (brought to You By RICKY) | Order from the President to A Federal Agency(s) to authorize or prohibit a specified action. |
| Executive privilege (Brought to you By Ricky) | The Supreme Court ruled that it was " an element of the separation of powers doctrine and derives from the supremacy of the executive branch in its own area of constitutional activity." Therefore it has allowed the President and Executive Branch officials from being subject to subpoenas and being a Witness in court. |
| Divided Government | One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress. |
| logrolling | A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers. It is like a mutual praise. |
| Pork-barrel legislation | Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return. This is important because successful pork-barrel legislation is very likely to get the legislator re-elected by his constituents. |
| Christmas tree bill | When a bill has lots of riders, it becomes a Christmas tree bill. Riders are provisions added to a piece of legislation that isn't really related to the bill's purpose, but would gain favor of the bill. The concept of the Christmas tree is having each member of congress hang their own provision on it. |
| Standing committee | Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area. This means that a standing committee is one that is assigned permanently to it's subject. Examples of major standing committees include: Armed Services, Budget, Finance, Foreign Relations; see page 344 |
| Select Committees | Unlike standing committees, select committees are appointed for a limited time and purpose. Examples are: aging, ethics, Indian affairs, and intelligence. |
| Initiative | Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on ballot. |
| Referendum | Procedure whereby enabeling voters to reject a measure passed by legislature. |
| Recall | Procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office. |
| judicial review | Is where the legislative and executive actions are subject to review, and possible invalidation, by the judiciary. |
| direct primary | A preliminary election where a party's candidates for public office are nominated by direct vote of the people. |
| Marbury v. Madison | Is the case that formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution. |
