Ch 1, 2, 3 vocab

government by the people

citizens assemble to discuss and pass laws and select officials

• aka republic
• gov't authorities get and retain power by winning free elections in which all adult citizens are allowed to participate

• gov't by representative politicians; there are recognized, enforced limits on the powers of all gov't officials
• emphasizes individual

adhere to guidelines of Constitution

• form of gov't based on centralized authority and control; especially over economy
• emphasizes rights of nation over individual

gov derives power from the ppl it governs

more than half wins

most votes wins

religious leaders claim divine guidance (other sects usually denied religous liberty)

• no executive, judiciary, or coinage
• states power
• could not enforce tax of army
• could not be amended effectively --> Constitution

address problems of the AoC

rebellion of farmers b/c debts and foreclosures 1786

annapolis decides new doc is needed 1787

two house legislature (connecticut compromise)

large states, strong cental gov, legislation based on population

small states, equal rep in legislative

• small & large states: bicameral legislature, one house equal rep, one on population
• N&S states: slave = 3/5 of person

strong central gov w/ constitution v. states' rights w/ AoC

law that defines right from wrong; higher than human law

distribution of constitutional authority among the three branches

• constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the 3 branches to check some acts of the others so that no branch an dominate
• see page 33 in textbook

• goverance divided between parties; especially when one holds presidency and the other controls one or both houses of congress
• creates need for compromise

strong allegiance to a political party; often leading to unwillingness to compromise with opposing party

an election in which voters choose party nominees

a certain number of voters, may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters

submitting measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution to popular vote

submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from offic before the end of their term

power of court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation or action that conflicts w/ constitution

court order directing an official to perform an official duty

congressional legislation that gives further meaning to constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority (ex. elastic clause)

formal accusation by HoR against a public official (1st step of removal from office) --tried by senate

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

power to keep executive communications confidential (esp b/c of national security)

prez refusal to allow agency to spend funds appropriated by Congress

powers distributed btwn central and state/local gov (both exercise authority over indiv)

constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central governement (opposite of confederation)

constitutional arrangement in which states, by compact, create a central gov but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority

explicit in constitution

• inferred that allow government to carry out its functions
• necessary and proper clause

constitution explicitly grants to one of the branches

come from the very existence of national government (natural powers)

gives congress the power to regulate all business activites that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations

requirement that the federal gov imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds

• amendment 10
• all powers not given to national government (reserved for states)

• powers that the constitution gives to both the national and state government
• ex. taxes

• requires each state to recognize the civil judgements rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid
• ex. drivers license valid in all states

legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which crime was allegedly committed

• agreement among 2 or more states
• must be approved by congress

if conflict arises btwn the constitutionally authorized actions of the national gov and the state gov --> national always wins

right of federal law or regulation to prohibit enforcement of a state/local law or regulation

favor national action

favor state/local action

powers expressed or implied to be reserved to the states

• effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states
• Reagan

• more detailed
• federal money dedicated to a category and divided btwn states
• 2 types: formula based and project

• federal funds go towards a general goal
• less detailed/strict
• state/organization can decide how to divide money

factions

• checks and balances
• "auxillary precautions"