The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies/laws

theory that elected officials will serve the interests of the privileged in society

Various groups vie for government favor and political power, but none enjoys long term dominance

Direct democracy is when decisions are made directly from the people, but in representative democracy, decisions are made by leaders elected by the people

A King or Queen is the official head of state but power is limited by a constitution.

Ruler with complete power over the government and the people

A political system in which one person or party exercises absolute political control over the population.

A government ruled by a few powerful people

the document by the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain; written by Thomas Jefferson, in which he used Locke's theory on the Social Contract and Natural Rights.

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

1st to theorize about nature of govt: believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority; advocated a social contract and absolute monarchy

British oppression (violations of liberty), unfair taxation, and the desire for self government

British taxed colonies heavily for revenue to pay for the French and Indian War

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Federal order that divided the Northwest Territory into smaller territories and created a plan for how the territories could become states. (accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation)

This MA conflict caused criticism of the Articles of Confederation; weak govt; increased calls for a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles

Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives of the thirteen original states to write the Constitution of the United States.

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

A plan written by William Paterson that proposed keeping Congress as a one-house legislature (unicameral). In this case each state would have an equal number of votes.

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state

*3/5* of slaves count towards states' population for taxation and representation in the House of Representatives

The South's slave trade was guaranteed for at least 20 years after the ratification of the Constitution. Slaves were considered 3/5 of a person when determining the state population for purposes of congressional representation.

required 9 out of 13 states to ratify (approve) it to become law.

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

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

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. Proposed to assuage the fears of Anti-Federalists

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

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

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

system of government in which the national government and state governments share power and derive all authority from the people

Constitutional freedoms (individual rights) guaranteed to all citizens

the powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

The clause in Article I, Section 8, that grants Congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers.

constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the greatest law of the land

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the goals and purposes of government

Legislative Branch

Executive Branch

Judicial Branch

Relations among states

Amending the Constitution

Supremacy Clause - clearly states that national law will be supreme over state law

Outlines the process for ratification of the Constitution

27 changes

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Constitutional protection against unlawful imprisonment

a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed

laws under which specific persons or groups are detained and sentenced without the benefit of due process

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Congress

Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law

The Supreme Court upheld broad congressional power to regulate interstate commerce. The Court's broad interpretation of the Constitution's commerce clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers.

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Supreme Court rules that Congress can set restrictions on drinking age as a matter of promoting the general welfare

Does the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801) exceed Congress' power under the commerce clause as applied to the intrastate cultivation and possession of marijuana for medical use? No. Congress may regulate production/cultivation affecting commerce regardless of state law