1. Aristocracy A government by the few, in which the leaders are meritorious and chosen by
virtue of their birth into noble families.
2. Constituents Those people legally entitled to vote for an o�ceholder.
3. Delegate A representative who re ects the opinions of those who elected him or her into
o�ce.
4. Democracy A government in which all citizens share their power
5. Direct Democra- A type of government in which all citizens participate personally in making gov-
cy ernment decisions.
6. Electoral Incen- Desire to be elected or re-elected to o�ce.
tive
7. General Election Final election that selects an o�ceholder.
8. Government The institution in society holding a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical
force.
9. Initiative Proposed law or state constitutional amendment placed on the ballot in response
to a citizen petition.
10. Majority 50% + 1
11. Oligarchy A government by the few, in which the individuals in power are not titled nobility
but capture power either through military action or through a political party.
12. Permanent Cam- Condition that prevails in the new American democracy when the next election
paign campaign begins as soon as the last has ended and the line between election-
eering and governing has disappeared.
13. Primary Election A preliminary contest that narrows the number of the parties' candidates and
determines who will be the nominees in the general election.
,14. Proposition An initiative or a referendum that often provides a basis for political action.
15. Prospective Vot- Voting pattern in which citizens look to the future while voting, taking into account
ing each candidates campaign promises; each election becomes an occasion to
decide the future direction of public policies.
16. Recall Elections Attempts to remove incumbents from o�ce before the completion of their terms.
17. Referendum A law or state constitutional amendment that is proposed by a legislature or other
elected body but goes into e ect only if approved by a speci ed majority of voters.
18. Representatives Individuals, periodically chosen by citizens, who have the authority to decide what
governments do.
19. Retrospective Voting on the basis of past policies rather than guessing at the results of future
Voting policies.
20. Single-issue Vot- Voters who care so deeply about some particular issue that their votes are deter-
ers mined by a candidates position on this one issue.
21. Trustee One who acts on behalf of the interests of the citizens rather than according to the
citizens' past preferences.
22. Advice and Con- Support for a presidential action by a designed number of senators.
sent
23. Annapolis Con- Meeting in 1786 to discuss constitutional reform
vention
24. Anti-Federalists Those who opposed rati cation of the Constitution
25. Articles of Con- The rst (1781-1789) basic governing document of the United States and fore-
federation runner to the Constitution.
, 26. Bill of Rights The rst 10 amendments in the Constitution, which guarantee civil liberties and
protect states' rights
-Restricts government power
-James Madison's major victory
27. Checks and Bal- Constitutional division of power into separate institutions, giving each institution
ances the power to block the actions of others.
28. Colonial Assem- Lower legislative chamber elected by male property owners in a colony
bly
29. Colonial Council Upper legislative chamber whose members were appointed by British o�cials
upon the recommendation of the governor.
30. Connecticut a.k.a "Great Compromise" Constitutional Convention proposal that created a
Compromise House proportionate to population and a Senate in which all states were repre-
sented equally.
31. Constitution Basic governing document of the United States
32. Declaration of In- Document signed in 1776 asserting the political independence of the United
dependence States from Great Britain
33. Divine Right Doctrine that says God selects the sovereign for the people
34. Electoral College Those chosen to cast a direct vote for president by a process determined by each
state.-Every state has 2 senators so HoR+2=electoral college
-435 members of the house+100 senate +3=538
-538 total votes in the electoral college
-270 votes necessary to be president minimum
-If not a majority vote, HoR pick, every state gets 1 vote
35. The Federalist Essays that were written in support of the Constitution's rati cation and have
Papers become classic argument for the American constitutional system.
virtue of their birth into noble families.
2. Constituents Those people legally entitled to vote for an o�ceholder.
3. Delegate A representative who re ects the opinions of those who elected him or her into
o�ce.
4. Democracy A government in which all citizens share their power
5. Direct Democra- A type of government in which all citizens participate personally in making gov-
cy ernment decisions.
6. Electoral Incen- Desire to be elected or re-elected to o�ce.
tive
7. General Election Final election that selects an o�ceholder.
8. Government The institution in society holding a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical
force.
9. Initiative Proposed law or state constitutional amendment placed on the ballot in response
to a citizen petition.
10. Majority 50% + 1
11. Oligarchy A government by the few, in which the individuals in power are not titled nobility
but capture power either through military action or through a political party.
12. Permanent Cam- Condition that prevails in the new American democracy when the next election
paign campaign begins as soon as the last has ended and the line between election-
eering and governing has disappeared.
13. Primary Election A preliminary contest that narrows the number of the parties' candidates and
determines who will be the nominees in the general election.
,14. Proposition An initiative or a referendum that often provides a basis for political action.
15. Prospective Vot- Voting pattern in which citizens look to the future while voting, taking into account
ing each candidates campaign promises; each election becomes an occasion to
decide the future direction of public policies.
16. Recall Elections Attempts to remove incumbents from o�ce before the completion of their terms.
17. Referendum A law or state constitutional amendment that is proposed by a legislature or other
elected body but goes into e ect only if approved by a speci ed majority of voters.
18. Representatives Individuals, periodically chosen by citizens, who have the authority to decide what
governments do.
19. Retrospective Voting on the basis of past policies rather than guessing at the results of future
Voting policies.
20. Single-issue Vot- Voters who care so deeply about some particular issue that their votes are deter-
ers mined by a candidates position on this one issue.
21. Trustee One who acts on behalf of the interests of the citizens rather than according to the
citizens' past preferences.
22. Advice and Con- Support for a presidential action by a designed number of senators.
sent
23. Annapolis Con- Meeting in 1786 to discuss constitutional reform
vention
24. Anti-Federalists Those who opposed rati cation of the Constitution
25. Articles of Con- The rst (1781-1789) basic governing document of the United States and fore-
federation runner to the Constitution.
, 26. Bill of Rights The rst 10 amendments in the Constitution, which guarantee civil liberties and
protect states' rights
-Restricts government power
-James Madison's major victory
27. Checks and Bal- Constitutional division of power into separate institutions, giving each institution
ances the power to block the actions of others.
28. Colonial Assem- Lower legislative chamber elected by male property owners in a colony
bly
29. Colonial Council Upper legislative chamber whose members were appointed by British o�cials
upon the recommendation of the governor.
30. Connecticut a.k.a "Great Compromise" Constitutional Convention proposal that created a
Compromise House proportionate to population and a Senate in which all states were repre-
sented equally.
31. Constitution Basic governing document of the United States
32. Declaration of In- Document signed in 1776 asserting the political independence of the United
dependence States from Great Britain
33. Divine Right Doctrine that says God selects the sovereign for the people
34. Electoral College Those chosen to cast a direct vote for president by a process determined by each
state.-Every state has 2 senators so HoR+2=electoral college
-435 members of the house+100 senate +3=538
-538 total votes in the electoral college
-270 votes necessary to be president minimum
-If not a majority vote, HoR pick, every state gets 1 vote
35. The Federalist Essays that were written in support of the Constitution's rati cation and have
Papers become classic argument for the American constitutional system.
