C963 WGU
American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963 WGU
natrual rights - Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right
of Kings and
who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty,
and property.
State of Nature - Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence
of government
where human beings live in "complete" freedom and
general equality.
Due Process - involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly.
Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can be
exercised over the individual, making the power differential between the two
more fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract - A voluntary agreement among individuals to
secure their rights and
welfare by creating a government and
abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - One of the first individuals to
contribute to the idea of the
social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural
and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement - the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's,
for the workers to
receive better
treatment by
Constitution - A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and
the fundamental laws that govern
a society
Bill of Rights - The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - the document recording the proclamation of
the second
Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
,C963 WGU
Thomas Jefferson - Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - which almost resulted in potential mob rule,
suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that maybe
individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation - A weak constitution that governed
America during the
Revolutionary
War.
Federalist no. 51 - Argues that separation of powers within the
national government is the
best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of
one person or a single
grou
p.
First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment - Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment - The government may not house soldiers in private
homes without
consent of the
owner
Forth Amendment - It protects people against unfair searches of their
homes; search and
seizur
e.
Fifth Amendment - A constitutional amendment designed to protect the
rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double
jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Right to a trial by jury in civil
cases Eighth Amendment - No cruel and unusual
punishment
Nineth Amendment - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in
the Constitution
and Bill of
Rights
Tenth Amendment - Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to
the federal gov.
are reserved to the
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
,C963 WGU
states
bicameral legislature - A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of
Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives - the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of
representatives from each state, depending on
population
New Jersey Plan - Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives
of the thirteen
original states to write the Constitution of the
United States.
unicameral legislature - One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths
of a person in
determining representation in the House for representation and
taxation purposes
(negated by the 13th
amendment)
Checks and Balances - A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers
of the other branches in order to prevent abuse
of power
Separation of Powers - 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
federal system - A government that divides the powers of government
between the
national government and state or provincial
governments
enumerated powers - The powers explicitly given to Congress in the
Constitution.
reserved powers - Powers given to the state government alone
Federalists - Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander
Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
, C963 WGU
should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt
citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when
the states were
contemplating its
adoption.
Ratification - Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a
constitution,
constitutional amendment, or
treaty
Republic - A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by
voting
Habeas Corpus - Constitutional protection against unlawful imprisonment
Federalist Papers - A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and
James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the
Constitution in detail.
Federalist No. 10 - An essay composed by James Madison which argues that
liberty is safest
in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity
makes tyranny by
the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always
be unstable.
Legislative Branch (Congress) - makes laws, imposes taxes, and declares war
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - interprets the constitution and other
laws, reviews
lower-court
decisions
Executive Branch (President) - has the power to enforce the law
Executive Orders - Formal orders issued by the president to direct action
by the federal
bureaucra
cy.
checks on the executive branch - By Congress
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Control of funding activities of the executive branch
Presidential nominees must be approved by the Senate
Only Congress can declare war
House can impeach the president or vice president and the Senate can
remove them by a two-thirds vote
By Judiciary
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial review if the
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963 WGU
natrual rights - Life, Liberty, and Property
John Locke - 17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right
of Kings and
who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty,
and property.
State of Nature - Hypothetical condition assumed to exist in the absence
of government
where human beings live in "complete" freedom and
general equality.
Due Process - involves the government's obligation to treat all citizens fairly.
Such a requirement lessens the extent to which government power can be
exercised over the individual, making the power differential between the two
more fair, and ensuring a general sense of political equality
Social Contract - A voluntary agreement among individuals to
secure their rights and
welfare by creating a government and
abiding by its rules.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) - One of the first individuals to
contribute to the idea of the
social contract was a pre-Enlightenment English
philosopher
Leviathan (1651): Thomas Hobbes - Hobbes argues that society is not
something natural
and immutable, but rather it is something
created by us.
Labor Movement - the formation of labor unions, during the 1880's,
for the workers to
receive better
treatment by
Constitution - A document which spells out the principles by which a
government runs and
the fundamental laws that govern
a society
Bill of Rights - The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Declaration of Independence - the document recording the proclamation of
the second
Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the
colonies from Great Britain
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
,C963 WGU
Thomas Jefferson - Wrote the Declaration of Independence
Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787) - which almost resulted in potential mob rule,
suggested there might be too much democracy at play, and that maybe
individual liberty was going too far
Articles of Confederation - A weak constitution that governed
America during the
Revolutionary
War.
Federalist no. 51 - Argues that separation of powers within the
national government is the
best way to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of
one person or a single
grou
p.
First Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom
of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment - Right to keep and bear arms
Third Amendment - The government may not house soldiers in private
homes without
consent of the
owner
Forth Amendment - It protects people against unfair searches of their
homes; search and
seizur
e.
Fifth Amendment - A constitutional amendment designed to protect the
rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double
jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Sixth Amendment - Right to a speedy and public trial
Seventh Amendment - Right to a trial by jury in civil
cases Eighth Amendment - No cruel and unusual
punishment
Nineth Amendment - peoples rights are not just limited to those listed in
the Constitution
and Bill of
Rights
Tenth Amendment - Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to
the federal gov.
are reserved to the
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
,C963 WGU
states
bicameral legislature - A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2).
Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of
Representatives and The Senate.
House of Representatives - the lower house of Congress, consisting of a
different number of
representatives from each state, depending on
population
New Jersey Plan - Proposal to create a weak national government
Virginia Plan - Proposal to create a strong national government
Constitutional Convention - Meeting in 1787 of the elected representatives
of the thirteen
original states to write the Constitution of the
United States.
unicameral legislature - One-house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise - Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths
of a person in
determining representation in the House for representation and
taxation purposes
(negated by the 13th
amendment)
Checks and Balances - A system that allows each branch of government to
limit the powers
of the other branches in order to prevent abuse
of power
Separation of Powers - 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
federal system - A government that divides the powers of government
between the
national government and state or provincial
governments
enumerated powers - The powers explicitly given to Congress in the
Constitution.
reserved powers - Powers given to the state government alone
Federalists - Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander
Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
, C963 WGU
should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt
citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists - Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when
the states were
contemplating its
adoption.
Ratification - Formal approval, final consent to the effectiveness of a
constitution,
constitutional amendment, or
treaty
Republic - A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by
voting
Habeas Corpus - Constitutional protection against unlawful imprisonment
Federalist Papers - A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and
James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the
Constitution in detail.
Federalist No. 10 - An essay composed by James Madison which argues that
liberty is safest
in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity
makes tyranny by
the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always
be unstable.
Legislative Branch (Congress) - makes laws, imposes taxes, and declares war
Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) - interprets the constitution and other
laws, reviews
lower-court
decisions
Executive Branch (President) - has the power to enforce the law
Executive Orders - Formal orders issued by the president to direct action
by the federal
bureaucra
cy.
checks on the executive branch - By Congress
Can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers
Must approve treaties by a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Control of funding activities of the executive branch
Presidential nominees must be approved by the Senate
Only Congress can declare war
House can impeach the president or vice president and the Senate can
remove them by a two-thirds vote
By Judiciary
Can overturn actions of the president with judicial review if the
American Politics and the US Constitution - C963 WGU
