Federalism
a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Government
the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces binding decisions on citizens
Unitary System
a government that gives all key powers to the national or central government
Federal System
a government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments
Confederal System
A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.
Pluralism
A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.
Limited Power
limits the actions of the government by listing the powers they do not have
Judicial Review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
Federalist Papers
a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay (using the name "publius") published in NY newspapers and used to convice readers to adopt the new constitution
Checks and Balance
Each branch has the power to make sure no one branch overpowers the other
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
Gibbons v. Ogden
steamboat case". interstate commerce & transportation is dealt by Congress.
Hyperpluralism
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened
Elitism
the attitude that society should be governed by an elite group of individuals
Reserved Powers
powers saved for the states
Delegated Powers
Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.
Concurrent Powers
powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments
Politics
the profession devoted to governing and to political affairs
Virginia Plan
Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population
Federalist
a member of a former political party in the United States that favored a strong centralized federal government
Federalist # 10
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Bicameral
composed of two legislative bodies
Marbury v Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review
Democracy
a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
Rule of Law
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
Constitution
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
Articles of Confederation
this document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control co
Shay's Rebellion
a rebellion by debtor farmers in western Massachusetts, led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays, against Boston creditors. it began in 1786 and lasted half a year, threatening the economic interests of the business elite and contributing to the demi
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house
New Jersey Plan
Opposite of the Virginia Plan, it proposed a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote. This created a conflict with representation between bigger states, who wanted control befitting their population, and smaller states, who didn't want to
Anti-Federalist
a person who opposed a strong national government
Ferderalist #51
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Separation of Powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
McCulloch v. Maryland
attempt by maryland to destory a brach of the bank of the US by imposing a tax on its notes, most famous marshall decison..no national bank, upheld bank rights to exist and be free from taxes