Unit 1 Vocabulary U.S. History

### Structure:- Constitutional Federal Republic An arrangement of government in which authority is isolated between a national (or central) government and various states working under the power of an authoritative report, for example, a constitution that ensures individual rights. Social Contract/Social Contract Theory (Concept) A concept in political philosophy is that individuals agree to give up some of their freedoms and be ruled by a government for their protection over the rights they retain. The Declaration of Independence (Doc) Named because it was adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; early versions were written on parchment. It spells out differences between colonists and King George III while proclaiming 13 colonies as "free and independent states." Articles of Confederation (Doc) The first Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781; established a central government so weak that it was eventually replaced by today's more powerful Constitution (ratified four years later). ### Shay’s Rebellion (Event): Events (1786 – 87) — A sequence of protests begun by American farmers against enforcement of tax collections, and judgments for debts, carried out within the states as defined in law; exposed weaknesses with the Articles of Confederation leading to demands for national reform. ### Federalist Papers (Doc): Eighty-five articles and essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution, published 1787–88. on principles of government sought to overcome objections based on republicanism summed up the argument for a strong central authority ## Republic/Republicanism (Structure) Political concept: A system of government under which the country is considered a "public matter," with elected representatives who are responsible to the people for all their decisions and powers limited by law. Popular sovereignty (concept) Government is conducted according to the principle that a government's authority is derived from and sustained by the consent of its elected representatives. ### Natural Rights (Idea): The inalienable rights that were granted by the Creator to all human beings, the right to life liberty, and pursuit of happiness cannot be infringed upon or infected, no government has bestowed this authority. ### Rule of Law (Idea): The entire government is subject to the rule of law, which applies equally to everyone and guarantees certain basic rights that the Government cannot infringe upon. ### Commerce Clause (Idea): (See Article I, Section 8) It is in the United States Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate and control trade with foreign nations as well as among states along with others. Confederation (Challenge) A coalition of autonomous nations with a unifying cause; can result in difficulties managing or acting, as there is no central authority. Constitutional Convention (Event) When representing a Virginia delegation during the event in 1787 Philadelphia readdressed problems with the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation, which caused delegates to create the U.S. Constitution's Written version also known as "The United States Constitution." Federalism (Structure/Idea) A system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units states, provinces, or territories; often called federal government.A form of public order interaction town-destructive competition principle equity law civil disobedience common propertyNewly edited version from the PlainSite Legal dictionary. New Jersey -> New Jersey Plan (Challenge) Drafted at the constitutional convention and was an appeal to each of the states as it offered a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, unlike the Virginia Plan which proposed 2 chambers, lower based on pops. Virginia Plan: A Problem A plan at the Constitutional Convention to establish a powerful national government--a bicameral legislature where representation would be based on population, which existed better for larger states. The Great Compromise (Challenge) The Great Compromise was an agreement between large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention that in part defined what representation could even look like. The compromise broke a stalemate created when larger states were wanting to follow the Virginia Plan, which based responsibility proportionate to population. ### Necessary & Proper Clause/Implied Powers/Elastic Clause (Concept) Constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its powers. Point 4: Separation of Powers (Architecture) The separation of the powers into distinct branches (to prevent the concentration of power in one branch), Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary. Checks & Balances (Structure) A system that prevents any one branch of government from becoming too powerful by giving each the means to limit or control another, a balance of power. ### Supremacy Clause (Idea): A clause in the Constitution (Article VI) declares that federal laws and treaties are “the supreme law of the land” taking precedence over conflicting state or local laws. ### Unalienable (Idea): Rights that cannot be renounced, transferred, or taken away (ex., and are maintained through restraint of others): -- human rights by which they argue. Limited Government (Idea) A doctrine defining the extent and limits of state power about individual rights. Group: CFR- Continental Federal Republic ES: A form of government in which the people choose officials to steer their general direction. Social Contract (Theory) A political and philosophical theory that says the individual agrees, either openly or implicitly, to submit certain liberties conceding powers in return for security equipment by the government. Declaration of Independence One of the reasons for their break from Great Britain was based in part on that famous 1776 document laying out thirteen colonies' philosophical justification to rule themselves and assert rights. Articles of Confederation The initial charter for the United States was ratified in 1781. This formed a small political union of the thirteen states, which was more like an association. It was something of an early adopter but ultimately failed because it lacked the power to centralize authority concerning tax and enforcement policies. This was eventually supplanted by the U.S. Constitution, which allowed itself to be a strong and effective federal government they sought capable of ruling both international and domestic politics. Shay's Rebellion Shays' Rebellion: Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer led an armed uprising in which farmers protested the insolvency of state and local tax collection practices that threatened their farms. It highlighted the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation and eventually led to the pressing need for a strong central government. Federalist Papers 85 essays and articles supporting the ratification of the United States Constitution The topics of a strong central government are discussed as the arguments for its usefulness as well as those who feared such a system would cause governmental abuse. Republicanism Political theory advocates the rule of a particular government in which power remains with people who are represented by elected representatives. On the other hand, It narrows civic participation and the rule of law in defense of individual rights. Popular Sovereignty The idea is that the government is built with the consent of the people and hence, all those living in a piece governed by law must practice to " be ruled by rules" even governments spoken about in selection. Natural Rights Of course, we all know that the phrasing of this was inspired by: Rights presumed to be bestowed upon each person as an endowment from its Creator and thus does not deny itself; among these are life, free will/rein (I forget how it goes) existe et pluriel gibier. In that case, these rights are inalienable by any government because they exist within all human beings. Rule of Law Everyone is subject to the same laws. (No one above the law) The rule of law must be enforced at the same level for all people to preserve the rights of every citizen. Commerce Clause A provision in the Constitution [Article I, Section 8] empowers Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states and Indian tribes. Confederation A treaty is a league of states or nations out of different interests with their sovereignty ( national-social Contract), which sometimes creates tax governance problems. Constitutional Convention The Philadelphia Congress of 1787 drafted the present U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation Federalism A system of government-run at the central level combined with several other regional levels. This is what has come to be known as U.S. federalism, of course: the sharing of powers among state and national governments in this country. New Jersey Plan The plan to form the U.S. government proposed at the Constitutional Convention, called for a single-chamber legislature in which each state would be represented equally regardless of size Virginia Plan It was a blueprint of the government that would prove less sovereignty and more sovereign power, with a bicameral legislature in which all states were larger ones because every state had to have at least one Representative. The Great Compromise A Constitutional Convention compromise that provided for a two-house legislature, with one house representing the population. Essential and Proper Clause/Implied Powers/Elastic Clause Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states "The Congress shall have Power. to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or any Department or Officer thereof. Therefore conferring some measure of power on Congress to regulate in many divergent areas. The legislative (makes laws), executive (carries out laws), and judicial branches of government. The rationale for this division is to prevent one part of the government from becoming stronger than another. Checks and Balances A system of government in which each branch exercises some control over the others so no branch controls everything. Supremacy Clause The Supremacy Clause provides that the Constitution, together with Federal statutes and treaties made under its authority, is “the supreme law of the land” that prevails over State laws. Unalienable Rights Natural: The most fundamental entitlements proffered to all Humans, which means no person can forgo or barter away their thereto. These are rights that inherently and universally apply to everyone. Limited Government Limited government is the idea that a central authority's power depends on certain limitations and restrictions provided through laws, usually per each constitution protecting individual rights or liberties.