Unit 1 Review
Raymond- P.5
Evan Milligan
Zach Correll
How was the Constitution influenced by
other documents and ideas?
 Magna Carta- The Magna Carta was the first document to bind leaders
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to the laws that the rest of the citizens had to follow
Mayflower Compact- Created by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, this
showed that people were capable of governing themselves
The English Bill of Rights- This document took power away from the
crown and gave it to the people and Parliament. The Founding Fathers
took after this example and protected the people’s rights in the U.S. Bill
of Rights
The Declaration of Independence- In order to avoid being the greatest
hypocrites in history, we had to include the unalienable rights which
were stated in the Declaration of Independence when we said that each
man inherently had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
which was based on the philosophies and ideas of John Locke
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom- This is the document that
established a separation of church and state
What were the main issues discussed
during the ratification of the Constitution?
The biggest issue with trying to create a fair
representative government was ensuring that had equal
representation for all states. Thus, two plans were proposed:
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan
offered a bicameral legislature which was based on the
population in each state. In other words, more people meant
more votes. The New Jersey Plan offered a single legislature
in which each state got a single vote. This meant that smaller
states (like New Jersey) got the same amount of power as the
larger states. Eventually, the convention agreed on the
Connecticut Compromise, which created a bicameral
legislature with the House of Representatives (where
representation was based on population) and a Senate (where
everyone has equal representation.
What early challenges did the
Constitution face?
 The first time that the federal government had to exert its
new power was with the Whiskey Rebellion
 Many people feared that having a larger government,
especially with a single leader, would become tyrannical
 Thanks to the Federalist Papers, the new Constitution didn’t
have a chance to be ratified without a Bill of Rights that
protected the rights of the citizens
What are the major points of the
Constitution?
 The Bill of Rights guarantees rights to the citizens and
protects them from the government
 Power is shared between the federal government and the
states. Any rights not given or implied to the federal
government are reserved for the states
 The system of checks and balances was set up in the
Constitution in order to ensure that no single person or
group of people could gain too much power in the
government, thus preventing tyranny
What is democracy?
Democracy is government by the people and for the
people. Typically this would mean that everyone votes on
everything. In the United States, we utilize a form of
representative democracy because we elect officials to go and
represent us and do what we want them to do in
government.
How has the Constitution changed?
Since the Founding Fathers didn’t believe that in 200
years we would still be using chamber pots under our beds,
they realized that eventually the Constitution and the
government could be about as useful as a chamber pot. So
they included in the Constitution the ability to be amended
so that it could change with the times. Ever since, we have
abolished slavery, given women the right to vote, made
alcohol illegal, got bored and made it legal again, and more.
The Constitution has been doing what the Founding Fathers
intended and has been changing and being updated as time
goes on.
Vocabulary
 majority rule- fundamental democratic principle requiring that
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the majority's view be respected
checks and balances- each branch of government can limit the
power of the other two branches
unitary system- All power is invested in a central government
federalism- system of government in which power is divided by a
written constitution between a central government
enumerated (expressed) powers- powers specifically granted to
the federal government by the Constitution
 implied powers- powers of the federal government that go beyond
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those enumerated in the Constitution
reserved powers- powers not specifically granted to the national
government or denied to the states. Reserved powers are held by the
states through the 10th Amendment
cooperative federalism- situations in which the national and state
governments work together to complete projects. Also called the fiscal
federalism
categorical grant- funds provided for a specific and clearly defined
purpose
block grant- funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose.
Because block grants shift resources from the federal government to
the states
 mandates- rules telling states what they must do to comply with
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federal guidelines
devolution- a movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing
from the federal government to state and local governments.
public goods- goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone
must share
single-issue groups- groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike
compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics
policy agenda- the issues that attract the serious attention of public
officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given
point in time
 public policy- a choice that government makes in response to a political issue
 democracy- a system of selecting policymakers and of organizing
government so that policy represents and responds to the public's
preferences
 minority rights- a principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees
rights to those who do not belong to majorities and allows that they might
join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument.
 pluralist theory- a theory of government and politics emphasizing that
politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own
preferred policies
 elite and class theory- a theory of government and politics contending that
societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule,
regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
 hyperpluralism- a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so
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strong that government is weakened. This is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted
form of pluralism
policy gridlock- a condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a
majority and establish policy. The results is that nothing may get done
individualism- The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the
government. One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of
American government is the prominence of this belief in American political thought
and practice.
Constitution- A nation's basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides
powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. They can be
written or unwritten.
natural rights- Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments,
which include life, liberty, and property. This concept was central to English
philosopher John Locke's theories about government, and was widely accepted
among America's founding fathers.
 limited government- The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on
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government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Factions- Interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property
or wealth that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10. Today's
parties or interest groups are what Madison had in mind when he warned of
the instability caused by these.
writ of habeas corpus- A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge
why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
separation of powers- A feature of the Constitution that requires each of the
three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) to be
relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others.
Power is shared among these three institutions.
Republic- A form of government in which the people select representatives
to govern them and make laws.
 Federalists- Supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were
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contemplating its adoption.
Antifederalists- Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when
the states were contemplating its adoption.
judicial review- The power of the courts to determine whether acts of
Congress, and by implication the executive, are in accord with the US
Constitution. This was established by John Marshall and his associates in
Marbury v. Madison.
supremacy clause- Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the
Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the
national government is acting within its constitutional limits.
elastic clause- The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution,
which authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry
out the enumerated powers.
 Extradition- 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.
 dual federalism- A system of government in which both the states and
the national government remain supreme within their own spheres,
each responsible for some policies.
 fiscal federalism-The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants
in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national
government's relations with state and local governments.
 double jeopardy- Being tried twice for the same offense (if you
appealing, it is not double jeopardy because you are asking to be
retried)
Government Actions
 Bill of Rights- The first 10 amendments to the Constitution-guarantees
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liberties to the people-written in 1789-ratified in 1791
Marbury v. Madison- judicial review; marbury wants commission, judiciary
act unconstitutional, sup c can't force commision
10th Amendment- Reaffirmed that framers' plan to create a limited
federal government. It states that all powers not given to the national
government or denied to the states are reserved for states or for the
people.
McCulloch v. Maryland- 1819--The Court ruled that states cannot tax the
federal government, i.e. the Bank of the United States; the phrase "the
power to tax is the power to destroy"; confirmed the constitutionality of
the Bank of the United States.
Gibbons v. Ogden- 1824--Clarified the commerce clause and affirmed
Congressional power over interstate commerce.