Introduction to American Government Concepts

A system where the government's power is restricted by laws, like a constitution, to protect individual rights and prevent abuse.

Rights that all humans are born with, including the right to life, liberty, and property.

The belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

<p>A form of government where people elect representatives to create and enforce laws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An agreement where individuals in a society cooperate for mutual benefit by giving up some freedoms for social order, security, and the protection of rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A document written in 1776 that declared the American colonies' freedom from British rule, stating that people have basic rights and governments must protect them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A group formed during the 1787 Constitutional Convention to resolve disputes over representation in Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A system of government where power is held by the people through elected representatives, decisions are made based on majority rule, while protecting individual rights and freedoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A system where citizens vote directly on laws and policies, rather than electing representatives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A process that allows citizens to propose and create laws or amendments to state constitutions, bypassing the state legislature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A process where voters are asked to approve or reject a law or policy proposed or passed by the government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A process where voters can remove an elected official from office before their term ends.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A system where citizens elect officials to make decisions and create laws on their behalf.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A model where citizens have the power to directly influence political decisions and policies, with active involvement through voting, public debates, and petitions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A system where power is distributed among various interest groups, advocating for their own interests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The idea that a government's legitimacy comes from the consent and approval of the people it governs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The principle that decisions should reflect the preferences of the majority of its members.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>More than half of a total group or number.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A voting system or election result where the candidate with the most votes wins, but not necessarily more than half.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The belief in government based on a constitution, emphasizing the importance of a written framework of laws that guide and limit government powers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A political system where the government has significant control over economic and social affairs, often at the expense of individual freedoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The first constitution of the United States adopted in 1781, establishing a weak national government with limited powers, primarily giving authority to individual states.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An essay written by James Madison addressing the dangers of factions (groups of people with shared interests that may not align with the public good).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An essay by an anonymous author, arguing that a strong central government would threaten individual liberties and state power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An armed uprising in 1786-1787 by Massachusetts farmers protesting economic injustices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The fundamental law of the US that outlines the structure of government, its powers, and the rights of citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A legislative system with two separate chambers or houses, like the House of Representatives and the Senate in the United States.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A proposal presented at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that called for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that favored small states and suggested a unicameral legislature where each state would have an equal vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A proposal during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that resolved a disagreement between large and small states regarding representation in Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers