Foundations of American Democracy

Photograph of the original Star Spangled Banner The U.S. Constitution arose out of important historical and philosophical ideas and preferences regarding popular sovereignty and limited government. Compromises were made during the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates, and these compromises have frequently been the source of conflict in U.S. politics over the proper balance between individual freedom, social order, and equality of opportunity.

Essential Questions

How did the founders of the U.S. Constitution attempt to protect individual liberty, while also promoting public order and safety?
How have theory, debate, and compromise influenced the U.S. Constitutional system?
How does the development and interpretation of the Constitution influence policies that impact citizens and residents of the U.S.?
What is the organization of Georgia's state and local governments?

Key Terms

View your key terms, then review them with the activity below.

Limited Government - A type of government whose power is restricted through delegated authorities.

Rule of Law - A rules-based system which implies that every citizen is subject to the law.

Natural rights - Rights which John Locke believed shouldn’t be taken away such as life, liberty and property.

Popular sovereignty - The belief that the consent of the people of a state should be the authority.

Republicanism - The ideology of a republic in which elected leaders are elected to represent their constituents.

Confederal - A union between two or more nations or states.

Social contract - An agreement between the citizens and the government regarding laws and rights.

Federalists - Faction of the Constitutional Convention who believed that power should be equally divided between a central government and divisions of government.

Anti-Federalists - Faction of the Constitutional Convention who opposed the US Constitution because they believed too much power would have been given to the federal government.

Separation of powers - The model for governance that creates branches of government with certain independent powers and responsibilities that are not in conflict with the other branches.

Checks and balances - System of governance that divides the powers of the government so that no one branch has more power than the others.

Impeachment - The process of charging a high official of wrongdoing.

Federalism - A type of government in which power is distributed between the national government and the state government.

Constitutionalism - Principle that the authority of the government is created and limited by a body of fundamental law.

Impeachment - A formal statement of charges against a high official of government in order to support the concept of checks and balances.

Supremacy Clause - Clause of the US Constitution which states the Constitution is the law of the land and no state law can contradict it.

Full Faith and Credit Clause - Clause in the Constitution (Article 4, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.

Privileges and Immunities Clause - Clause in the Constitution (Article 4, Section 2) that states “the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states”.

Commerce Clause - Clause in the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one nation or state.

Necessary and Proper Clause - Clause in the Constitution ( Article 1, Section 8)which states that Congress has the power to “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for carrying out the powers of the government.

Enumerated powers - Powers of the government that are specifically described in the Constitution.

Implied powers - Powers from the expressed powers that allow Congress to execute its functions

Exclusive powers - Powers that only the national government has according to the Constitution.

Reserved powers - Powers that only the state government has according to the Constitution.

Concurrent powers - Powers that the Constitution gives to both the state and national governments.

Federal revenue sharing - The system by which a government apportions its tax income to the various parts of the government.

Mandates - A command given to state or local governments from the national government in order to make sure a certain action is taken.

Categorical grants - federal grants for specific purposes (ex. Building an airport).

Incentives - a procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption.

Initiative - A procedure by which a specified number of voters may propose a statute, constitutional amendment, or ordinance, and compel a popular vote on its adoption.

Referendum - The principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection.

Recall - The removal or the right of removal of a public official from office by a vote of the people taken upon petition of a specified number of qualified electors.

County - The largest administrative division of a U.S. state.

City - An incorporated municipality, usually governed by a mayor and a board of councilmen.

Town - A thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.

IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS

National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. “Smithsonian Learning Lab Resource: Star-Spangled Banner.” Smithsonian Learning Lab, Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, 30 Jan. 2020, https://learninglab.si.edu/q/r/4631643