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Details Title: POLITICAL SCIENCE Chapter 2 Description: Vocabulary Total Flash Cards: 17 Created: 09/27/2006 17:22:06	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Representative Assembly Definition a legislature composed of individuals who represent the population Term Natural Rights Definition Rights held to be inherent in natural law, not dependent on governments Term Social Contract Definition a voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules Term Unicameral Legislature Definition A legislature with only one legislative chamber Term Confederation Definition a political system in which states or regional governments retain ultimate authority except for those powers they expressly delegate to a central government. Term State Definition A group of people occupying a specific area and organized under one government Term Bicameral Legislature Definition a legislature made up of two parts, called chambers Term Supremacy Doctrine Definition A doctrine that asserts the priority of national law over state laws Term Great Compromise Definition the compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans that created one chamber of the Congress based on population and one chamber representing each state equally Term Separation of Powers Definition the principle of dividing governmental powers among different branches of government Term Madisonian Model Definition a structure of government proposed by James Madison in which the powers of the government are separated into three branches Term Checks and Balances Definition a major principle of the American system of government whereby each branch of the government can check the actions of the others Term Electoral College Definition A groups of persons called electors selected by the voters in each state and the District of Columbia (D.C.); this group efficially elects the president and vice president of the US Term Ratification Definition Formal approval Term Federalist Definition the name given to one who was in favor of the adoption of the US Constitution and the creation of a federal union with a strong central government Term Anti-Federalist Definition An individual who opposed the ratification of the new Constitution in 1787 Term Executive Agreement Definition An international agreement between chiefs of state that does not require legislative approval