Politics

The deciding of who gets what, when, and how. 

Who?  The people/benefitors of a service

What?  The service or benefit in question

When/How ?  The political process when the service begins/ends as well as when to vote/apply

Constitution

A body of fundamental principals agreed upon to structure a system of government and provides the legal authority.

Social Contract

Concept involving a government that orgininates as an implied contract among individuals who agree to obey laws in exchange for protection of their rights.

We allow the government to tax us and regulate trade

in exchange for protection of life and property

Public Goods

The US Government promotes the general wellfare through providing public goods.

Goods that are typically too expensive to be provided

by a single individual.  Also, if one person bought them, everyone else would use them without paying

Bill of Rights

Written guarantees of basic individual liberties, the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution

Californios

The settlers of California (Latinos) before the US annexed the land following the Treaty of Guadalupe of Hidalgo 1848.

This land was comprised much of Texas, Nevada and Arizona

Braceros

A program that recruited cheap labor from Mexico to the US.
Workers were supposed to leave when the job was finished, but as many were never paid they never left.

John Locke

Was an English political philosopher asserting the rights of individuals, the contract theory of government, and the right of revolution.

Democracy

A governing system in which the people govern themselves.  "Rule by the many."

Authoritarian Government

A monopoly of political power by an individual or small group that otherwise allows people to go about their private lives as they wish.

Representative Democracy

A governing system in which public decision making is delegated to representatives of the people chosen by popular vote in free, open and periodic elections.

Elitism

Political system in which power is concentrated in the hadns of a relatively small group of individuals or institutions.

Pluralism

Theory that democracy can be achieved through competition among multiple organized groups and that individuals can particapate in politics through group memberships and elections.

Political Culture

Widely shared views about who should govern, for what ends, and by what means.

Political Equality

Belief that every person's vote counts equally.

Equality of Opportunity

Elimination of artificial barriers to success in life and the opportunity for everyone to strive for success.

Conservative

Belief in the value of free markets, limited government, and individual self-reliance in economic affairs, combined with a belief in the value of tradition, law, and morality in social affairs.

Liberal

Belief in the value of strong government to provide economic security and protection for civil rights, combined with a belief in personal freedom from government intervention in social conduct.

Unified the colonies (and states) giving them the ability to practice law.

New Jersey Plan

One-house based legislature with equal state representation regardless of population.

Also the legislature had the same power as under the Articles of Confederation, plus the powre to levy some taxes and regulate some commerce.  Had a separate multiperson executive, elected by legislature, removable by petition from majority of state governors.

Virginia Plan

Two-house legislature, the lower house was directly elected based on state population and the upper house elected by the lower. 

Legislature with broad power, laws including veto power over passed by the state legislatures.  President and cabinet elected by legislature.

Connecticut Compromise

Voter Qualification

Originally, you had to be a white, wealthy, land owning male to vote.

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the three branches of the national government (legislative, executive, and judicial).

The idea is that no single of form of government

can out-power the other

Judicial Review

Power of the US Supreme Court and federal judiciary to declare laws of Congress and the states and actions of the president unconstitutional and thereore legally invalid.

Constitution Ratification

2/3 of the States or 2/3 of the Congress needed to pass/ratify a bill or law.

Constitutaional Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution to change an active bill or law.

Unitary System

Constitutional arrangement whereby authority rests with the national government; subnational governments have only those powers given to them by the national government.

Confederation

A constitutional arrangement whereby the national government is created by and relies on subnational governments for its authority.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specificially mentioned in the Constitution as belonging to the national government.

Dual Federalism

Early concept of federalism in which national and state powers were clearly distinguished and functionally separate.

14th Amendment

Citizenship, Due Process, and Equal Protection of the Laws.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Big Four in California

Collis Huntington, Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, and Leland Stanford formed the Central Pacific Railroad Company.

Direct Democracy in California

Passed by the voters providing for direct democracy and direct participatin in government including the recall, the initiative, and the referendum.