7 - Civics - Fundamental Principles and Practice of Government

Question 1

Explain:

How did Socrates and Aristotle contribute to political philosophy?

Answer 1

• Each contributed to modern-day discussions about justice, the organization of society, and what the best form of government is.
• Socrates discussed the concept of a philosopher king, an enlightened man that rules a society with the best intentions of the people in mind.
• Aristotle created the concept of deductive reasoning, which is using basic premises to build up to larger truths - an important tool for both logic and science.

Question 2

Explain:

How did Augustine and Aquinas contribute to political philosophy?

Answer 2

• Saw humans as innately political beings
• Sought to define the relationship between human and divine law.
• Central focus was preservation of peace.
• Concept of the just war, or the morally acceptable use of state violence.

Augustine recognized that an imperfect world sometimes demanded imperfect solutions, while Aquinas defined the conditions that made a war just.

Question 3

Define:

social contract

Answer 3

The unspoken agreement between individuals to give up certain natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of society.

Example: Citizens of a new colony agree to form a democratic government that enacts laws to protect their rights and property. If the government becomes tyrannical, they believe they have the right to revolt and establish a new government.

Question 4

Explain:

What is the Enlightenment Philosophy of social contract?

Answer 4

• It holds that human beings in a state of nature, or before they are part of a society, will voluntarily give up some of their rights in order to join a society.
• Society then provides them with safety, prosperity, and more material goods than they would have had otherwise.

Question 5

Explain:

How does Locke see the social contract?

Answer 5

• Humans are born neutral (neither good nor bad).
• Humans will agree to give up some of their natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of a society, as long as government protects the rights that individuals give up.

Question 6

Identify:

Types of government.

Answer 6

• Monarchy
• Aristocracy
• Oligarchy
• Democracy
• Direct Democracy
• Representative Democracy
• Theocracy
• Autocracy
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Democratic Republic

Question 7

Describe:

federalism

Answer 7

A system in which the power is constitutionally divided between the national government and the constituent units (in the U.S. called states).

The United States was the first country with a modern federal constitution, adopted in 1789.

Question 8

Explain:

How does federalism operate?

Answer 8

• Clearly define national and states’ powers.
• Empower courts to solve disputes between the federal and state governments.
• Introduce supremacy of federal law over state law.

Question 9

Explain:

How did the principles of dual federalism influence the balance of power between state and federal governments in the United States during the 19th century?

Answer 9

• Established a division of powers, with the state and federal governments operating independently within their own spheres of authority.
• Led to significant autonomy for state governments and limiting federal intervention in state matters.
• Reinforced by key Supreme Court decisions, such as McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden.

Both cases delineated the boundaries of federal and state powers and emphasized the sovereignty of each within their respective domains.

Question 10

Explain:

How does the concept of popular sovereignty differ from legal or territorial sovereignty?

Answer 10

• Popular sovereignty: principle that the authority of a government is derived from the consent of the governed.
• Legal or territorial sovereignty: recognized authority of a state over a defined geographic area and its legal framework regardless of the people’s consent.

Question 11

Explain:

How does the principle of popular sovereignty underpin the framework of the U.S. Constitution, and in what ways is it reflected in the structure of American government and the rights of citizens?

Answer 11

• Establishes that the government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, reflected in the preamble’s affirmation of “We the People.”
• Seen through democratic processes such as elections, the protection of individual rights, and the system of checks and balances, ensuring that government power remains accountable to the citizens it serves.

Question 12

Identify:

4 examples of federal powers.

Answer 12

1. The authority to declare war.
2. Raise and maintain an army and navy.
3. Regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
4. Coin money.

Question 13

Identify:

4 examples of state powers.

Answer 13

1. Education
2. Transportation
3. Law Enforcement
4. Health and Safety Regulations

The powers delegated to state governments are referred to as reserve powers. These powers are granted to the states by the Tenth Amendment.

Question 14

Define:

devolution

Answer 14

The transfer of power from higher to lower levels of government.

Question 15

Describe:

Role of local governments.

Answer 15

To run the local city, town, or county. This includes managing the following:

• Police departments
• Fire departments
• Libraries
• Local schools
• Utilities

Question 16

Explain:

Legislative Branch and its powers.

Answer 16

• The main power of it is to pass laws.
• The powers of it are listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. These include the power to declare war, borrow money, establish post offices and regulate commerce.

Question 17

Explain:

Judicial Branch and its powers.

Answer 17

• Interprets the U.S. Constitution.
• Includes criminal and civil courts.
• Supreme Court is the highest court, final say on constitutional matters.
• Uses judicial review, where it determines which laws and policies are constitutional and which are not.

Question 18

Explain:

Executive Branch and its powers.

Answer 18

1. Responsible for implementing and enforcing federal laws passed by Congress, ensuring that they are carried out effectively.
2. Oversees various government agencies and departments, managing the day-to-day operations of the federal government and ensuring that services are delivered to the public.
3. Manages foreign relations, negotiates treaties (with Senate approval), and directs national defense and military operations, serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Question 19

Explain:

What are the most significant challenges and responsibilities faced by a U.S. President in the modern era?

Answer 19

• Address complex domestic issues such as healthcare, economic inequality, education, and infrastructure.
• Navigate an increasingly interconnected and volatile global landscape.
• Manage relationships with allies and adversaries.
• Address global threats like terrorism and climate change.
• Maintain U.S. leadership in international organizations.

Question 20

Explain:

What are civil liberties and why are they important?

Answer 20

• Fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected by law from governmental interference.
• Safeguard personal freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy.

Question 21

Explain:

What are civil rights and why are they significant?

Answer 21

• Rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and be free from discrimination in various spheres of life, including education, employment, housing, and access to public facilities.
• Designed to ensure that all individuals have equal protection under the law and are often enforced through legislation and court decisions.

Question 22

Explain:

Difference between direct and indirect elections.

Answer 22

• A direct election means that the popular vote directly determines the outcome of an election. The popular vote refers to the actual votes of the people. The U.S. uses this for electing representatives.
• An indirect election, on the other hand, is one in which an intermediary body, elected by the people, is responsible for the outcome of an election. The Electoral College that determines the president is an example of a process in an indirect election. The U.S. uses this for the presidency.

Question 23

Explain:

runoff election

Answer 23

• Many elections require the winner to receive a majority or other percentage of the votes cast. If no candidate receives enough votes to be declared the winner in the original election, a runoff election will be held.
• Runoff is an election held when no single candidate receives enough votes to reach the threshold required by law. This circumstance is accomplished by eliminating candidates that received the fewest votes.

Question 24

Define:

government

Answer 24

• System or group of individuals with the authority to make and enforce laws and policies for a specific political entity, such as a state or nation.
• Encompasses various institutions and structures that manage public affairs, maintain order, provide services, and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Question 25

Define:

power

Answer 25

Ability or capacity to influence, control, or direct the behavior of others, events, or outcomes.

It can manifest in various forms, such as political, economic, military, social, or personal.

Often exercised through authority, coercion, persuasion, or resources.

Question 26

Define:

separation of powers

Answer 26

A fundamental principle in many modern governments, which involves dividing the powers of a state into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

This division typically involves three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Question 27

Explain:

Why is separation of powers critical for checking government power?

Answer 27

• Prevent Tyranny: It reduces the risk of a single branch becoming too powerful and abusing its authority.
• Promote Checks and Balances: Each branch has the power to check and balance the actions of the other two.
• Protect Individual Rights: By limiting the power of any one branch, it helps to safeguard individual liberties and prevent oppressive government actions

Question 28

Explain:

separation of church and state

Answer 28

• Principle that aims to keep government and religion separate.
• States that government should not favor or promote any particular religion, and religious institutions should not have undue influence on government policies or laws.

Helps to protect religious freedom and prevent the government from becoming too involved in religious matters.

Question 29

Explain:

How did the concept of separation of church and state become important to the Founding Fathers?

Answer 29

• Many of the Founding Fathers had experienced or witnessed religious persecution firsthand, either in their home countries or in the American colonies.
• The American colonies were home to people of various religious denominations.

The diversity of difference religious faiths made it difficult to establish a state religion and led many to advocate for religious tolerance.

Question 30

Explain:

Role of the Bill of Rights in protecting individual liberties.

Answer 30

• Designed to protect individual liberties from government overreach.
• Outlines specific rights that the government cannot infringe upon, such as:
  
  • Freedom of speech
  • Freedom of religion
  • Freedom of the press
  • Right to assemble peacefully
  • Right to petition the government
  • Right to bear arms
  • Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
  • Right to a speedy trial
  • Protection against cruel and unusual punishment