American Government Test 1 Flashcards
(34 cards)
Importance of Social Capital in the american political system
We need citizens to vote, attend political meetings, and campaign for candidates that they support for office.
Democratic government extol the virtues of citizen participation and depend on citizen involvement as a source of legitimacy.
Social Capital definition
bonds of trust and reciprocity between citizens that form the glue that holds modern societies together
Specific type of government that the U.S has
Representative Democracy
characterized by majority rule and protections for minority rights
electoral majorities determine who is elected to office, and majorities in power determine our laws and how they are administered.
representative democracy definition
Form of government in which popular decision making is restricted to electing or appointing the public officials who make public policy
Majority Rule definition
the requirement that electoral majorities determine who is elected to office and that majorities in power determine our laws and how they are administered.
Minority Rights
Protections beyond the reach of majority control guaranteed to all citizens.
List the major theories concerning who exercises real political power
Ruling Elite Theory-
Pluralism
Describe the Ruling Elite Theory
wealthy, well-educated citizens exercise a disproportionate amount of influence over political decision making, despite the existence of institutions that encourage widespread participation. More likely to have access to government officials or to become government officials themselves.
More informed about political issues and more interested in the outcome of these issues.
Have a vested interest in outcomes (taxes)
Describe Pluralism
Various groups and coalitions constantly vie for governmental favor and the ability to exercise political power, but none enjoys long-term dominance.
like-minded citizens organize into interest groups that employ a wide array of tactics from supporting candidates who promise to advance their cause to developing sophisticated public relations campaigns to rally support
Define Ideology
Ideas, values, and beliefs about how governments should operate.
According to John Locke, what are the 3 essential notions necessary for a liberal democracy?
Natural rights
formation of a social contract by consent of the governed
majority rule
Explain the processes for how the U.S Constitution can be amended
2/3 vote of both houses of Congress
National Convention called by Congress on the request of 2/3 of the states.
How is the U.S Constitution normally amended?
by 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress
What was Gregory Watson’s contribution to amending the Constitution?
James Madison proposed the 11th amendment, but it failed to pass
this amendment prohibits members of Congress from receiving pay raises during the same session in which they are voted.
Gregory Watson discovered there was no time limit on ratifications, and worked to ratify this amendment.
It became the 27th amendment.
Define Federalism
Power-sharing arrangement between the national and state governments in which some powers are granted to the national government alone, some powers are reserved to the states, some powers are held concurrently, and others are prohibited to either or both levels of government.
What were the plans and proposals made during the Constitutional Convention? What compromises were made?
Virginia Plan
New Jersey plan
The Great Compromise
Virginia Plan information:
(Large-state)
called for a bicameral legislature
Members of lower house would be chosen by popular election and they would in turn select the members of the upper house.
New Jersey Plan info
(Small-states)
unicameral legislature
equal state representation established under the Articles of Confederation, but also granted Congress additional powers over trade and security.
Establish a plural executive body and a federal judiciary both chosen by Congress to enforce national law in the states when necessary.
(Large-state)
called for a bicameral legislature
Members of lower house would be chosen by popular election and they would in turn select the members of the upper house.
The Great Compromise
Seats in the lower body to be allocated based on population, while in the upper chamber each state would have an equal vote.
List and explain the major principles incorporated into the U.S Constitution
enshrines the principles of liberal democracy buttressed with protections achieved through the separation of powers, checks and balances and federalism
Humans create governments by their own consent and that once created, governments must be compelled to limit their reach.
Checks and Balances
Involves providing each branch with overlapping power so that no one branch could exercise complete control of any function of government.
Separation of Powers
Leg. Branch- makes laws
Exec. Branch- implements laws
Judiciary- settles disputes that might arise between the two
this ensures that no one branch has all the power, and has a decreased likelihood that a single group might threaten individual freedoms
Federalism
Form of sharing power between the states and national government
was meant to protect citizens by preventing government from exercising powers outside its intended sphere.
What was the first and most important Supreme Court case favoring national power over the economy?
McCulloch V. Maryland (1819)
had to decide two issues:
did the national government have the authority to establish a national banks
if so, could a state tax the bank’s operations within its borders?
Ruled against state on both issues
Marshall
