Chapters 1-3 Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is a democracy?
a form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people
What is a direct democracy?
a form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
What is a representative democracy?
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws
Social Contract Theory- John Locke
People sacrifice a small portion of their freedom and consent to be ruled in exchange for the government’s protection of their lives, liberty, and property. Locke called this implicit agreement between a people and their government the social contract. Should government deprive people of their rights by abusing the power given to it, the contract was broken and the people were no longer bound by its terms. The people could thus withdraw their consent to obey and form another government for their protection.
Origins of Government & John Locke
Most Europeans of the time believed the institution of monarchy had been created by God, and kings and queens had been divinely appointed to rule. Locke, however, theorized that human beings, not God, had created government. People
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration of Independence officially proclaimed the colonies’ separation from Britain. The king, Jefferson charged, had taxed the colonists without the consent of their elected representatives, interfered with their trade, denied them the right to trial by jury, and deprived them of their right to self-government
Values held by the Declaration of Independence
Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, taxation with representation, proper trade, trial by jury, and right to self-government
Shay’s Rebellion
an uprising of Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays. After several months, Massachusetts crushed the uprising with the help of local militias and privately funded armies, but wealthy people were frightened by this display of unrest on the part of poor men and by similar incidents taking place in other states.
What Shay’s Rebellion revealed
The weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation. When the governor of Mass. asked for help to protect from the uprising, the government could not provide aid
The Articles of Confederation
Drafted in 1777. Ratified by the states in 1781. The Articles of Confederation created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government.
Why was the Articles of Confederation replaced?
while they protected the sovereignty of the states, the Articles had created a central government too weak to function effectively. They could not tax, states could print their own currency, impose tariffs on foreign imports or regulate interstate commerce, or raise an army or navy
What the Great Compromise established
the Great Compromise, suggested by Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Congresswould consist of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each state would have two senators, making for equal representation as in the New Jersey Plan. Representation in the House would be based on population. Senators were to be appointed by state legislatures, a variation on the Virginia Plan. Members of the House of Representatives would be popularly elected by the voters in each state. Elected members of the House would be limited to two years in office before having to seek reelection, and those appointed to the Senate by each state’s political elite would serve a term of six years.
How did the Great Compromise limit more populous states?
Each state, regardless of size, would have two senators, making for equal representation
New Jersey Plan (Great Compromise)
the New Jersey Plan, called for a unicameral legislature with one house, in which each state would have one vote. Thus, smaller states would have the same power in the national legislature as larger states
Virginia Plan (Great Compromise)
the delegates from Virginia called for a bicameral legislature consisting of two houses. The number of a state’s representatives in each house was to be based on the state’s population. In each state, representatives in the lower house would be elected by popular vote. These representatives would then select their state’s representatives in the upper house from among candidates proposed by the state’s legislature.
3/5 Compromise
For purposes of Congressional apportionment, slaveholding states were allowed to count all their free population, including free African Americans and 60 percent (three-fifths) of their enslaved population. To mollify the north, the compromise also allowed counting 60 percent of a state’s enslaved population for federal taxation, although no such taxes were ever collected.
The Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
to protect fundamental rights and liberties
When was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?
1791
major examples of checks and balances
- Congress can pass laws
- the president can veto potential legislation
- judicial review
- the ability of Congress to limit the president’s veto
- the president must seek the advice and consent of the Senate before appointing members of the Supreme Court and ambassadors
- the Senate must approve the ratification of all treaties signed by the president
- Congress may remove the president from office
what is the purpose of separate powers
it encourages the branches to cooperate
Seperation of Powers
the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government
Checks and Balances
a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together
federalism
an institutional arrangement that creates two relatively autonomous levels of government, each possessing the capacity to act directly on the people with authority granted by the national constitution
