Civics flashcards
(57 cards)
What does civics mean?
The study of rights and duties of a citizen
What does citizen mean?
a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized
Why is jury duty so important?
It’s a way of allowing people another way to express their opinions about current issues and sometimes in changing an unjust law.
What is selective service?
Service in the armed forces under conscription.
What is the difference between Civic Obligation and civic responsibility
? Civic responsibilities are duties that we meet of our own free will, while civic obligations are things we are required to do .
What is the Magna Carta and its significance?
The Magna Carta was one of the most important documents in history as it established the principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and guarantees the rights of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial.
What is the Mayflower Compact and its significance?
First document to establish self-government in the New World
Who is Montesquieu and his contribution to the U.S. Constitution?
He was a french political philosopher who created Separation of Powers- the separation of government.
Who is John Locke and what was he known for?
He was an English philosopher who created the social contract and believed everyone should have natural rights
What is the social contract and natural rights?
The rights of life, liberty, and property that government must protect for their common good.
Where can these concepts be found today?
“Common sense” written by Thomas Paine
What is federalism?
Power is shared by the national government and the states
What is the purpose of government, as stated in the Declaration of Independence?
People create governments in order to secure or protect the rights
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To explain their view of the purpose of human government, to see that the signers believed that all men were created equally by God and that they possess certain unalienable rights
What were the responsibilities of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
Regulate foreign trade and trade between the states
legislative branch
Law Making Congress, Senate and House of Representatives, and Rules and powers given to Congress
executive branch
enforces laws, president is head of the government, and rules and powers given to the President
judicial branch
Interprets the laws, makes sure laws are applied fairly, and supreme court is the highest court in the land
What are basic ideals of American government?
The vast majority subscribes to these general ideals, including liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, unity, and diversity
What were the six goals of the Constitution?
Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity
amendment
Is any change that is made to the Constitution.
Explain the amendment process
First, an amendment proposed by two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress. Second, the amendment ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures.
What was the reason behind the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights. One of the major purposes behind the Bill of Rights was to save the Constitution and the nation.
What is the total number of amendments to Constitution?
27
