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1
Q

Mayflower compact

A

Document by pilgrims of mayflower in 1620 to declare self governance

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2
Q

Idea of America

A 
Individualism
Popular sovereignty
Equality of opportunity
Freedom of religion
Economic liberty
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3
Q

Government

A

Procedures and institutions by which a people govern and rule themselves and through which binding decisions are made for a society

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4
Q

Politics

A

Process in which decisions are made and carried out

Process by which ppl decide who shall govern and what policies shall be adopted

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5
Q

Politicians

A

People who oversee and direct the government

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6
Q

Political science

A

Study of principles and structure of government and analyze political ideas and behaviors

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7
Q

Constitutional democracy

A

Government that enforcers recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections

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8
Q

Social contract

A

Agreement where individuals voluntarily commit to establish a government that will protect the common interests of all

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9
Q

Government Of By and For

A

Of- the people govern
By- people are engaged in self government
For- aims should be guided by what is good for the people

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10
Q

Democracy

A

Government by the people, directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections

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11
Q

US Government in general:

A

Smooth transition of power

People want

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12
Q

Why has US succeeded?

A

Citizens live their country, revere the constitution, and respect the free enterprise system
There is debate, compromise and free elections

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13
Q

What does government by the people require?

A 
Faith in humans
Trust in self government
Optimism & skepticism
Healthy debate
Smooth transition of power
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14
Q

Direct democracy

A

Government by which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly
-America combines representative and direct e.g. direct primary, initiative, referendum, recall

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15
Q

Direct primary

A

Election by which voters choose party nominees

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16
Q

Initiative

A

Procedure whereby certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters

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17
Q

Referendum

A

Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution

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18
Q

Recall

A

Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office e before the end of their term

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19
Q

Representative democracy

A

Government where people elect those who govern and pass laws

Also “republic”

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20
Q

Constitutionalism

A 
Set of arrangements including
   Checks and balances
   Federalism
   Separation of powers
   Rule of law
   Due process
   Bill of rights
That hold leaders politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers
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21
Q

Natural rights

A

Rights of all people to dignity and worth

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22
Q

Political cultures

A

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another

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23
Q

Statism

A

Idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation

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24
Q

American Dream

A

Complex set of ideas that holds that the United States is a land of opportunity where individual initiative and hard work can ring economic success

25
Values of democracy
``` Personal liberty Individualism Equality Opportunity + American Dream Popular sovereignty ```
26
Personal liberty
Freedom and self determination: all individuals have the opportunity to repair their own goals Freedom FROM and TO DO
27
Individualism
Individuals have rights, which are more important than the group rights Rights are source of all legit government authority and power
28
Equality
All are equal and have the same rights and equal opportunity
29
Popular socereignity
Ultimate political authority rests with the people | Just government must derive powers from people
30
Political processes
``` Free and fair elections Majority and plurality rule Freedom of expression Right to assemble and protest Justice and rule of law ```
31
Majority
More than half votes to win
32
Plurality
Most votes to win, even if it’s not half
33
Rule of law
Generality: laws stated generally and not single out anyone Prospectivity: laws apply to present and future, not punish for the past Publicity: laws cannot be kept secret then enforced Authority: valid laws made by those with legit power from popular consent Due process: laws enforced impartially with fair processes
34
Political structures
``` Constitution Bill of rights Political parties Interest groups Media etc. ```
35
Conditions favorable for constitutional democracy
``` Educated citizenry Relatively prosperous nation Proper social conditions (not factioned) Democratic consensus (agree ideologically about governmental structure) Stability ```
36
Theocracy
Government by religious leaders who claim divine guidance
37
Articles of confederation
First governing document of the United States in 1781, central government during war, not strong, no judiciary, executive or national currency, no direct authority over citizens, no taxes, regulating trade States still supreme
38
Annapolis convention
Convention in 1786 by only 5 states to address interstate trade and navigation issues> led to constitutional convention
39
Constitutional convention 1787
States appointed delegates, all important, upper class, week read, white males Decided to write new, stronger constitution that needed 3/4 to ratify rather than unanimous Had three branches and bicameralism
40
Virginia Plan
Initial proposal by VA for strong central government with bicameral legislature based on state size
41
New Jersey plan
Proposal by smaller states for single house legislature where each state represented equally
42
Connecticut compromise
Bicameral legislature with one house equal, and one proportional to size Also included 3/5 rule
43
Electoral college
System used to elect president and Vice President, where voters oye for electors pledges to cast ballot for a particular party’s candidates
44
Federalists v Antifederalists
Feds supported ratification of constitution, anti feds did not “Federalist” by Madison, Hamilton and Jay was paper that promoted ratification with political thinking and reasoning and explanation
45
Constitutional Foundation
``` Short and lacks specificity: skeleton Adaptable and flexible Natural Law: natures law defining right from wrong- higher than human law Symbol of unity and loyalty Gives government power and limits ```
46
Checks on government
``` Competing interests Elections, petitions, protests, amendments Federalism Separation of powers Checks and balances Each branch is independent Differing election times ```
47
Autocracy
Type of government where one person with unlimited power rules
48
Partisanship
Strong allegiance to ones own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party
49
Divided government
Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress
50
Unified government
Governance in which one party controls both the winger Jody and both houses of Congress
51
17th amendment
Direct election of senators by the people
52
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established judicial review Jefferson refused to deliver commissions to judges after Adams packed the courts> marbury went to courts to issue “writ of mandamus” Marshall said marbury was entitled to commissions and Madison should have delivered it, but the writ went against the constitution because it wasn’t under their OG jurisdiction, so he couldn’t issue a writ and that section was unconstitutional
53
Judicial review
Power of a court to review laws or governmental regulations to determine whether they are consistent with the constitution
54
Writ of mandamus
Court order directing an official to perform an official duty
55
Congressional elaboration
Congressional legislation that gives further meaning for the constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority, such as necessary and proper clause
56
Originality approach
Approach to constitutional interpretation that envisions the document document as having a fixed meaning that might be determined by a strict reading of the text or the framers intent
57
Adaptive approach
Method used to interpret the constitution that understands the document to be flexible and responsive to changing needs of the times
58
How to change the constitution
Need 2/3 of Congress or convention called by request of 2/3 of states to propose amendments Need approval by 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of special state conventions to ratify Can’t unratify except by new amendment Must be ratified within “reasonable amount of time” aka 7 years

AP US Gov (1 decks)

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