Final Exam Review Flashcards
(27 cards)
What was the original governing document before the Constitution?
the Articles of Confederation
Why was the Articles of Confederation replaced?
- weak governing document
- Congress had limited powers, no executive leader, government was decentralized
What is the Connecticut Compromise?
- solved the issue of representing big states and small states
- led to the final structure of government (Congress’ Senate and House of Rep)
What topics were originally not included in the Constitution?
- voting
- equality
What is the purpose of separation of powers?
establishes three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
ensures that the branches of government do not overpower each other
Who is responsible for interpreting the Constitution?
the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch)
What type of government did the Constitution establish?
a republic
Democracy
a system of selecting policymakes and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences
What are the main components of a democracy?
- equality in voting
- effective participation - everyone paticipates
- enlightened understanding - the government tries to understand the problems of their citizens
- citizen control of the agenda - everyone has a say
- inclusion - include everyone
- majority rule - rules are made according to majority vote
- minority rights - guarantees rights to those not in the majority
Federalism
a system of government that divides sovereign power across at least two political units
What layers of government does federalism establish?
- federal/national government
- state government
- local government
What powers does the Constitution delegate to both the national and state governments?
- tax
- borrow money
- establish courts
- spend money for the general welfare
- eminent domain - take private property for public purposes
What is the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
establish civil liberties that were fought against the British for but were not originally included in the Constitution
Civil Liberties
protections against government
What is an example of a civil liberty?
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of Expression
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of Assembly
- the Right to Bear Arms
What are the freedoms listed in the First Amendment?
- Freedom of Expression
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of the Press
- Freedom of Assembly
What are the two components of Freedom of Religion?
-
establishment clause - government cannot establish a state religion
- separation of church and state
- free exercise clause - prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion
What it the Second Amendment?
the Right to Bear Arms
Has limits, as always.
What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment?
- upholds the rights of states
- the states have any power that is not written down as a federal power
What are civil rights?
policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals
Ensures equality and protects people from discrimination.
What is an example of a civil right?
- protection from discrimination
- the right to vote
Why is the Fourteenth Amendment important?
- first time equality is mentioned in the Constitution
- used multiple times to advance equality
What is the Nineteenth Amendment?
gives women the right to vote
