Foundations of American Democracy

Question 1

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 1

believed that for the government to protect the natural rights of citizens, individuals would need to view the government as an authority to be respected

Question 2

Levithan

Answer 2

Thomas Hobbes
the best way to protect life was to give total power to an absolute monarch because man cannot be trusted to rule itself

Question 3

Social Contract

Answer 3

John Locke
sacrificing some freedoms to be protected by the federal government

Question 4

Second treatise on Civil Government

Answer 4

John Locke
Life,liberty,property were natural rights granted by god and it is the duty of all government to respect and protect these rights. If the government does not the citizens have the right to rebel

Question 5

John Locke

Answer 5

Natural rights -Life, liberty, property
given by god and can’t be taken away

Question 6

Charles de Montesquieu

Answer 6

A critic of the monarchy and advocate for democracy. French philosopher greatly influenced by founders

Question 7

De l’Esprit Des Lois (the spirit of laws) 1978

Answer 7

advocated for the separation of powers into three branches of government believing that such a separation of powers promoted a system of checks and balances to limit the power of each branch.

Question 8

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Answer 8

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Believed that humans are naturally born good but corrupted by society and those who remain uncorrupted are noble savages
Individuals should act in the best self interests of the greater good

Question 9

The social contract (1762)

Answer 9

the only good government was one that was freely formed with the consent of the people

Question 10

Voltaire

Answer 10

Proponent of rationality
Fierce advocate of freedom of thought, speech, religion, and politics

Question 11

Candide

Answer 11

Voltaire
A satirical novel that reflected his aversion to Christian power regimes and the nobility

Question 12

Denis Diderot

Answer 12

producer and editor of the first encyclopedia
Advocated for expression and education access for all, while criticizing the theory of divine right and traditional values and religion

Question 13

Participatory Democracy

Answer 13

emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society by citizens at various levels or socioeconomic status

Question 14

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 14

implies organized group-based activism by citizens with common interests all striving for the same political goals

Question 15

Elite democracy

Answer 15

Discourage participation by the majority of citizens and cede power to the educated and or wealthy

Question 16

representative democracy

Answer 16

Citizens vote for delegates who in turn represent citizens interests within the government

Question 17

popular sovereignty

Answer 17

the authority of government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representative

Question 18

Articles of Confederation

Answer 18

The United State’s first constitution. The government formed by the Articles of Confederation lasted from 1781 (two years before the end of the Revolutionary War) to 1789. The government under the Articles proved inadequate because it did not have the power to collect taxes from the states, nor could it regulate foreign trade to generate revenue from import and export tariffs

Question 19

Federalism

Answer 19

State and Central government share governing responsibilities

Question 20

Northwest Ordinance

Answer 20

Creating methods by which states could enter the union

Question 21

What the Articles of Confederation achieved

Answer 21

Sets the precedent of federalism
Negotiated the treaty that ended the Revolutionary War (on favorable terms for the United States victorious army)
Established the North West Ordinance

Question 22

Shay’s rebellion

Answer 22

A six month rebellion in which more than 1,000 armed farmers attacked a federal arsenal to protest the foreclosure of farms in the western part of the state, was a major concern at the constitutional convention

Question 23

Constitution

Answer 23

The result of the complete rewrite of the Articles of Confederation

Question 24

Constitutional convention

Answer 24

An as-of-yet untried method by which the constitution may be amended. To call a constitutional convention, two-thirds of all state legislatures must petition the federal government

Question 25

Unicameral

Answer 25

One house

Question 26

Bicameral

Answer 26

two houses

Question 27

Virginia Plan

Answer 27

each state represented proportionately to its population

Question 28

New Jersey Plan

Answer 28

each state would be represented equally

Question 29

The Great Compromise

Answer 29

Created the solution: bicameral (two-house) legislature with a House of Representatives, based on population, and a Senate, with equal representation for all states.

Question 30

Three-fifth compromise

Answer 30

Agreement reached at the constitutional convention between southern and northern states. The south wanted enslaved people counted among the population for voting purposes but not for tax purposes;
the North wanted the exact opposite. Both sides agreed that three-fifths of a state’s enslaved-person population would be counted toward both Congressional apportionment and taxation

Question 31

Federalist

Answer 31

Supporters of the constitution

Question 32

Anti Federalist

Answer 32

opponents of the constitution

Question 33

The Federalist Papers

Answer 33

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay wrote a series of newspaper articles surrounding the Constitution. Designed to persuade the states of the wisdom of a strong central government coupled with autonomous political power restrained by the states.

Question 34

Bill of Rights

Answer 34

First 10 Amendment’s in the U.S constitution. The Bill of Rights guarantees personal liberties and limits the powers of the government

Question 35

Electoral College

Answer 35

Constitutionally established body created for the sole purpose of choosing the president and vice president. If a majority cannot be reached, the election result is determined by the House of Representatives.

Question 36

Necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)

Answer 36

Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution. The section of the constitution that allows Congress to pass
Necessary and proper laws” to the performance of its duties. It is called the elastic clause because it allows Congress to stretch its powers beyond those that are specifically granted to it (enumerated) by the Constitution.

Question 37

Executive Orders

Answer 37

Have the same effect as law and bypass Congress in policy making.

Question 38

Executive Agreements

Answer 38

Presidential agreements made with foreign natures. Executive agreements have the same legal forces as treaties but do not require the approval of the Senate.

Question 39

Judicial Review

Answer 39

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.

Question 40

Delegated (enumerated) powers

Answer 40

Constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government

Question 41

Reserved Powers

Answer 41

Constitutional powers that belong solely to the states. According to the Tenth Amendment, these powers include any that the Constitution does not either specifically grant the national government or deny the state governments.

Question 42

Concurrent Powers

Answer 42

Constitutional powers shared by federal and state governments

Question 43

Categorical Grants

Answer 43

Federal aid is given to states with strings attached. To receive the money; the states must agree to adhere to federally mandated guidelines for spending it.

Question 44

Block Grants

Answer 44

Federal money is given to states with only general guidelines for its use. The states have the authority to decide how the money will be spent.

Question 45

Separation of powers

Answer 45

The system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful by dividing important tasks among the three branches. Also called the system of checks and balances.

Question 46

Checks and balances

Answer 46

The system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful by requiring the approval of more than one branch for all important acts.

Question 47

Amendments

Answer 47

Addition to the Constitution. Amendments require approval by two-thirds majority of both houses of Congress and three-quarters of the states. The first 10 amendments make up the Bill of Rights

Question 48

Ratify

Answer 48

Approve

Question 49

Ratifying convention

Answer 49

one of the two methods established by Article V of the United States Constitution for ratifying proposed constitutional amendments.

Question 50

Overriding

Answer 50

The Constitutional power of Congress to supersede a president’s veto by a two-thirds majority in both houses. Such a vote is difficult to achieve, however, so overrides are fairly rare

Question 51

Nomination of federal judges, cabinet officials, and ambassadors

Answer 51

The president chooses nominees for these positions. However, the president’s nominees must be approved by the Senate.

Question 52

Negotiation of treaties

Answer 52

The president is empowered to negotiate treaties. No treaty can go into effect, however, until it is approved by two-thirds Senate

Question 53

Veto

Answer 53

The power held by chief executives (such as the president or governors) to reject acts of the legislature. A presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress.

Question 54

Ways to change the constitution

Answer 54

Proposed amendment wins ⅔ majority in the House and the Senate
Constitutional convention is called by ⅔ of state legislatures. Any amendment can now be proposed at the convention

Question 55

Ways to Ratify the Constitution

Answer 55

¾ of all state legislatures approve of the amendment.
¾ of special state-ratifying conventions approve of the amendment

Question 56

Governor

Answer 56

Lead the executive branch of the state. Duties to the state are similar to the president’s duties to the nation.

Question 57

Pardons

Answer 57

Cancellation of criminal punishment. Presidents and governors have the power to grant pardons to those awaiting trial and to those convicted of crimes. Unlike criminal granted clemency, pardoned criminals do not have criminal records.

Question 58

Reprieves

Answer 58

cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, especially someone condemned to death).

Question 59

Gubernatorial veto

Answer 59

the power of the head of a government to prevent a bill passed by a legislature from becoming law.

Question 60

Line-item veto-

Answer 60

Power held by some chief executives (such as governors) to reject some portions of a bill without rejecting the whole bill.