Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

all > Government exam > Flashcards

Government exam Flashcards

(74 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the state of nature?

A

Theoretical time before society and government; Anarchy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the Rule of Law?

A

Everyone is under the law; no one is above the law

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

The functions of Government

A

Keep order, Establish Justice, Provide for the common defense, Provide for the common welfare

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Absolutism

A

Rule by one person who holds all the power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Dictatorship

A

One strong ruler, typically ignores laws and constitutions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Monarchy

A

One ruler inherits power, power is passed on based on bloodlines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

oligarchy

A

Government led by a small group of people (nondescript)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Theocracy

A

Government led by a small group of religious leaders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Democracy

A

People have the power (Demos) have (Kratos)
main critique; tyranny of the majority

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Republic

A

Responsibility of the Public
(Res) (Publica)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Representative

A

People have an elected official to stand in the government for them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Constitutional

A

Government defined by a written document

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Unitary

A

Form of government where the national government controls all aspects of public issues with in the country

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Federal

A

Form of government where power is divided between levels
National - (Federal supremacy)
State - (Local)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Con-federal

A

Form of government where power is divided between levels, but states hold most of the power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Social Contract Theory

A

Thomas Hobbes
Agreements between people that form a basis for laws

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Natural Rights Theory

A

John Locke
People have inherent rights that are obvious in nature, or “God-given”

“Life, Liberty, and Property”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Separation of powers

A

Baron de Montesquieu
Government power is shared among the branches of government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Magna Carta

A

“Great Charter”
Took some power away from the king and gave the barons the right to Legislative Power (Power of the Purse)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

English Bill of Rights

A

1689
Reformed the British Monarchy into a constitutional Monarchy (established Parliament). Provided rights for English Citizens.
(Constitution and Bill of Rights for England)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Mayflower Compact

A

1620
First example of self-government in the “New World”
Strangers and Pilgrims agreed to behave under this document

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Common Sense

A

Thomas Paine
It is common sense that the colonists should separate from England
It changed colonists (loyalists) minds to support separation (patriots) from England
Convinced the Second Continental Congress to declare independence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Declaration of independence

A

Thomas Jefferson

Influenced by John Locke

Declared the colonies separate from England

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

United States’ first Constitution
- weak, not strong enough
- couldn’t collect taxes
- couldn’t put down rebellions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Shay's Rebellion
Showed that the Articles Government was not strong enough to deal with rebellions
25
Constitutional Convention
Originally met to fix the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
26
Virginia Plan
Delegates from Virginia developed a plan for government, with two sides of Congress based on population (Large State Plan)
27
New Jersey plan
Delegates from New Jersey countered the Virginia Plan with a plan that only had one chamber of Congress with one vote per state (Small State Plan)
28
Great comprise
Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plan (aka Connecticut Compromise) Established Congress as it is formed now in the Constitution
29
3/5ths Comprise
Counted Slaves as 3/5ths of a person for representation and taxation purposes (For every 5 slaves, the state received 3 more “population”)
30
Federalist
People who favored a Strong National Government (National Bank) And therefore a new (Federal) Constitution
31
Anti-federalist
People who preferred State Governments to be stronger than the National Government Required that a Bill of Rights be added before they would approve
32
Bill of rights
First Ten Amendments Added to get the Anti-Federalists to accept the (New) (Federal) Constitution Protects individual rights and liberties Restrains the Federal Government
33
Preamble
Keep Order Establish Justice Provide for the Common Defense Provide for the General Welfare
34
Articles of the Constitution
I - Legislative (Congress) II - Executive (President) III - Judicial (Supreme Court) IV - States V - Amendments VI - Federal Supremacy VII - Ratification
35
Amendments to the Constitution
12 - Changed to two Electoral Ballots (First for President, Second for VP) 20 - Changes the Start and End of Congress and the President taking office 22 - Limits Presidents to Two Terms 25 - Presidential Succession (Who takes Office when various things happen)
36
Bicameral
There are two sides to Congress: The House of Representatives The Senate
37
Representatives
- 435 Age - 25 Residency - State they Represent Citizenship - 7 Years
38
Senators
- 100 (2 per state) Age - 30 Residency - State they Represent Citizenship - 9 Years
39
Speaker of the house
Leader of the House of Representatives
40
President of the Senate
Leader of the Senate (Vice President)
41
President pro Tempore
Fills in for the President of the Senate (because the VP is busy) Presides over the Senate (in the absence of the President of the Senate)
42
Delegated powers
Powers given to the Federal Government (As referred to in the 10th Amendment)
43
Reserved powers
Powers saved (retained) by the States (as referred to in the 10th Amendment)
44
expressed powers
Powers directly written in the Constitution for the Federal Government to accomplish
45
Implied powers
Powers that are not written in the Constitution, but the Government can do because they uphold or accomplish something that was required of the Government to do.
46
Legislative Process
Congress makes laws. What typically happens after? The President typically signs the Bill into law Appropriation Bills Laws that give funding to programs Authorization Bills Laws that allow programs to exist
47
Presentment
Sign - Bill Becomes Law Veto - Bill is returned to Congress Pass without signature - Bill sits on the President’s desk for 10 days Pocket Veto - Bill sits on the President’s desk for 10 days, but the President is unable to return it (because Congress is at Recess)
48
Presidential Requirments
Age - 35 Residency - In the US for the past 14 years Citizenship - Birthright (Natural Born)
49
Roles of the President
Chief Executive - Leads Executive Departments / Cabinet / Federal Bureaucracy Chief Diplomat - May develop treaties, May appoint Ambassadors, Can host foreign Ambassadors Head of State - Leads the Country and Government Commander in Chief - Leads the Military
50
Sate of the Union
The Constitution requires that the President submit a written report to Congress once a year. Presidents have turned it into a speech given to Congress each year, and has been televised since 1965
51
Cabinet
15 Leaders (Secretaries) of the Executive Departments (Federal Bureaucracy) who advise the President Developed by the Washington Administration
52
Federal Courts System
Developed by the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 Established the lower courts: Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal Federal District Courts
53
Judicial Review
Established by Marbury v. Madison Allows the Supreme Court to review the Constitutionality of Executive Actions and Legislative Acts (Laws)
54
Supreme Court Opinions
Majority Concurring Minority Dissenting
55
Strict Interpretation
Understandings of the Constitution or Laws that hold strictly to the original meaning or the text of the document
56
New Deal / APA
New Deal - Programs by FDR to address the Great Depression (Triggering Event) Administrative Procedure Act - Defines how to make Regulations, and changed the oversight of independent agencies
57
Bully Pulpit
Teddy Roosevelt said the Presidency was a "good place to lead from" He steered the country by being an active president, proposing lots of ideas for bills to Congress and talking to the public
58
Foreign Policy
Policy that deals with other nations through diplomacy, including trade agreements and military alliances
59
Diplomacy
Discussing and making treaties with other nations to resolve issues in our nation, another nation or the world
60
Goals of Foreign Policy
National security, Promote peace, Promote Democracy and human rights, Promote trade, Solve International Problems
61
Protectionism
Trade policy that uses Subsidies and Trade Barriers to benefit National Producers (buy American)
62
Trade Barriers
Traiff- Raises the Price of imports to make them more expensive(like tax) Quota- only allows a certain value or number of a product to be imported Embargo- total ban on trade of a certain product, or with a certain nation
63
USMCA
United States Mexico Canada Agreement- Trade agreement that replace NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) with stricter requirements for trade between the nations to continue
64
Non Governmental Organizations
(NGOs)- Organizations that are not part of the government that may accomplish goals that most people would assume is done by the government
65
United Nations
International organization 6 principal organs General Council- 194 member nations Security council- Promotes peace with the peace keeping force. led by the big 5 nations, with 10 rotation members
66
NATO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Organization that is an alliance between the US and European Nations -was formed to protect Europe from Russia and their allies during the cold war
67
Interventionism
Foreign Policy getting involved in military and trade for the benefit of your nation, swaying events for your benefit (Diplomatic Realism/Nationalism)
68
Isolationism
Foreign Policy that avoids military and trade alliances
69
Loose Interpretation
Understandings of the Constitution or Laws that are a broader concept of the document; Can be “living and breathing”, “flexible” or “a
70
Internationalism
Foreign Policy getting involved in military and trade for the benefit of other nations (Diplomatic Liberalism/Globalism)
71
Domestic Policy
Policy that affects the inside of the nation
72
Appropriations
Laws the give funding to programs
73
Authorizations
Laws that allow programs to exist

all (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions