Midterm 1 Flashcards
(117 cards)
0
Q
Legal status that accords full membership in a political community; also encompasses civic virtues
A
Citizenship
1
Q
The consent to government that ppl demonstrate in democracies by participating in the political system, especially by voting.
A
Active consent
2
Q
The control of selfish impulses for the sake of the law or the public good
A
Self Restraint
3
Q
An understanding of government processes, public issues, & social conditions
A
Civic Knowledge
4
Q
Achievement of goals through tthe efforts of individuals, families, & voluntary associations
A
Self Reliance
5
Q
Activity for the public good, ranging from voting to enlisting in the army
A
Civic participation & Service
6
Q
Consists of reasoning on the merits of public policy.
Searching for the public interest or common good
A
Deliberation
7
Q
Theory of politics based on the premise that citizens and public officials act rationally to serve their personal interests
A
Rational Choice Theory
8
Q
Any obligation that citizens owe to the broader political community
A
Civic duty
9
Q
Civic Virtues (4)
A
Self Restraint
Self Reliance
Civic Knowledge
Civic Participation & service
10
Q
Democracy whose institutions are designed to promote the rule of reasoned & informed majorities; usually through representative institutions
A
Deliberative democracy
11
Q
Why is American government known as a deliberative democracy?
A
Deliberation is common enough & consequential enough in our government
12
Q
The view that a large number of diverse groups control government and politics and promote policies to serve there particular interests
A
Group (Pluralist) Theory
13
Q
Alternative to Pluralist Theory
Controlled by a relative handful of elites in government, business, the professions, & the media.
Often think alike & work together to promote their mutual interests
A
Elite Theory
14
Q
Legislators trading support for one another’s proposals
Reducing lawmaking to bargaining among groups
A
Logrolling
15
Q
Citizens, legislators, & executive officials are all presumed to be ??????? who use govt & politics to ?????????????
A
Rational Actors
Maximize their utility
16
Q
Under the Rational Choice Theory, citizens vote for candidates who ????????
Why do individuals seek office under this theory?
A
Vote for candidates who they believe will directly benefit them
Seek office for the salary, perks, personal power; no desire to serve the public
17
Q
Democracy works best when people embrace ???????
And when informed citizens and public officials do what?
A
Duties of Citizenship
Deliberate to identify & promote the common good
18
Q
A form of government in which people rule themselves either directly or through elected representatives
A
Democracy
19
Q
“Rule by the People”
A
Democracy
20
Q
Alternative to Direct Democracy
Ppl choose leaders through free elections, elected officials held accountable for their conduct
A
Representative Democracy
21
Q
The people directly pass laws & make other key decisions
Originally found in Ancient Greece
A
Direct Democracy
22
Q
Why was Direct Democracy no longer an option after the constitution was written?
A
The nation was too large & transportation too primitive for the citizens to gather together to debate & vote
23
Q
Equivalent to Representaive Democracy
The people rule themselves through elected representatives
A
Republic
24
Father of the Constitution
| Federalist Papers
James Madison
25
Majority Faction
| Defined by James Madison in Federalist 10
Majorities in Greek democracies sometimes used their political power to oppress minorities & violate their rights.
26
Obligations that one owes to other citizens or the community as a whole, such as obeying the law
Duties of Citizenship
27
Allows the citizens to draft a proposed law or constitutional amendment & place it on the ballot if enough registered voters sign petitions requesting it
An initiative
28
A proposed law or constitutional amendment, usually written by legislators, that is sent to the people for a vote
Referendum
29
The first state to allow it's citizens to make laws directly (1898)
South Dakota
30
Political reform movement of the late 19th & early 20th centuries that attacked political corruption & the failure of government to address social ills
Progressive Movement
31
What did progressives do?
Sought out to empower citizens to combat "political machines" & unresponsive government
32
All political power derives from the people
Popular sovereignty
33
Approved by the 2nd continental congress on July 4th, 1776.
| Announced to the world that the 13 united colonies were casting off British rule & forming an independent nation
Declaration of Independence
34
Why did the colonies want independence from Britain? (7)
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King George violated their rights
Imposed taxes without consent
Undermined right to trial by jury
Forced them to house Brit troops
Restricted trade
Closed the port of Boston
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35
In August 1775, King George issued what?
What did he do when parliament passed?
A proclamation accusing the Americans of "open & avowed rebellion"
He signed a law prohibiting all commerce with the colonies which caused them to forfeit to the crown
36
Influential pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that urged the colonists to break away from British rule
Common Sense
37
What does it mean to call truths self evident?
| "We hold these truths to be self evident...."
Evident without proof or reasoning
38
What are "Inalienable Rights"
Rights that the government cannot take away & that people themselves cannot give away
39
What are the natural rights?
Life, liberty, & the pursuit of happiness
40
State of Nature?
Doctrine developed by Hobbes & Locke that stated there is no common authority to settle disputes & this no one to protect the weaker from the stronger
41
Consent of the governed?
No one has the right to govern another without that person's consent
42
Active consent
When people show there acceptance of government by participating in the political system by voting, running for office, etc
43
Tacit Consent
Consent that people may give to government even if they do not actively participate
44
Constitutional Monarchy?
Rule by king who is restrained by a constitution that defines his powers
45
The declaration indictment makes it clear that if a king is to wield power, he must be constrained by what 4 concepts?
1. Legislative branch that controls taxes
2. Independent judiciary
3. Civilian control of the military
4. Respect for the rights of citizens
46
Prudence (in Declaration of Independence)
Refers to the wisdom about practical affairs (practical wisdom)
47
Moral Relativism
The notion that moral standards are subjective; up to each individual to decide
48
Cultural Relativism
Moral standards are derivative from the values if a particular culture or society
49
13th Amendment (1865)
Abolished Slavery
50
Rights that are regulated by the state; accorded to citizens in a particular political community
Right to sue in court, defend ones property, drive an automobile, etc
Civil Rights
51
Rights to influence governmental decisions by voting for representatives & holding office
Political Rights
52
Examples of citizens who cannot express political rights?
Convicted felons & minors
53
Liberal Democracy
Democracy that works to secure the rights of their citizens & promote their freedoms
54
Cold War
Began after WW2 ended in 1945
World politics was dominated by the clash between liberal democracies (led by the US) & Communist Nations (led by Soviet Union)
55
Modern communism owes it's origins to the writings of who?
What did he write?
Karl Marx
Communist Manifesto
56
Communism
Form of government in which the state takes ownership of "the means of production" (industry & agriculture)
57
Which form of government outlawed political parties, suppressed religious worship, & prohibited public opposition to the regime?
Communism
58
Totalitarian System
Political system that places no limits on the power of government to regulate the private lives of citizens
59
Principle that rulers should govern through law & not arbitrarily.
Individual rights are the foundation of the law & not the creation of the law
Rule of Law
60
The function of government to foster a healthy economy & enhance the material well being of citizens, both poor & non poor
Social welfare
61
All the constitutions created distinct legislative, executive, & judicial branches
Separation of Powers
62
Bicameral Legislature
2 houses
Lower branch has annual elections
Upper branch elects every 2-5 yrs
63
The first National constitution for the United States
Created Comgress in which each state had 1 vote
Articles of Confederation
64
The period of economic, financial, & political distress between 1781-1789
Critical Period
65
The name given to congress established by the Articles of Confederation.
Replaced the Continental Congress
Confederation Congress
66
Loyalists
Americans who remained loyal to & supported the British government during the revolutionary war
67
Shay's Rebellion (Massachusetts 1786-1787)
Uprising of poor farmers. Closed courts to prevent the foreclosure of farms or imprisonment of farmers for debt
68
Paper Money Laws
Laws passed by several states that allowed citizens to borrow paper money from the government & use it as legal tender, especially to pay taxes & debt
69
A gathering of delegates from 5 states that met in Annapolis, MD in sept 1786 to address commercial problems
Annapolis Convention
70
The gathering of delegates from 12 states (all but Rhode Island) that met in Philly and wrote the Constitution
Constitutional Convention
71
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Virginia Plan
(Edmund Randolph)
```
Plan for a strong national government of 3 independent branches-- legislative, executive, & judiciary
72
Voting representation would be based on what under the Virginia Plan?
State Population
73
Small states at the Constitutional convention supported this plan as a counterproposal to the Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
74
New Jersey Plan? (William Paterson)
Preserved the basic structure of government under Articles of Con. (Equal state vote) but added new powers to
1. Regulate trade
2. Raise Revenue
3. Allow congress to crest executive & judicial branches
75
Great compromise is also known as what?
Connecticut Compromise
76
Compromise between the large & small states.
Representation in 1st branch
Equality of states in the 2nd branch
Required bills for raising revenues originate in the first branch
Great Compromise
77
What did the Great Compromise allow the senate to do?
Originate appropriation bills & bills setting federal salaries
Amend all bills (including revenue) passed by the house
78
5 member committee of the constitutional convention that met to prepare a draft constitution & distribute to all delegates
Committee of Detail
79
Presidential Government
President is independently elected & cannot be dismissed by legislature
80
The 5 member committee that met during the last week of the Constitutional Convention to give final form to the Constitution
Committee of Style
81
New Ratification method for the proposed Constitution of 1787
Approval by at least 9 states, rather than every state having to approve (because of Rhode Island)
82
Who wrote the Federalist Papers? (3)
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, & John Jay
83
Who were the Federalists?
Supported the ratification of the Constitution of 1787
84
Who were Anti-Federalists?
Opposed the ratification of the Constitution of 1787
85
Refers to dividing governmental power into 3 types.
- Making laws
- Executing laws
- Adjudicating controversies
Separation of Powers
86
Refers to the ability of each branch to partially control the power exercised by another, to resist encroachments on its own powers.
Checks & balances
87
First 10 Amendments of the Constitution?
Bill of Rights
88
Protects individuals from arbitrary arrest by authorizing a judge to free someone if there are not sufficient grounds to hold him
Writ of Habeas Corpus
89
An act by a legislature convicting someone of a crime & imposing a punishment without a trial before a court of law.
Bill of Attainder
90
A law that makes an action criminal or increases it's punishment after the fact
Ex Post Facto Law
91
Three-Fifths Clause (Article 1, Section 2)
Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when determining population for apportioning seats in the House of Reps
92
Limits the power of Congress to end or prohibit the foreign slave trade
Importation of Slaves Clause
93
Stipulated that slaves who escaped to another state must be returned to their masters.
Fugitive Slave Clause
94
The 17 express powers listed in article 1, section 8 specifically granted to congress including:
- imposing taxes
- coining money
- declaring war
Enumerated Powers
95
Gives congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, several states, & Indian tribes
(A1, S8)
Commerce Clause
96
Establishes the Constitution, federal statutes & treaties as the supreme law of the land
Supremacy Clause
97
Reserved powers? (10th Amendment)
Powers not delegated or prohibited by the Constitution.
The people may do anything the constitution does not forbid & the federal government can't say nothin
98
Powers of the government that one may reasonably infer from the enumerated powers
Implied Powers
99
McCulloch v. Maryland
| Necessary & Proper Clause
Supreme Court ruled that congress could charter a national bank & that Maryland couldn't tax it.
100
Gibbons v. Ogden (Commerce Clause)
A dispute over navigation on the Hudson River between NY & NJ
101
Arrangement where national government would focus on foreign affairs, national security, & interstate relations, leaving domestic policy issues to the states
Dual federalism
102
The idea that a state may refuse to acknowledge or enforce federal laws within its own boundaries
Nullification
103
Wickard v. Filiburn
Congress could make laws even on local, non commercial activities if they have an economic effect on interstate commerce
104
Categorical Grant Programs
Directed funds to very specific purposes such as education & health care
105
Nixon's plan in which power, funds, & responsibility will flow from the federal government to the States & the people.
New Federalism
106
Under this program, the federal government would send tax money directly back to the states & localities with minimal restrictions
General Revenue Sharing
107
More flexible than categorical grants.
Distribute funds within a broad policy area. Broad terms on how state & local governments should spend the money
Block grants
108
Requirements that states take certain action lest they face penalties
Mandates
109
Modern term for New Federalism
Devolution
110
Requires each state to recognize & honor the others' laws, records, & judicial proceedings
Full faith & credit Clause
111
Congress could apply minimum wage requirements to state & local govts. Overruled a previous decision holding that such regulation would violate 10th amendment. (Court Case)
Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority
112
Congress could not regulate fire-arms in school zones. (Court case)
United States v. Lopez
113
Congress could not require local law enforcement officials to make criminal background checks on people seeking to buy handguns. (Court case)
Printz v. United States
114
Congress lacked power under the commerce clause to enact federal civil remedies for victims of gender-based violence. (Court case)
United States v. Morrison
115
States & localities could use eminent domain to further private economic development. (Court case)
Kelo v. City of New London
116
Whether the federal government could force states to expand their Medicaid programs to comply with the national healthcare law. (Court case)
Florida v. U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
