Online gov Flashcards
(127 cards)
1
Q
Government
A
group of ppl entrust with making/enforcing laws/policies agreed upon by population
PROTECT PPL’S POSSESSIONS
2
Q
how gov started
A
early ppl lived simply and share food/stuff. as group grew larger, life is difficult n gov grew in size/power.
3
Q
Gov has 3 kinds of power
A
legislative
executive
judicial
4
Q
legislative power
A
power to make laws-CONGRESS
5
Q
executive power
A
power to enforce laws-PRESIDENT
6
Q
judicial power
A
settle arguments n decide meaning of law=constitutional
SUPREME COURT
7
Q
constitution
A
where gov outlines their power
8
Q
dictatorship
A
country where one person/group has power/responsibilities to carry out gov law
authoritarian
9
Q
democracy
A
ppl hold the power
10
Q
politics
A
process of how society decides how gov is run/ how leaders chosen
11
Q
public policy
A
law n goals that gov follows
12
Q
state
A
territory that has a gov w/absolute power to decide policies
13
Q
4 characteristics of state.
states must have
A
population
territory
sovereignty: ability to make/enforce policies within it border
gov
14
Q
origin of state-theories
A
force
evolutionary
divine right
social contract
15
Q
force theory
A
state began when a small group takes over another area n force ppl to follow their rules
16
Q
evolutionary theory
A
began as a family (already w/ gov n territory) that grew as related family joins/cooperate
17
Q
divine right theory
A
god created state n gave royals “divine right” to rule
18
Q
Social Contract theory
A
USA ppl come together w/ common need for security=stateppl gave power to gov
19
Q
Preamble of constitution
A
outline role/purpose of gov
20
Q
- form a more perfect union
A
diff states joining 2 protect their independence
21
Q
- establish justice
A
create laws: reasonable/fair
22
Q
- insure domestic tranquility
A
gov provides peace/order
23
Q
- provide for common defense
A
gov must protect w/ army
24
Q
- promote the general wellfare
A
gov must provide for the need of the ppl: school/road
25
secure the blessing of liberty
gov offers freedom to all
26
ways gov are classified
number of ppl participating in running gov
the way the state divides gov's power geographically
relationship btw legislative/executive
27
ber of ppl participating in running gov
democratic or dictatorship
28
representative democracy
indirect democracy
gov by popular consent
most common
| small group of ppl is chosen to represent the ppl
29
direct democracy
| pure democracy
ppl themselves create laws/policies
| only in local towns/communities
30
totalitarian
private/public life of citizens r controlled/monitored
31
autocracy
single person holds power
32
oligarchy
small group of ppl holds power
| most commonly: ppl compete for power
33
power distribution geographically
federal gov
confederate
unitary
34
federal government
national gov n states r equal USA
35
confederate government
most power belongs to local/regional gov
central can't make laws, just deal w/ trade,foreign
36
unitary government
most power resides in central gov
37
relationship btw legislative/executive branches
presidential
| parliamentary
38
presidential gov USA
executive/legislative branches r separate but equal. check n balances
39
parliamentary gov UK N OTHER DEMOC
executive: prime minister n their cabinet
| executive are part of parliament: fewer conflict btw
40
Foundation of democracy
every person has worth/dignity, freedom and is equal.
Majority rule (insist on minority rights)
Compromise
can't take away freedom of another
BALANCE BTW FREEDOM/LAW
41
citizenship
hold certain rights, duties, responsibilities
42
citizens duties
required, for benefit of the citizen
| pay taxes, going to school, obey laws
43
citizen responsibilities
encourage
| voting/helping in the community
44
Free enterprise system- capitalism
```
reinforces belief in individual freedom
business competition: driving force
workers compete for jobs
consumer benefit from low prices, buy/sell good/services
gov: pass laws/regulation
```
45
law of supply/demand
increase supply: decrease price
46
constitutional convention
held in philadelphia state house
secretive
delegates agreed not to discuss convention business with outsiders
did not want public to be allowed to judge their ideas until they were finished
Gw= leader
ministers to europe were not there
Tjefferson=france
John Adam=britain
lots of compromise
47
Framers of the constitution
delegates to constitutional convention
important, fought in revolution
young men
diverse background
48
father of constitution
james madison
contribute more than others, record most of the events
want to remove articles of confederation
help create bill of rights. National gov should serve citizen not states. 4th president
49
george washington
commander of the continental army
most admired American bc military leadership
unanimous vote for him
50
alexander hamilton
lawyer, signer of constitution
51
robert morris
major financier of the revolution
52
Ben Franklin
```
writer
inventor
diplomat
legislator
printer
```
53
George Mason
author of virginia declaration of rights
54
Virginia plan
strong central gov w/ 3 Branches
bicameral legislature/congress
representatives were linked to wealth/population
HOUSE: members elected from each state
SENATE: chosen by House
Congress would choose National Executive and Judiciary
states have representative gov
55
New Jersey Plan
suggested by smaller states
no branches
unicameral congress w/ states represented equally
congress could impose taxes n regulate trade
executive: more than one person
56
Great Compromise
| Connecticut
2 legislature
one part: chosen according to population
other part: have 2 representative from each state
57
3/5 compromise
whether slaves should b counted for tax collection
5 slaves=3 freeman
were counted to figure out how much states owed the fed gov in taxes
allow for south to count their slaves
58
Interstate trade compromise
trade btw states controlled by congress
| states control trade within their own territory
59
trade btw countries regulation compromise
North: congress control it
South: No bc export large amt of rice/tobacco. were afraid of loosing the trade if congress taxed goods
Congress could tax imports but not exports
60
Slave compromise
south worried congress would stop slave trade. so congress couldn't end slave trade for 20 yrs
61
after Compromises
Not all delegates were willing to sign so the final paragraph were worded carefully to give the impression of unanimity
62
For ratification of Constitution
Federalist favored it bc strong national gov. Strong central authority was necessary to defend the nation and unity
check and balances
independent judicial branch
63
Federalist ppl
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
John Kay
64
Federalist
wrote essay under name Pubius called Federalist Papers that explained new gov n persuade ppl to join it
65
Rule of the Law
gov leaders must act according to the law. no one is above it. Military is under civilian control
66
Enumerated powers
18 powers of congress written into Constitution
67
Anti Constitution
Anti-Federalist
stronger state gov
Constitution would take away individual n state rights
National gov would be too powerful
68
Anti Federalist ppl
Patrick Henry
| John Hancock
69
Agreement btw Federalist and AntiFederalist
Federalist agreed to add amendments to the Constitution to protect ppl's basic rights: Bill of Rights
70
States Ratifications
delaware= first
Virginia/ NY= strugle
9 states were needed
71
Starting new gov
NYC temp capital- GW took oath there
| then moved to Philadelphia then to Washington DC
72
First Congress gathering
states elected senator and representative to serve in the new Congress.
Bc it lacked quorum (majority) and couldn't finish counting the votes for president until a month lator
73
Purpose of Constitution
how new gov should b set up and run
outlines basic principles of gov and how leaders are elected.
Gov must follow certain rules and limits written by Framers
74
popular sovereignty
voters express their will to the gov
75
Structure of Constitution
Begins Preamble/intro
7 sections/articles
The 27 amendment
76
Constitution articles
First 3: outline the 3 branches l,e,j
4th: relationship btw national gov n state (and among states)
5th: explains how amend were added
6th: it is the law of the land, national debt, oaths of office
7th: ratification
77
6 principles necessary for democratic gov
```
pop sovereignty
limit gov
separation of power
checks and balances
judicial review
federalism
```
78
popular soverignty
```
ppl holds all political power
ppl choose leaders who will do what they want
express the will of the ppl
gov get its power from the ppl
state leaders- elected
```
79
2nd amendment
gun control
a well-regulated militia necessary to security
right of ppl to keep/bear arm
80
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
requires 5 day waiting period to buy handgun n require background checks
81
legislative power
```
make laws
approve appointments president makes
impeach fed justice n president
approve treaties
create low courts
overrides veto w/ 2/3 majority
approve $ country spends
```
82
Executive power
veto bills
appoint officials- ambassador/judges
cals special sessions of Congress
83
Judicial power
tell what laws mean and whether it agrees to constitution. if not Congress has to change or make new
declare other branch's action constitutional
84
Judicial review
court's power to decide whether or not an action of gov is constitutional
this is not identified in constitution
Marbury v Maison
85
Federalism
a gov system where power is divided btw fed and stte gov
both would have their own agencies/official and pass laws
limit powers of fed gov
86
principle
a basic truth, law or ideal behavior
87
Amendments
change to the constitution. Article 5 tells how changes can b made in constitution
1st: propose
2nd: ratify
when congress proposes, it chooses how to ratify
88
Amendments proposed by Congress
2/3 vote in both senate and house
Then sent to state legislature. 3/4 must ratify (38 states)
26 amendments done this way
Sent to state conventions. Ratifies by 3/4 of them. 21st amendment: repealing
89
amendments proposed at national convention
proposed at national convention called by congress when requested by 2/3 of state legislature
Ratified by 3/4 state legislature (never done b4)
Ratified by conventions in 3/4 of the states (ex. Constitution)
90
ratifying convention
delegates are chosen baed on their stand on the amendment
popular sovereignty
91
state legislation
elected for many reason
92
ratification of amendment
amendment (proposed by Congress) can't be approved until ratified by state legislature
state legislature can ask for ppl to advise the legislature before decision
93
state ratification of amendment
If reject: can late change its decision n ratify
If approves: cannot change decision
Congress can set time limit on ratification period (7 yrs)
94
1
freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly
95
2
right to bear arms
96
3
protection from having to house soldier w/o consent
97
4
protection against searches/seizures w/p probable cause
98
5
protection from testifying against oneself, being tried for the same crime twice,
prosecution w/o accusation,
loss w/o due process of law or compensation
99
6
```
rights to a speedy trial by fair jury
inform of charges
cross examine witness
present witness
attorney
```
100
7
right to trial by jury
101
8
protection from excessive bail/fine and cruel punishment
102
9
other unwritten rights for ppl not stated in constitution
103
10
powers not belonging to fed is given to state
104
11
states can't be sued by citizen in other states
105
12
chang in electoral college
106
13
outlawed slavery
107
14
defined citizenship (esp AA
108
15
aa men rights to vote
109
16
congress given power to tax income
110
17
US senators elected by the ppl
111
18
prohibition of alcohol (noble experiment)
112
19
women vote
113
20
change dates president and congressional terms
114
21
ends alcohol prohibition
| repeal 18
115
22
limit a president for 2 terms
| after FDR 4 terms
116
23
allow ppl in washington DC to vote
117
24
end poll taxes
118
25
who replaces president if office becomes vacant
119
26
18 yrs to vote
| result of vietnam war
120
27
congress pay raises not effective until next congress election
forbid members of congress from raising their own pay during same term
took 200 yrs to b ratified
121
ERA
equal rights amendment for women
| almost passed, 3 states short
122
informal amendments sources
```
Basic legislation
executive action
court decision
party
custom
```
expansion of powers written in constitution
123
Basic legislation
| informal amendments
congress pass laws that help explain meaning of parts of constitution
passed Judiciary Act: can create fed courts (not supreme court)
set up other agencies, department, offices in executive branch
Constitution lets Congress regulate commerce so Congress passed thousands of laws about it
124
Executive action
| informal amendments
Thomas Jefferson- Louisiana Purchse
Executive agreement: agreement btw president n leaders of a foreign country don't have to b approved by congress
Method to deliever state of the union address (president is required by constitution og periodically address Congress). now: televised annually. written is also common
125
Judicial Actions
| informal amendments
Judicial review: not specifically mentioned in Constition
126
Parties
| informal amendments
constitution don't mention political parties, GW feared it would divide. It doesn't say how candidates for president should b nominated so parties decide which decrease electoral college's importance
127
Custom
| informal amendments
followed but not written into constitution
head of executive department= cabinet/advisors
VP replace after he/she died-25 amendment
no third term - 22 amendment
