American Government

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Politics

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the management of conflict over who shall rule and what oplicies shall be made.

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According to Locke, what is the source of the government’s authority?

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The consent of the governed.

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The limit of private property set by the law of nature is:

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no one may take more than he or she can eat before it spoils.

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In Locke's account of government, if the king or other government should generally cease to act for the common good

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the people, as a whole, may invoke the 'right of revolution.'

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In class it was argued that, just as an internal combustion engine uses dangerous fuel, gasoline, to accomplish a desired goal, Locke and Madison's view of human nature and politics uses ______________ to achieve a common good.

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passions like greed and ambition

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Montesquieu believed that the most essential requirement for popular participation in ruling was:

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an active, educated, dedicated citizenry who put the country first.

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In the common view, before 1787, a confederal form of government seemed to combine the advantages of:

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small republics for internal rule and a large nation for defense.

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What was the general failure of the Articles of Confederation?

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The weak central government could not effectively coordinate the states.

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One rule that made the debate at the Constitutional Convention more like a good philosophical discussion was that:

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only one person could speak at once and no other distracting behavior was permitted.

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The central issue in the framing of the Constitution, which dominated the first five weeks of the debate, was:

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how strong to make the central government.

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James Madison believed that the causes of faction were rooted in:

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the nature of man.

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Government

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The institution that with a monopoly ion the lawful use of power can make decisions binding the while society.

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Democracy

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Political sys. where the people rule.

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direct democracy

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political system in which most citizens make policy as in a town meeting

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representative democracy

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political sys in which policy is made by officials elected by the people.

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republic

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a form of democracy in which power is vested in representatives selected by means of popular competitive elections.

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legitimate

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political authority supported by public opinion.

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parliamentary sys

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a government that vests power in an elected legislature that chooses the chief executive.

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presidential sys

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a government that vests power in a separately elected president and legislature.

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articles of confederation

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a constitution drafted by the newly independent states in 1777 and ratified in 1781(created a weak national gov)

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sovereignty

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a governmental unit that has supreme authority and is accountable to no higher institution.

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unicameral legislature

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a lawmaking body with only one chamber, as in mebraska.

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Shays's rebellion

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a rebellion in 1787 led by daniel shays and other ex revolutionart war solders and officers to revent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes.

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republic

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a form of democract in which power is vested in representatives selected by means of popular compeitive elections.

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judicial review

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the power of the courts to declare acts of the legislature and of the txecutive to be uncomstitutional and hence nnull and void.

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separation of powers

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a prinviple of american gov whereby constitutional authority is shared by three separate branches of gov. the legislatative the executive and the judicial

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Federalism

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a political sys in which ultimate authority is shared between a central gov and state or regional gov.

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Checks and balances

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the power of the legislative executive and judicial branches of gov to block some acts by the other two branches

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faction

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according to james madison a group of people who seek to influence public policy in way contrary to the public good

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federalists

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supporters of a stronger central gov who advocated raticication of the constitution. after ratification they founded a political party supporting a strong executive and alexander hamiltons economic polices.

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Antifederalists

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opponents of a strong central gov who cmpaigned against ratification of the constitution in favor of a confederation of largely independent states. Antifederalists sucessfully marshaled public support for a federal bill of rights. after ratification they formed a political party to support states rights.

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federalist papers

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a series of eighty five essays written by alexander hamilton james madison and john jay (publius) that were published in new york newspapers to convince to adopt the newly proposed constitution.

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coalition

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an alliance among different interest groups (factions) or parties to achieve some political goal. an example is th coaliton sometimes formed between republicans and conservative Democrats.

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1st Amendment

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feedom of religion, speech press assembly right to petition the gov.

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2nd Amendment

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Right to bear arms.

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3rd amendment

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troops may not be quartered in homes in peacetine.

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4 amendment

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no unreasonable searches or seizures.

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5th amendment

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No double jeopardy
no one can be forced to testify against oneself.
no loss of life liberty or property without due process.

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6th amendment

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right to peedy public inpartial trial with defense counsel and right to cross examine whitnesses.

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7th amendment

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jury trials in civil suits where value exveeds $20

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8th amendment

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no exvessive bail or fines no cruel and unulual punishment.

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9th amendment

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unlisted rights are not necessarily denied.

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10th amendment

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powerw not delegated to the united states or denied to states are reserved to the states.

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Civil liberties

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rights chiefly rights to be free of gov interference accorded to an individual by the constitution; free speech free press etc.

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civil rights

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the rights of citizens to vote. to receive equal treatment before the law and to share equally with other citizens the benifits of public facilities (schools)

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bill of rights

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the firt ten amendments to the us constitution countaining a list of individual rights and liberties such as freedon of speech religion and the press

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due-process clause

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protection against arbitrary deprivation of life liberty or property as guaranteed in the fifth and fourteenth amendments.

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equal protection clause

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the provision in the fourteenth amendment to the constitution guaranteeing that no state shall deny to any person the equal protection of the laws.

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incorporation

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a doctrine whereby the supreme court incorporates that is , includes many parts of the bill of rights into restrictions on state gov actions.

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prior restraint

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the traditional view of the press's free speech rights as expressed by william blackstone. the great english jurist. accourding to this vview. the press is guaranteed freedom from censorship.

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Libel

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injurious written statements about another person.

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symbolic speech

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an act that conveys a political sessage such as burning a draft card to protes the draft.

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free-exercise clause

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a clause in the first amendment to the constitution stating that congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exervise of religion.

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establishment clause

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a clause in the first amendment to the constitution stating that congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

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Wall of separation

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a supreme court interpretation of the setablishment clause in the first amendment that prevents gov involvment with religion even on a nonpreferential basis

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separation of powers

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a prinviple of american gov whereby constitutional authority is shared by three separate branches of gov. the legislatative the executive and the judicial

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Federalism

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a political sys in which ultimate authority is shared between a central gov and state or regional gov.

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Checks and balances

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the power of the legislative executive and judicial branches of gov to block some acts by the other two branches

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faction

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according to james madison a group of people who seek to influence public policy in way contrary to the public good

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federalists

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supporters of a stronger central gov who advocated raticication of the constitution. after ratification they founded a political party supporting a strong executive and alexander hamiltons economic polices.