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34 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Magna Carta
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Displayed as one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy. It was a document that King John was forced to sign on June 15,1215 due to the fact it helped reduce his power as king.
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Social Contract Theory
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Was a government where no government existed and each man could only secure their own power. By the contract being produced however, it forms a sense of government. The social contract gives rights and responsibility to both the citizens and government.
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John Locke
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One of the most influential thinkers in America. His political theory influenced the American Constitution. He was born in England on 1632. He was a Puritan all his life. He had a strong opinion that the people had the right to participate in governing the state and that’s where the Social Contract came into play. He died in 1708.
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Government
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A form of political body that has the power to make and enforce laws within the organization of the group. A primary duty of the government is to reward people who do good things and to punish the wrongdoers. There are many forms of government, the four major groups is Theocracy, Democracy, Republic and Autocracy.
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Direct Democracy
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A direct democracy is a certain type of democracy where the people as a whole make the decisions, rather than have those decisions made for them by electing representatives. There is a big conspiracy that a direct democracy was first created by the Athens
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Representative Government/Indirect Democracy
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A representative government is a type of government that gives the citizens opportunities to delegate authority to elected representatives. This allows the government to be conducted by “fewer “people so that things can get done. An Indirect democracy is a type of government that elects representatives to rule in their interest.
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Limited Government
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Another type of government that functions and powers are limited and restricted by the law. This was created so that it could preserve liberty and protect private property. For example, the Constitution and Bill Of Rights were designed to limit the government roles.
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Rule of Law
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Shows that individuals and people and government should obey and regulate the law. Also includes principles that no one is above the law and that no one can be punished by the state except for the breach of law. Also, a system that attempts to protect the rights of citizens from the abuse of government power.
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Popular Sovereignty
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Shows it’s a doctrine political theory that government is created by and subject to the will of the people. It is also a belief that the legitimacy of the state is created by the will or consent of its people, who are the source of all political power. It some way it compares to the Social Contract.
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Declaration of Independence
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One of the most important written and signed documents of all time. It granted the colonists freedom and Independence from the Britain Crown. The document was signed on July 4, 1776 by the representatives from the original thirteen colonies.
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Confederation/Confederacy
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A confederation is an organization that is united in an alliance or league. A confederation tends to limit the central government and is established to deal with critical issues such as defense and foreign affairs.
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Federal
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A federal is a system of government whose power of government is split between a central government and local governments. An authority of both of the two forms the division of powers and the division can never be changed by either the national or local. An example of a federal government is in Australia, Canada, and Mexico. In the U.S. the term “Federal Government “is often known as the “The National Government “.
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The Great Compromise/ Connecticut Compromise
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The Connecticut Compromise also known as The Great Compromise was a major agreement made by the large and small states during the Constitutional Convention for the legislative structure and representation that each state would have. The resolution was created a bicameral legislature by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth. The compromise was passed July 16, 1787.
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Constitution
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Adopted September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia by the Constitutional Convention. The basis of the supreme law of the United States. Creates the three branches of government; Legislative, Executive and Judicial. It also specifies the functions and duties of the branches. Contains the preamble and the seven articles.
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Preamble
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The Preamble was the introduction segment of the U.S constitution fundamental purposes and guiding principles. “ We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense , promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. “
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1st Amendment
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The 1st amendment states that congress may not violate freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceable assembly and petition. Thomas Jefferson was the one that persuaded Madison to propose the Bill of Rights and make the 1st amendment the first priority.
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17th Amendment
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The 17th amendment allows voters to cast direct votes for U.S. senators. It was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912 and was ratified on April of 1913. Before this was passed, Senators were elected by state legislatures.
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Expressed Powers
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– Expressed Powers is one of the basic three delegated powers, which are powers given to the National government. The term “expressed” is specifically written in the Constitution.
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Necessary and Proper Clause
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Also known as the Basket Clause section of the U.S Constitution that enables Congress to makes laws that are necessary and proper that are required for the exercise of its other powers established by Congress.
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Full Faith and Credit Clause
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A clause that states that each state must honor the laws, records and the court decision of other states. This applies to ONLY civic matters, not criminal matters. When talking about the criminal matter though, that is when the extradition comes in. Which is the criminal version of the Full Faith in Credit Clause and the accused must be returned to the state of the offense.
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Supremacy Clause
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A clause that is included in the Constitution. The supremacy clause is also called the “linchpin of the Constitution” because it joins the National government and the States into a single governmental unit. Overall, the “supremacy clause “holds complex structure.
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Bicameral
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A bicameral is a two housed legislature which was elected by property owners that are qualified to vote. The laws passed by the legislature had to be approved by the governor.
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Due Process
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The constitution contains two Due Process clauses. The 5th amendment (Federal Gov’t cannot deprive anyone of “life, liberty and Pursuit of Happiness, without due process of law and the 14th amendment (which displays restrictions on certain states). The concept of Due Process was developed in England and then as an American Law. An example was Rochin vs. California in 1952.
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Citizenship
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A person can become an American citizen by either at birth on American soil or going through a process called naturalization. Citizenship by birth is determined by Jus Soli (law of the soil) or Jus Sanguins (law of the blood). You can lose citizenship by Expiration and denaturalization.
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Judicial Review
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The power of the Judicial Review is the power of courts to determine whether what government does is in accord of what the Constitution provides. Power to declare unconstitutional (to declare illegal of no force and effect). The power of the Judicial Review is held by all federal courts and by most State courts as well.
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Constituent
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The constituent power refers to constitutional making and the constitutional amendment process. A constituent state or constituent nation is a fundamental part of a union which has come together with others to form the union, e.g. US States, or UK constituent countries.
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Suffrage/Franchise
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A suffrage, political franchise, is the right to vote in elections. The term “Suffrage” is also used for the practical question of whether or not a person has the opportunity to vote. There are many types of suffrages, Women: Universal: Equal: Sensus.
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Voting Qualifications
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The 26th amendment changed the voting age from 21 to 18, which increased the voter turnout by a lot as time went on. Also, only people in the U.S., a green card or born overseas in on America soil can vote.
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Democrat
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A form of government that believes in the political and social equality of all people. Most democrats are a Union member, African-American, Women, Lower Incomes, Live in Rural Areas ( Big Cities in N/E ), Catholic, has gun law restrictions and believe government should help and provide for the homeless, poor, social ills and problems.
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Republican
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A form of government that doesn’t believe in political and social equality of all people. Most republicans are white males, higher income/education; live in suburbs, conservative, they also believe in a limited government, pro life, pro gun rights, “Traditional Family Values” and individuals should take care of social ills.
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Minor/Third Party
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A minor party and a third party is a party that isn’t necessarily major. There are four minor parties, Ideological Party (based on set of beliefs, long lived parties, example – Socialist/Communist. Next, Single Issue Parties, those focus on ONLY ONE policy matter (Free Soil, Right to Protest). Third, Economic Protest Parties, which are rooted in periods of econ discontent and usually disappears when the situation improves. Last, Splinter Parties, which splinter off the major parties.
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Primary
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An election that is a widely used method. Put in effect when registered voters decide a candidate they want on a ballot in a general election. Also, contains open/closed and is more democratic that a caucus.
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Caucus
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An election that is a old fashioned method. Put in effect when a small group gathers to select a presidential candidate. However, many people felt that it was corrupt.
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Types of Elections
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Three types elections; General Election (occurs every four years and is the most voted. Mid-Term Election, half way though between a president term for the even # of years. Also, the Off-Year Election, odd # years; usually local/county officials and ballot prospects, LEAST voted.
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