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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Define Government |
A form of authority, in a given area/community, that enforces laws on its people. |
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Define Democracy |
The people vote for the government and provide it with the powers to rule. |
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Define State |
A people ruled under a government, with law, and territory. |
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Define Autocracy |
A government ruled by one person. (Dictatorship) |
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Define Unitary Government (give example) |
One government rules all the people/states/provinces/etc. for example, United Kingdom. |
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Define Federal Government |
A government which the powers are split between a central government and local governments. |
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Define Sovereign |
The authority to rule yourself. |
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What is an oligarchy? Do you think the US is one? |
An oligarchy is a form of dictatorship where the people are ruled by a small group of people. *your opinion* |
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What is a confederation? |
Many different states (provinces, countries, etc.) joined together in alliances. |
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What was the New Jersey Plan? |
The government would have a unicameral legislature, the states would be represented equally in votes, and congress can regulate and tax trade. |
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What was the Virginia Plan? |
The government would have a bicameral legislature, an executive branch made of multiple people, and the house would be represented by population and the senate equally. |
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What was the Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)? |
It created a bicameral legislature, half consisting of representatives based on population (the HOR) and half consisting of representatives based on equality (Senate). |
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What are the four parts that define a state? |
Government, People/Population, Land/Territory, and Sovereignty. |
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Name and explain the 4 most widely accepted theories for origin of the state. |
1. The Force Theory- one group or person forces a government onto the people in their state of nature. 2. Evolutionary Theory- a family with certain views goes to a group, then clan, then tribe, until it becomes a state with a government formed by those views. 3. The Divine Right Theory- a higher power/god created the state and provided it with a divine leader to rule the state. 4. The Social Contract Theory- when people that are in their state of nature give up some freedoms to get a government that will provide protection to them and their belongings. |
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Name and briefly explain the 6 purposes of Government as outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution. |
1. A perfect united union- it created the United States as a nation, not just separate states. 2. Establish Justice- create law for all the people. 3. Ensure Domestic Tranquility- keep peace within the US borders. 4. Common Defense- Raise and support armies. 5. Common Welfare- government provides benefits to the people. 6. Secure Blessings of Liberty- protection of basic rights and life. |
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What are the five foundations of American Democracy? |
1. Worth of an Individual 2. Compromise 3. Majority Rule 4. Equality of the Individual 5. Individual Freedom |
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Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence? Whose political philosophies did he most use? Why did he write the first section of the declaration? |
Thomas Jefferson used John Locke's political philosophies to write the first section of the declaration to provide why they're declaring independence from the king. |
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Other than John Locke, what other two philosophers influenced Thomas Jefferson in Writing the Declaration of Independence? |
Thomas Hobbes and Baron Des Montesquieu |
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Explain the Constitution's ratification process. What were the two key states? |
9 out of 13 states had to ratify the constitution. The two key states were New York and Virginia. |
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Who was the leading federalist in the Constitutional Convention? |
Alexander Hamilton |
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Who were the three authors of the Federalist Papers? |
James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton. |
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What year was the constitution ratified? |
1788 |
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What is the method by which the constitution is amended? |
The congress proposes the amendment, it must get a 2/3 vote in both houses, then it must pass through 3/4 of the state legislatures. |
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Name and Explain the 6 principles of the Constitution? |
1. Popular Sovereignty- people get to vote and decide what the government does. 2. Limited Government- the government only has as much power as the people give it and they are subject to their own laws. 3. Separation of Powers- government powers are separated into three different branches. 4. Checks and Balances- each branch has checks to make sure none of them get too much power in the government. 5. Judicial Review- judges review the jaw and determine if they are cases or controversies. 6. Federalism- the government power is divided between the central government and the state governments. |
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How many amendments have been added to the constitution? |
27 |
