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57 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Components of Government |
People, powers, policies |
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4 theories of rule |
Divine right, evolution theory of rule, social contract, rule by force |
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Eminent Domain |
Power of a state or the federal government to take private property for public use while requiring "just" compensation to be given to the original owner |
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Monarchy |
Ruled by monarch, usually king/queen Power inherited |
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Constitutional monarchy |
Limits to rightful power of government over its citizens |
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Dictatorship |
Single dictator holds absolute authority Violence and force to maintain rule |
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Totalitarian |
Dictator holds ultimate authority Government controls aspects of life |
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Oligarchy |
Small group of powerful people make most government decisions for their own benefit Ruling based on wealth, family, military power |
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Theocracy |
Rulers claim to represent religious ideas |
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Direct democracy |
Government by people Citizens come together to discuss Works best in small communities |
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Republic/Representative Democracy |
Government by people Indirect form of democracy; citizens elect representatives to make government decisions on their behalf Reps elected for set terms |
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Core ideals |
Liberty - ability of people to act and think as they choose Equality - people possess a fundamental, moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law Self-government - belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do so as political equals |
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Core ideals definition |
Ideal is a conception of something in it's most perfect for These ideals have been with us since earliest days if our republic |
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Citizen participation |
To be successful, self-government requires participation from citizens Citizens must be informed about public issues so they can participate in voting or running office Become informed on issues, speak minds, serve on juries, debate public issues, hold leaders accountable, attend community meetings, volunteer for military and social service, pay taxes, join political parties |
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What is a constitution |
A plan that sets forth the structure and powers of the government Specify main instruments of government State powers of each of these institutions and the procedures that the institutions use to make, enforce, and interpret law |
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Magna Carta |
Original intent to was protect rights of nobles One of the first English efforts towards limited government Great Charter King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta Significant move from "rule of man" to "rule of law" King John conceded that even Kings and queens had to obey laws King no longer could levy taxes, people accused of crimes the right to trial by a jury of their peers |
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One, few, many |
Machiavelli argued a theory of a republic based on civic virtue For republic to thrive (Machiavelli) it had to represent the interests of three levels of society The monarch (the one), the aristocracy (the few), and the people (the many) |
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Taxation without representation |
The colonists had no representation in parliament, and they resented being taxed without their consent It became a rallying cry throughout colonies The right to tax rightfully belonged to their elected colonial assemblies |
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Stamp Act |
Required government tax stamp on paper goods and legal documents It infuriated colonists |
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First Continental Congress |
Every colony except Georgia sent delegates to this in Philly The delegates sent George III a document known as the Declaration and Resolves, demanding a repeal of the Intolerable Acts, an end to the British military occupation, and the power of the colonists to impose their own tax laws Congress also called for a boycott of British goods until its demands we're met British rejected the colonists demands |
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Shot heard around the world |
The first time the colonists met the British with armed resistance |
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Common Sense |
47 page political pamphlet that would inspire widespread support for independence in Philly By Thomas Paine Persuasively made the case for a break with England Laid blame for colonial hostilities at Parliament's feet Independence was the only "common sense" source of action |
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July 4, 1776 |
Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence Britians colonies ceased to exist |
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Articles of Confederation |
Congress's first constitution Small states without land claims refused to accept the Articles Articles changed plan to win state approval and granted the Confederation control over Western lands Guarded state powers by creating a weak national government No national court system One-House Congress |
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Treaty of Paris |
Independence from Britain secured by Treaty of Paris |
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(Daniel) Shay's Rebellion |
Called the last battle of the American Revolution Farmers attacked courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms State militia scattered Shay's and his mob It showed how feeble the Confederation Congress was and it hastened moves to revise the Articles |
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Framers |
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention are know as the Framers of the Constitution for their efforts in drafting the framework of the new government George Washington, James Madison |
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Great Compromise |
Connecticut Compromise Combined elements from Virginia (bicameral legislature, based in state pop) and New Jersey (protect smaller states, equal rep) plans |
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3/5ths Compromise |
Slavery Provided that 3/5fhs of the enslaved people in a state would be counted when determining a state's population For every five enslaved people, three would be added to state pop to determine number of reps a state would have in the house |
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Antifederalist |
Opposed the Constitution Charged that the Constitution betrayed the democratic ideals of the American Revolution Said Constitution's biggest criticism was that it didn't have a bill of rights |
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Federalists |
Enthusiastic supporters of a powerful and vigorous national government Believed a sufficiently powerful national government would strengthen the fragile Union and be able to promote the public good |
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June 21, 1788 |
New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify Constitution went into effect |
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Bill of Rights Description |
Framers of Constitution believed that individual rights had to be protected from government interference They promised to add a bill of Rights that would safeguard individual rights |
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Bill of Rights Amendments |
1 - Freedom of Speech 2 - Right to Bear Arms 3 - Prevents soldiers from taking over homes 4 - No unreasonable searches 5 - Protects right of accused 6 - Fair, speedy trial 7 - Trial by jury of one's peers 8 - Cruel and unusual punishment 9 - Rights not in Constitution are retained by people 10 - Grants to the states and to the people powers that are not specifically listed in Constitution |
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6 Goals of Constitution |
Form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, secure blessings of liberty |
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Principles of Constitution (6) |
Popular sovereignty - people establish government and are source of power Limited government - government powers are restricted Separation of powers - power is decided among branches Checks and balances - each branch checks others Judicial review - judiciary can strike down laws as invalid under Constitution Federalism - rights of states are protected by dividing powers between national and state government |
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Rule of Law |
Concept that every member of society must obey law and is never above it |
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Intellectual independence |
Your own thoughts and values have been guided by your own rationality |
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Amending the Constitution Difficulty |
Proposed, then ratified, then approved Two ways of proposing (2/3rds of House and Senate, 2/3rds of state legislatures) and ratifying (Legislatures in 3/4ths of states, citizens elect delegates to conventions) |
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Political gridlock |
Inability to govern effectively due to separation of powers Can cause government to stand still |
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Expressed powers |
Powers granted to the national government Enumerated powers |
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Implied powers |
Not listed in Constitution Logical extensions of expressed powers Building highways Regulating food |
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Necessary and Proper, elastic clause |
Congress has the power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper Also referred to as elastic clause because it is used to stretch powers of Congress |
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Inherent Powers |
Powers that historically have been recognized as naturally belonging to all governments that conduct the business of a sovereign nation |
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Reserved powers |
Not in Constitution Belong to states because Constitution neither delegates these powers to the national government nor prohibits them to the states Relied on to regulate health, public safety, morals, welfare of citizens Regulate marriage, conduct elections, etc. |
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Concurrent Powers |
Power held by national government and state government at same time Both can establish courts, make and enforce laws, build roads, provide education |
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Ex Post Facto Laws |
Constitution forbids both levels from passing these After the fact Protects people from being convicted that was not a crime when it was committed |
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Responsibilities between states |
Right to manage affairs within borders States are not required to enforce the criminal laws of other states Constitution says that states are required to extradite, or return, person charged with a crime to the state where crime was committed |
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Full Faith and Credit Clause |
Ensures extradition can take place Requires that states give "full Faith and Credit" to public acts, official records, and judicial proceedings of every other state |
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New Deal, Cooperative Federalism |
FDR's plan to bring immediate relief that creates a series of national programs to address needs of Americans National and state governments were now working together to meet the crisis, the federalism under the New Deal became known as cooperative federalism |
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Great Society, creative federalism |
Lyndon Johnson's program was a series of initiatives aimed at eliminating poverty and social inequality He called his approach to solving national problems creative federalism Involved releasing national funds (grants) to achieve goals |
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Categorical Grants |
Most federal aid distributed to states in form of these Only be used for a specific purpose of a state and local spending Natural disasters |
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Block Grants |
Federal grants that are given for general purposes such as welfare and public health States usually prefer because they're designed to allow state officials to spend th money as they see fit |
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Initiative |
Direct - an individual proposed and drafts law. Initiator gathers a prescribed number of signatures Indirect - proposes go first to legislature. If legislatures reject or take no action then it goes on ballot 24 states today use initiative |
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Referendum |
Placing a measure that has been approved by a legislature on the ballot for popular vote 24 states now use |
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Recall |
Removing elected officials from office Used most frequently at local level |
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Constituents |
People who live within an area |
