Ged Social Studies

Front 1

Mean

Back 1

Average of the set numbers

Front 2

Median

Back 2

Middle value

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Mode

Back 3

Most frequently occurring number

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Range

Back 4

Difference between largest and smallest value

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Oligarchy

Back 5

- Power held by a small group of people, usually the upper class.

- Not elected and exercise power in their particular interest.

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Traditional Monarchy

Back 6

- Had absolute power.

- Power held by a king, queen, emperor, or empress.

- Rules until the end of their life and leadership is pass onto heirs.

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Constitutional Monarchy

Back 7

- Power is limited by written/unwritten laws.

- Little power and functions mainly as a ceremonial head of state.

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Dictatorship

Back 8

- Single leader has absolute power over nearly every aspect of life in a country.

- Not bound by any rules, can change laws at will.

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Democracy

Back 9

Citizens exercise power on their own behalf, established in Athens (510 BCE).

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Direct Democracy

Back 10

All citizens participate directly in making laws and in the government.

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Representative Democracy

Back 11

Citizens elect representatives to carry out the functions of government.

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Republic

Back 12

When the head of state is elected by voters.

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Parliamentary Democracy

Back 13

- Government leaders are chosen by the political party that holds a majority of seats in the legislature/parliament, based on elections.
- Executive power is given to a prime minister or premier/chancellor and is assisted by cabinet members.

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Prime Minister

Back 14

Head of the government and the leader of the political party that has the most seats in parliament.

Front 15

Presidential Democracy

Back 15

Headed by a powerful chief executive who's elected by voters for a set number of years.

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Natural Rights

Back 16

- Certain rights just because you're a human being.

- Founded by John Lock, a Scottish philosopher that stated that the duty of government is to protect people's right to life, liberty, and property.

Front 17

Popular Sovereignty

Back 17

- Government derives its power from the consent of the governed.

- Citizens have the right to a voice in deciding how those decisions are reached.

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Constitutionalism

Back 18

- Ideas of a limited government and the rule of law.

- Found throughout the US Constitution.

- Government is entitled to exercise certain powers, but its powers are also limited in order to protect the rights of the citizens.

Front 19

Limited Government

Back 19

Government's powers are spelled out and also limited by the laws of the Constitution.

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Rule of Law

Back 20

- Neither the citizens nor the government officials are permitted to break the laws or to violate the Constitution.

- Written in the Preamble of the US Constitution

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Majority Rule

Back 21

Decisions are made by a vote of more than half the people who participate, whether by election/act of the legislature.

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Minority Rights

Back 22

Those with unpopular views, individuals or minority groups, must be protected from oppression of the minority.

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Federalism

Back 23

Separation of powers and functions between the federal government and government of the states.

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Federal Government

Back 24

Exercises supreme power throughout the country and has exclusive control over issues like: declaring war, making treaties with other countries, national defense, and regulating trade.

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State Government

Back 25

Controls functions that are not assigned to the federal government and local issues covered by state and local laws (10th amendment grants this)

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Separation of Powers

Back 26

Divides the federal government into the executive, legislative, and judicial branch.

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Checks and Balances

Back 27

Each branch checks the power of the other two.

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Montesquieu

Back 28

- French political philosopher in the 18th century.

- Founded the "Separation of Powers" idea.

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Legislative Branch

Back 29

-Congress: House of Representatives and the Senate.

- Makes the law.

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Executive Branch

Back 30

- President and the members of his/her administration.

- Enforces the law, can veto acts of Congress.

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Judicial Branch

Back 31

- Court System

- Responsible for interpreting the laws.

Front 32

House of Representatives (Lower House)

Back 32

- Members are elected from districts that each include a roughly equal number of voters.

- Serve 2 year terms.

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Senate (Upper House)

Back 33

- Represented by 2 senators from each state.

- Elected by all the voters in the state.

- 6 year terms, with 1/3 up for election every 2 years.

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Speaker of the House

Back 34

- Presiding officer of the House and elected by the members.

- Typically the leader of the majority party.

Front 35

Enumerated Powers

Back 35

Powers of Congress listed in Article I of the US Constitution.

Front 36

Elastic Clause

Back 36

Allows Congress to stretch its powers to fit specific situation.

Front 37

President

Back 37

- Head of the US government.

- Elected by citizens for a 4 year term and can't serve for more than 2 terms.

Front 38

State of the Union

Back 38

An address to a joint session of Congress each year in January.

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Vice President

Back 39

- Next in line if something happens to the President.

- President of Senate

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Department of Agriculture

Back 40

Ensures the safe of food and regulates farming.

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Department of Commerce

Back 41

- Improves the living standards of the citizens of the country through economic development.

- Regulates trade, banking, and the economy.

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Department of Defense

Back 42

- Largest government agency and includes the armed forces.

- Helps protect the security of the country.

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Department of Education

Back 43

- Promotes student achievement and makes sure that all students have equal access to a quality education.

- Administers financial aid for students and gathers data on schools in order to guide improvements for education in the US.

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Department of Energy

Back 44

- Regulates utilities and responsible for ensuring the security of the country's power supplies.

- Promotes new tech to conserve energy resources.

- Provides funds for scientific research in this area.

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Department of Health and Human Services

Back 45

- Ensures the health of US citizens.

- Administers Medicare and Medicaid which provides health insurance to about 25% of Americans.

Front 46

Department of Homeland Security

Back 46

Responsible for security within the US and for patrolling the borders.

Front 47

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Back 47

- Promotes affordable home ownership for US citizens

- Make sure that there's no discrimination against those trying to purchase a home.

- Provides mortgage and loan insurance, administers public housing, and offers assistant to the homeless.

Front 48

Department of the Interior

Back 48

- Protects, conserves, and nurtures national resources which includes national parks and wildlife.

- Manages 20% of US land and protects endangered species.

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Department of Justice

Back 49

- Largest law office in the world.

- Enforces laws and protects interests of US citizens.

- Ensures public safety, controls crime, and seeks justice for individuals who are guilty of committing crimes.

Front 50

Department of Labor

Back 50

- Enforces labor laws in the US and protects the safety and rights of workers.

- Deals with job training, minimum wage levels, unemployment insurance, and discrimination in hiring.

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Department of State

Back 51

- Deals with diplomatic relations with other countries and develops and implements the foreign policies of the President.

- Reflects the US as part of the worldwide community.

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Secretary of State

Back 52

- Leads Department of State.

- President's top adviser on foreign policy.

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Department of Transportation

Back 53

- Maintains and ensures the safety of the nation's transportation network.

- Establishes the Interstate Highway System.

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Department of Treasure

Back 54

- Collects taxes, manages federal finances, produces coins and currency, and oversees the financial aid and economic stability of the US.

- Works with other agencies, with government of foreign countries, and with international financial institutions.

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Department of VA

Back 55

- Offers medical care for veterans who are wounded or ill.

- Administers benefits to those who have served in the armed forces and to their families.

Front 56

Supreme Court

Back 56

- Most powerful court in the US.

- Determines meaning of laws and whether or not laws have been followed.

- Composed of 9 justices appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, serves for life.

- Rules over cases that involve a state and citizens from other states, controversies between states, and patent and copyright issues.

Front 57

Judicial Review

Back 57

When the Supreme Court determines whether or not laws are constitutional.

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Chief Justice

Back 58

- Head of the Supreme Court.

- Administers the oath of office at presidential inaugurations.

- Presides over impeachment hearings.

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United States district courts

Back 59

Try most federal cases.

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United States courts of appeal

Back 60

Reviews appealed district court cases.

Front 61

Amendments

Back 61

- Changes or additions to Constitution, only 27 so far.

- Allows government to adapt to changes that take place in the country.

Front 62

Amendment Process

Back 62

- Spelled out in Article V

1. Congress or a group of state legislatures can propose a change.

2. The proposed amendment is presented to the states in the form of a joint resolution.

3. Each state governor then submits the amendment to his/her legislature.

4. After the amendment has been proposed, 3/4 of the state legislatures must approve the change before it becomes law.

Front 63

Amendment I

Back 63

Freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly and petition.

Front 64

Amendment II

Back 64

Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated militia.

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Amendment III

Back 65

No quartering of soldiers in private homes without owner's consent.

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Amendment IV

Back 66

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

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Amendment V

Back 67

Right to due process of law; freedom from self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

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Amendment VI

Back 68

Rights of accused persons, such as the right to a speedy and public trial by jury.

Front 69

Amendment VII

Back 69

Right of trial by jury in civil cases.

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Amendment VIII

Back 70

Freedom from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishments.

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Amendment IX

Back 71

Rights in addition to those stated in the Constitution.

Front 72

Amendment X

Back 72

Powers reserved to the states.

Front 73

Civic Responsibilities

Back 73

Pay taxes, register for military service, perform jury service, obey federal state and local laws, and vote.

Front 74

Democrats

Back 74

- Liberal and Left Wing.

- Supports a more broad and active role for the federal government.

- Support laws favoring workers and strong, government run social programs.

Front 75

Republicans

Back 75

- Conservative and right wing.

- Favors the rights of the states rather than the federal government.

- Support policies that favor business owners, managers, and private solutions to social problems.

Front 76

Elections

Back 76

- Held every four years on the first Tuesday of November.

Front 77

Primary Elections

Back 77

Candidates from the same party for the same office run against one another to determine which one would be the nominee.

Front 78

Political Campaign

Back 78

Organized effort to persuade people to support them, candidates share their ideas about necessary policy changes and spread their message of why they should be elected.

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Electoral College

Back 79

The president is not elected directly by the people, the citizens elect the Electoral College. The number of electors for each state is equal to the number of senators and representatives from that state in Congress.

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Interest Groups

Back 80

- Groups of people who share a common interest or common concern and who come together to influence the government to adopt a certain policy or to make decisions that support their cause.

- Their goal may benefit the members of the group, a part of society, or the public in general.

Front 81

Christopher Columbus

Back 81

Sailed on behalf of the king and queen of Spain in search of a better route to Asia in 1492.

Front 82

Juan Ponce de Leon

Back 82

First European to reach what is now the US when his crew landed in Florida.

Front 83

Hernando de Soto

Back 83

Sent to settle the Florida area, first European to reach the Mississippi River.

Front 84

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado

Back 84

Explored what is now the American SW

Front 85

Amerigo Vespucci

Back 85

First European to sign the mouth of the Amazon river.

Front 86

Jamestown, Virginia

Back 86

- 1st permanent English colony in the US.

- Most of them didn't know how to farm so they died.

Front 87

John Rolfe

Back 87

- One of the survivors from Jamestown, Virginia.

- Learned from the Native Americans that tobacco was a successful local crop.

Front 88

House of Burgesses

Back 88

- The colonists in Jamestown, Virginia created this elected legislature.

- Most were members of the Church of England and that became the official church of the colony which forced members of other religions to move.

Front 89

Pilgrims

Back 89

- Small group of separatists (from Anglican Church) set sail on the Mayflower to establish a religious settlement in VA.

- They landed in present day Massachusetts but they called it Plymouth at the time.

Front 90

Mayflower Compact

Back 90

- Drafted by the pilgrims in Plymouth.

- Established a set of basic laws.

Front 91

Puritans

Back 91

- Left England to seek freedom from Anglican Church.

- They set sails to establish a colony based on their own religious beliefs.

- They landed a bit more north of Plymouth; they called their settlement the Massachusetts Bay Colony but later changed it to New England due to the colony's success.

Front 92

Rhode Island

Back 92

- Founded by Roger Williams in 1636 because he was banished from New England due to his belief that the government should not establish laws dealing with religion.

- Government and religion were kept separate here and people could worship as they chose.

Front 93

Connecticut

Back 93

- Thomas Hooked, a minister, led a small group of colonists here because he disagreed with some of the laws establish by the Puritan leaders.

- All men could vote here.

Front 94

New Hampshire

Back 94

Colonists from Massachusetts Bay Colony moved father north here to settle.

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Maryland

Back 95

- Established in 1632 because King Charles I gave some land to Cecilius Calvert, also known as Lord Baltimore.

- As a Catholic, he founded Maryland so members of his religion could move there to avoid persecution.

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New York

Back 96

- Founded when the English took over the Dutch Colony of New Netherland. The king then gave it to his brother James, the Duke of York, who kept part of it. He gave the rest to his 2 friends who divided it into 2 colonies which later joined and became New Jersey.

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Pennsylvania

Back 97

- Given to William Penn, an Englishman who belonged to a religious group known as Quakers, as repayment for money owed to his family by Charles II.

- Quakers wanted a place where people could co exist regardless of religious differences.

Front 98

Georgia

Back 98

King George started