Govt Test 1 Jones

Front 1

elitism

Back 1

A. The view that US is essentially run by a tiny elite who control public policy through both direct and indirect means.

Front 2

pluralism

Back 2

B. A theory of American politics that holds that society’s interest are substantially represented through the activities of a group.

Front 3

political thinking

Back 3

C. The careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue.

Front 4

politics

Back 4

D. The process through which society settles its conflicts and decides the policies by which it will be governed.

Front 5

power

Back 5

E. The ability of persons or institutions to control policy.

Front 6

2. According to your text, what barriers to political thinking exist within the U. S. public?

Back 6

Unwillingness of citizens to make the effort. Not all resources are good.

Front 7

1. Why is it necessary for a society to create a government?

Back 7

The government is important because it is a representative of all the people living in a country as a whole. protection.

Front 8

Anti-Federalists

Back 8

A. Opponents of the constitution during the debate over ratification.

Front 9

; checks and balances

Back 9

B. The elaborate system of divided spheres of authority provided by the US constitution as a means of controlling the power of government.

Front 10

Electoral College

Back 10

C. An unofficial term that refers to the electors who cast the states electoral votes.

Front 11

Federalists

Back 11

D. Supporters of the constitution during the debate over ratification.

Front 12

Great Compromise

Back 12

E. The agreement of the constitutional convention to create a two chamber congress with the house apportioned by population and the senate apportioned equally by state.

Front 13

inalienable (natural) rights

Back 13

F. Those rights that persons theoretically possessed in the state of nature, prior to the formation of government.

Front 14

judicial review

Back 14

G. The power of courts to decide whether a governmental institution has acted within its constitutional powers and if not to declare its action null and void.

Front 15

republic

Back 15

H. The form of government in which representative officials met to decide on policy issues.

Front 16

separation of powers

Back 16

I. The division of the powers of government among separate institutions or branches.

Front 17

social contract

Back 17

J. A voluntary agreement by individuals to form a government which is then obligated to work within the confines of that agreement.

Front 18

Three-Fifths Compromise

Back 18

K. Slavery

Front 19

tyranny of the majority.

Back 19

L. The potential of a majority to monopolize power for its own gain and to the detriment of minority rights and interest.

Front 20

2. What is the significance of Shays’ Rebellion?

Back 20

Made it clear that congress and the army were abysmally weak and that civil unrest was spreading.

Front 21

1. What are the basic purposes of a constitution?

Back 21

Organize the government
Define / assign governing powers
Limit governing powers
Protect individual liberties

Front 22

2. Identify the major weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation.

Back 22

Currency
Trade
Amendment process
Shays’ Rebellion

Front 23

3. Identify the beliefs of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Montesquieu with respect to why an organized government is needed. Man’s best interest to band together under a govt.

Back 23

Government must preserve private property
Separation of powers
Checks and Balances
The best government -- no person or group can oppress others.

Front 24

4. Describe the major conflicts (or factions) at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Discuss, in detail, how each conflict was resolved. Cite specific examples of compromise at the Constitutional Convention.

Back 24

Organization of Congress Unicameral vs. Bicameral
Representation in Congress Equality vs. Population
Strength of the Central Government Confederation vs. Unitary
Role of Voters
North vs. South over the issues of slavery and taxation
• bicameral chosen over unicameral
• Representation in the House based on population while each state has two votes in the Senate.
• Federalism
• Indirect Democracy

Front 25

5. Briefly explain why Thomas Jefferson was opposed to the ratification of the Constitution of 1787. What compromises were made to address some of these concerns?

Back 25

Concerns over:
No Bill of Rights
No “rotation in office”
Jefferson believed constitutions should be written every 30 years

Front 26

7. Why is the U. S. Constitution the oldest working constitution in the world?

Back 26

A realistic amendment process
Vague language that may be reinterpreted with changing times by Congress, the President, the Courts.
Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison, 1803)

Front 27

commerce clause

Back 27

A. The clause of the constitution that empowers the federal government to regulate commerce among the states and with our nations.

Front 28

cooperative federalism

Back 28

B. The situation in which the national, state and local LVLs work together to solve problems.

Front 29

devolution

Back 29

C. The passing down of authority from the national government to states and localities.

Front 30

dual federalism

Back 30

D. A doctrine based on idea that a precise separation of national power state power is both possible and desirable.

Front 31

enumerated (expressed) powers

Back 31

E. The 17 powers granted to the national government under the constitution.

Front 32

supremacy clause

Back 32

F. Article 6 of the constitution, which makes national law supreme over state law when national government is acting within constitutional limits.

Front 33

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Back 33

G. Eliminate mandates.

Front 34

1. Why did our Founding Fathers establish a federal system?

Back 34

A unique compromise between a unitary form of government & a confederation.
A division of governing powers between a central government & state governments

Front 35

3. Briefly explain the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision in Gibbons v. Ogden (1824). What implication does this decision have for the national government’s power to regulate interstate commerce?

Back 35

Concluding that new york encroached on confesses power to regulate commerce among the states.

Front 36

4. List and explain the advantages and disadvantages of federalism, especially to a heterogeneous society.

Back 36

States compete over federal funds, government (military) contracts, & legislativerepresentation.
A mobile society is confronted with different state laws.
States can block national progress by ignoring or attempting to thwart national policies.