Government: Ch. 1, 2, & 3

Front 1

Anarchy

Back 1

A state of lawlessness, chaos, discord in a political system caused by a lack of government

Front 2

Monarchy

Back 2

Government, in which one person, usually a member of the royal family or designee exercises supreme power. (Saudi Arabia/Great Britain).

*However, true power rest in the parliament, whose members are elected by the people.

Front 3

Theocracy

Back 3

Government in which a particular religion or faith plays a dominant role. (Iran)

Front 4

Government Branches

Back 4

a. Executive (Signs Laws) (President)

b. Legislative (Makes Laws) (Congress)

c. Judicial (Decides if laws are constitutional) -(Supreme Court)

Front 5

Democracy

Back 5

A government in which the people, either directly or indirectly, hold power and authority within the government.

Front 6

Direct Democracy

Back 6

System of Government where all citizens participate in making policy, rules and governing decisions (Town Meeting/County Commission)

Front 7

Representative Democracy

Back 7

Designed by the U.S Constitution whereby free, open and regular elections are held to allow voters to choose those who govern on their behalf. We elect people to make policies, rules, and governing decisions (USA). Features the notion of majority rule.

1.AKA an Indirect Democracy

Front 8

Majority Rule

Back 8

The notion that the will of the people (The Majority) should guide decisions made by the American Government. *Majority rule is how popular sovereignty is exercised.

Front 9

Popular Sovereignty

Back 9

The concept that is the bases of the Constitution. It is the idea that the ultimate source of power in the U.S is held exclusively by the PEOPLE. This popular perspective frames our understanding of how the US Government works.

Follows the majority rule concept (popular vote)/ How we exercise that power.

Front 10

Limited Government

Back 10

The value that promotes the idea hat government power should be as restricted as possible. “The government that governs least governs best” Suspicion of the government and those with power is firmly rooted in the American political culture.

Front 11

Federalism

Back 11

Division of powers between the states and federal government

Front 12

Federalist

Back 12

were those who supported the ratification of the new constitution

Front 13

Anti-Federalists

Back 13

were those who opposed the new constitution

Front 14

Federalist Papers

Back 14

Written by James Madison, Hamilton, and Jay urging the support of ratification of the new constitution.The Federalist Papers outlined the philosophy and motivation of the new constitution.

Front 15

Federal Government

Back 15

Confederation and unitary form of government were mixed by the founding fathers to come up with the Federal Government

Front 16

Individualism (Basic American Value)

Back 16

The value that individuals are primarily responsible for their own lot in life and that promotes and rewards individual initiative and responsibility. This value underlies America’s reliance on a capitalistic economy/society and a free-market system.

Promotes Equal Opportunity.

Front 17

Natural Law

Back 17

People are born with certain“Natural Rights”, which they derive from “Natural Law”, the rules of conduct inherent in the relationship among human beings and thus more fundamental than any law that a governing authority might make. “Life, Liberty, and Property”.Therefor the law must be based upon the consent of the governed (the citizens are responsible for choosing their government and their leaders)

John Locke: British PoliticalPhilosopher that defined Natural Law.

Thomas Jefferson: “All men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights and whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.

Front 18

Power

Back 18

The ability to get people to do something they may not otherwise do. (Pay taxes, Abide by Traffic Laws.) Without power it would be difficult for a government to enforce rules.

Front 19

Authority

Back 19

The ability of public institutions and public officials (Elected or Appointed) within those institutions to make laws and execute them. People obey authority out of respect, whereas they obey power out of fear.

Front 20

Legitimacy

Back 20

The extent to which the people or the governed afford the government the authority and right to exercise power.The sustained power of any government largely rests on its legitimacy. A government maintains this as long as the governed are served well and as long as the government respects the natural rights of individuals.

Front 21

Father of the Consitution

Back 21

James Madison is considered to bethe Father of the Constitution

Front 22

Articles of Confederation

Back 22

Created a league of friendship among the states, but the states remained sovereign and independent with the power and authority to rule the colonist’s daily lives.

Under the articles of confederation the power was vested in the states, not the central government. Congress had limited power and had no authority to raise revenue, regulate commerce, raise troops or levy taxes, hampering George Washington’s efforts to fight the British. Changing the articles required the approval of ALL 13 colony state legislatures, making it nearly impossible.

Front 23

Basic Two Step Process to Amend Constitution

Back 23

Proposal

Ratification

First, either 2/3 of both houses of congress OR 2/3 of a national constitutional convention need to propose an amendment.

Then, to ratify it, either 3/4 of state legislatures OR 3/4 of state constitutional conventions need to approve it.

Front 24

Bill of Rights

Back 24

The first 10 amendments to the constitution that protected various rights of the people from the federal government.

Several states refused to ratify ifthe bill of rights were not included.

Front 25

States Reserved Powers Amendment (10th Amendment)

Back 25

All those powers that are not granted to the federal government are granted to the state government.

States wanted autonomy.

Front 26

Enumerated Powers

Back 26

Powers explicitly stated in the constitution that are granted to the federal government

Front 27

Concurrent Powers

Back 27

Shared powers by the state/federal governments

Front 28

Loose Interpretations of the Constitution

Back 28

Interpretation that gives constitutional provisions broad and open-ended meanings. Changes may occur through Congressional action or judicial ruling.

Front 29

Strict Interpretations of the Constitution

Back 29

Interpretation that limits the government to only those powers explicitly stated in the constitution. Changes in the constitution may only occur through the formal amendment process, not through congressional action or judicial ruling.

Front 30

Taxation without Representation

Back 30

Contributed to the colonies leaving the British Crown

Front 31

Declaration of Independence

Back 31

Documentation that declared to the world that the colonies were a new nation (the USA) and no longer associated with the British Crown

Front 32

Supremacy Clause

Back 32

The constitution and federal laws override any conflicting provisions in state constitutions or state laws. (article 4, clause 2)

Front 33

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Back 33

All states will give full faith and credit to all other states as it relates to their legal proceedings/actions(marriage in one state is viewed as just in across all states)

A state must respect the civil laws of all other states, each state must abide by the decisions of other states and local governments including their official acts and judicial proceedings.

Front 34

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Back 34

Provides Congress the power to make laws that serve as a means to achieve its expressly enumerated powers.

Was not intended to be used as an instrument to expand federal legislative authority.

Front 35

Political Socialization (Political Culture)

Back 35

The values and beliefs about a government’s purpose and operations and institutions that are widely held among the citizens in a society.

The political beliefs and values we hand down through the family structure.

Front 36

Self Governing Society

Back 36

We believe that we are capable as a society to self govern. We vote and come together to select our leaders and govern so that we don't have anarchy.

Elected rulers are able to make most decisions without referring to the colonial power with nominal control of the colony

Front 37

Separation of Powers

Back 37

Each Branch of government is separate with independent powers and responsibility.

Front 38

Checks and Balances

Back 38

Requires each branch of government to work together to formulate policy. Ensures that no one interest of faction could dominate the government. Tools were designed to help each branch have an opportunity to contend for influence.