Chapter 1 - Chapter 3 Flashcards
Government
the institutions ad procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled
political efficacy
citizen’s faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs
political apathy
indifference on the part of any citizen in regard to politics
political trust
measure of citizen’s belief in the institution which govern them
Bicameral Congress
2 chambered congress
express powers (define)
specified powers granted to congress and the president by the constitution
implied powers
inherent powers that are a logical part of the expressed powers delegated to congress and the president
reserved powers
powers not granted to national government, nor denied to states are reserved for the states by the 10th amendment (1791)
concurrent powers
shared by both state and national government
grants in aid
congressional authorization of funds to the state
Main principles of democracy
popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, limited government
federalism
a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional government
Taxes that lead to revolution in order
sugar act, stamp act, Townsend acts (Boston massacre), tea act (Boston tea party)
What did the first continental congress result in
dominion status (elevated them to the status of Britain)
Where was the Declaration of Independence adapted and what did it establish
2nd continental congress, established sovereignty of the colonies
What did the Articles of Confederation establish
state centered federal gov, no standard currency, no president, 1 chambered congress (mostly foreign policy power, 1 vote per state)
Problems with the articles of confederation
can’t raise revenue, no central executive, no way to provide security which lead to shay’s rebellion, lack cooperation, no standard currency or regulations
Virginia Plan
Edmond Randolph, strong central government, bicameral legislature (house of representatives chosen by people and senators chosen by the lower house), determined by wealth or population, strong executive/judiciary, congress is final arbiter, supremacy clause
supremacy clause
federal government is supreme
New Jersey Plan
state centered, called for a revamped articles of confederation, unicameral legislature (each state has equal vote), executives chosen by congress, judiciary is final arbiter, accepted supremacy clause
Great Compromise
bicameral congress, house apportioned by population (elected by people), equal senators per state (2)(chosen by house), all revenues raising measures must start in lower house
Characteristics of the House
lower, domestic, population, 2-year
Characteristics of the Senate
upper, foreign policy, 2 per state, 6-year
Powers of Legislative Branch
passes federal laws, controls federal appropriation, approves treaties and presidential appointees, regulate interstate commerce, established lower court systems
Powers of Executive Branch
Enforces Laws, commander in chief of armed forces, makes foreign policy,proposes laws, pardons, appoints supreme court justices and federal court judges
Powers of Judicial Branch
decides constitutionality of laws, reviews lower court decisions, decides cases involving disputes between states
Functions of national government
preamble
Magna carta
nobles force king to accept charter, establishes fundamental liberties, equality under the law
Autocracy
one person
oligarcy
small group of people
democracy
many people
authoritarian
few legal limits
totalitarian
no limits
constitutional
codified, procedural limits
policy making
people, linkage, policy, agenda, policy making, policy, people
process for amending the constitution
passage in house and senate each by a 2/3rds vote and accepted by majority of legislatures of 3/4ths of the states
federalists
property owners, creditors, merchants, believed that elites were most fit to govern, feared excessive democracy, favored strong national government
antifederalist
small farmers, frontiersmen, debtors, shopkeepers, believed government should be closer to the people, feared concentration of power in hands of the elites, favored retention of power by state governments and protection of individual rights
Bill of rights
Freedom of Religion, Speech and the Press. Right to Bear Arms. Housing of Soldiers. Protection from unreasonable Search & Seizures. Protection of rights to Life, Liberty & Property. Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases. Rights in Civil Cases. Excessive bail, fines, punishments are forbidden. Other rights are kept by the people. Undelegated powers are reserved for people and state goverenment
concurrent powers (list)
tax and spend, regulate interstate commerce, establish lower courts
National Government Policies
internal improvements, subsidies, tariffs, public land disposable, patents, currency
State government
everything else
Local government
Adaption of state laws to local conditions, public works, contracts for public works, licencing of public accommodations, accessible improvements, basic public services
McCulloch v Maryland
establishes the idea of implies powers via the Necessary and Proper clause (set up a national bank and the state tried to tax it)
Gibbons v Ogden
establishes the commerce clause, expands commercial power (dispute over waterway between NY and NJ)
