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United States Government > Chapter 1: Government > Flashcards

Chapter 1: Government Flashcards

GOVT-2305

1
Q

Purpose of Government

A

provision of security for lives, liberties, and property of individual citizens, who give their consent to governmental functions designed to achieve this purpose of security at a minimum risk to liberty

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2
Q

Representative Republic

A

voters elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf

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3
Q

Civic Participation

A

foundational to a free society;
it ensures the government serves the people and not the reverse

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4
Q

Government

A

how a society organizes itself to allocate and exercise authority in order to accomplish purposes, goals, and functions

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5
Q

Politics

A

a competitive struggle for gaining and exercising control over the governmental processes or organizational structures that carry out goals, purposes, or functions of the country

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6
Q

John Locke

A

a 17th century philosopher that posited that all people have natural liberties/right of life, liberty, and property that are viewed as unalienable/inseparable liberties that cannot be taken away

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7
Q

Monarchy

A

one person or one family in control; not all seek to protect liberty or property;
sees order and control as the highest priority

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8
Q

Anarchy

A

a state known by no government, police, court, or rules

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9
Q

Absolute Monarchy

A

a form of government where a single person has the complete power to rule a state without restriction from laws or a constitution

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10
Q

Authoritarianism

A

the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom

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11
Q

Totalitarianism

A

the government controls all aspects of citizens’ lives - including social and private matters such as the number of children a family can have

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12
Q

Oligarchy

A

power concentrated in a handful of elite members of society

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13
Q

Republic

A

representative democracy; indirect rule of citizens through representatives and the rule of law

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14
Q

Unalienable Rights

A

inseparable from the human condition either by human reasoning or personal recognition of divine authority; no government should separate them from their rights to life, liberty, and property without their consent

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15
Q

Majoritarian

A

a democratic model which relies on the majority of citizens through elections to exercise political power to achieve consent of the governed

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16
Q

Pluralist

A

a democratic model that relies on many competing interest groups to influence government decisions to be responsive to the general public

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17
Q

Elitist

A

a non-democratic model which suggests that a concentrated and a distinct minority (an oligarchy) exercises power of governmental decision making

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18
Q

Constitution

A

a contract the American people have with the government;
written in 1787 and amended 27 times;
is the basis for U.S. government

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19
Q

Coercive Acts

A

Parliament responded to colonial defiance with these laws in 1774

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20
Q

First Continental Congress

A

a unified opposition to Great Britain to develop a declaration of rights and grievances

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21
Q

Second Continental Congress

A

delegates met again in 1775

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22
Q

Declaration of Independence

A

On July 2nd, 1776, Congress declared American independence from Britain and two days later signed the Declaration of Independence

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23
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

the final draft that formed the basis of the new nation’s government and first written constitution that was accepted by Congress in 1777

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24
Q

Confederation

A

the articles defined a governmental structure based upon a confederation of states-independent and self-governing entities unified in the form of an alliance for the primary purpose of defense and commerce

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25
Constitution
consists of the preamble and the seven articles
26
Connecticut/Great Compromise
suggested by Roger Sherman effectively combined the two plans - a bicameral legislature (two-chambered) body with a Senate where each state, regardless of size and population was counted to ensure proportional representation
27
Congress
2 chambers to check up on each other; House of Representatives (based on population; elected to short 2-year terms) and Senate (based on equal representation; longer 6-year terms for stability)
28
President
separate election system; not elected by the Congress; fixed 4-year terms
29
Judiciary
independent from the Congress and the executive; to make judgements under the law; interpreting the Constitution
30
Federalism (U.S.)
create new relationship between states and national government; preserve significant autonomy or states subject to future interpretation
31
Three-fifth compromise
allowed for the slaves to be taxed as property and counted as population for purposes of a state's representation in the government
32
Twenty Second Amendment
restrict presidency to two terms
33
Procedures for Amending the Constitution: Origination: Proposed by Congress
Approval: 2/3 majority in the House of Representatives 2/3 majority in the Senate 3/4 vote of all state legislatures required
34
Procedures for Amending the Constitution: Origination: Petitioned by 2/3 of States
Approval: Congress calls convention to propose amendment; forwarded to states for ratification; 3/4 of all state legislatures required
35
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments (19 proposed; only ten were accepted by the states) added to the Constitution in 1791; there are 27 now in total
36
Civil Liberties
limitations on government power, intended to protect individual freedoms from illegal government intrusion
37
Civil Rights
guarantees that government will treat people equally and base decisions on law rather than race, gender, or other personal characteristics
38
1st Amendment
protected right to free speech, press, assembly, religion, and petition of government
39
2nd Amendment
protected right to bear firearms
40
3rd Amendment
no quartering of soldiers during peace time in private homes without consent
41
4th Amendment
right to be secure in your own property and person against unreasonable search or seizure
42
5th Amendment
grand jury, against double jeopardy, due process, eminent domain
43
6th Amendment
criminal procedure - speedy & public trial, impartial jury, counsel, etc
44
7th Amendment
civil procedure - jury trial according to rules of common law
45
8th Amendment
no excessive bail or fine, no cruel or unusual punishment
46
9th Amendment
rights not enumerated belong to the people
47
10th Amendment
powers not delegated to the government belong to the states and the people
48
11th Amendment
prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against the states
49
12th Amendment
presidential election procedures
50
13th Amendment
abolition of the institution of slavery
51
14th Amendment
citizenship rights/responsibilities; equal protection; due process of law; protections
52
15th Amendment
all males may now vote regardless of race unless they are Native Americans
53
16th Amendment
individual income tax
54
17th Amendment
voters can directly elect US Senators
55
18th Amendment
prohibition of alcohol manufacture, sales, and distribution
56
19th Amendment
women were guaranteed the right to vote
57
20th Amendment
inauguration day moved from March to January after election of the previous year
58
21st Amendment
repeal of 18th Amendment prohibiting alcohol manufacture, sales, and distribution
59
23rd Amendment
residents of the District Columbia (Washington D.C.) may vote for president of the U.S.
60
24th Amendment
poll taxes abolished; no poll taxing stopping the citizens from exercising right to vote
61
25th Amendment
if the President dies, resigns, or is removed from the office, then the Vice President shall become President
62
26th Amendment
all citizens over the age of eighteen years old may register and cast their vote
63
27th Amendment
regulation of congressional salaries
64
Federalism
an institutional arrangement, creating relatively autonomous levels of government (national & state), each able to act directly on behalf of the people with granted authority
65
Federalism
as an institutional/structural design, is intended to both safeguard states' interests while creating a strong union led by an effective centralized national government
66
Dual Federalism
each level of government is somewhat independent of others
67
Cooperative Federalism
national and state governments interact
68
Elastic Clause/Necessary And Proper Clause
the last clause in Article I, Section 8 enables Congress to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying out of its constitutional responsibilities
69
Commerce Clause
empowers the federal government to regulate interstate economic transactions
70
Powers of the State
never listed in the original Constitution (Articles of the Confederation); the consensus was that states would retain any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government
71
Supremacy Clause
although states retain some sovereignty, Article VI proclaims the U.S. Constitution, national laws and treaties are the "supreme law of the land"
72
Levels of Government
federal, state, and local
73
Local Level of Government
the government structure closest to where people live, typically encompassing cities, towns, and counties; the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state
74
Responsibilities of the Local Government
Providing local services like public safety, infrastructure maintenance, zoning regulations, parks and recreation, and waste management
75
Governance of the Local Government
involves elected officials like mayors and council members
76
Local Government's Relationship with the State Government
operate under the authority of the state government and must adhere to state laws
77
State Level of Government
governing body within a specific state; has its own executive, legislative, and judicial branches; led by a governor; responsible for managing affairs within its state borders
78
Structure of the State Government
each state has its own Constitution; mirrors the federal government structure with three branches
79
Powers of the State Government
Education, healthcare, infrastructure, elections, licensing, and criminal justice within the state boundaries
80
Federal Level of Government
powers are vested by the U.S. Constitution in the Congress, the President, and all the federal courts
81
Responsibilities of the Federal Government
national defense, foreign policy, regulating interstate commerce, managing the currency, establishing federal welfare programs, healthcare, and environmental protection
82
Article I, Section 8
Congress could establish "all means which are appropriate" to fulfill "the legitimate ends" of the Constitution
83
Dual Federalism
under it, the states and the national government exercise exclusive authority in distinctly delineated spheres of jurisdiction
84
Cooperative Federalism
shared (overlapping or concurrent) powers had now become an integral part of contemporary U.S. federalism
85
Federal Government Powers
Delegated Powers: coin money, punish counterfeiting, regulate interstate commerce & foreign trade, conduct foreign affairs, establish rules of naturalization & immigration, regulate the postal system, establish a court system, declare war & raise/support the national military
86
Federal Government Powers
Prohibited Powers: tax state exports, change state boundaries, violate the Bill of Rights, deny due process, suspend Habeas Corpus (except national emergency)
87
State Government Powers
Reserved Powers: regulate interstate commerce, conduct elections, provide for Public Health, Safety, Welfare, & Morals, establish local governments, maintain militia (National Guard), and ratify amendments to the Constitution
88
State Government Powers
Denied Powers: tax imports & exports, coin money, enter into treaties with foreign countries, impair obligation of contracts, abridge privileges and immunities of citizens, deny due process and equal protection of the law
89
Full Faith and Credit Clause
in Article IV, asserts that states are prohibited from discriminating against out-of-states to accept court decisions, public acts, and contracts of all other states
90
Privileges and Immunities Clause
in Article IV, asserts that states are prohibited from discriminating against out-of-staters by denying them such guarantees as access to courts, legal protection, property rights, and travel rights
91
Ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment
in 1913, authorized Congress to impose income taxes without apportioning it among the states on the basis of the population
92
Federal Grants
transfers of federal money to state and local governments; do not have to be repaid; encourage to pursue federal policy objectives they might not otherwise adopt
93
Federal Government Revenue Sources
Individual Income Taxes: 47% Payroll Taxes: 34% Corporate Taxes: 10% Other: 6% Excise Taxes: 3%
94
State Government Revenue Sources
Taxes: 50% Sales Tax Individual Income Tax Property Tax Federal Grants: 30% Service Charges: 11% Other: 9%
95
Local Government Revenue Sources
Taxes: 41% Property Tax Sales Tax Individual Income Tax Federal and State Support: 37% Service Charges: 17% Other: 5%
96
Federal Budget
Social Security: 24% Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and marketplace subsidies: 24% Defense and International Security Assistance: 18% Safety Net Programs: 11% Benefits for Federal Retirees: 8% Interest on Debt: 7% Transportation Infrastructure: 3% Science and Medical Research: 2% Education: 2% Non-Security International: 1%
97
Local Governments
allocate more funds to police protection, fire protection, housing and community development, and public utilities such as water, sewage, and electricity; if state governments allocate more funds towards universities, then local governments spend even more on elementary and secondary education; state governments allocate comparatively more funds to public welfare programs, such as health care, income support, and highways, both local and state governments spend roughly similar amounts on judicial, legislative, and correctional services
98
Grant
designed to entice the recipient toward a specific goal
99
Unfunded Mandates
impose federal requirements on state and local authorities; they are typically backed by the threat of penalties for non-compliance and provide little to no compensation to carry out the mandated action
100
How the government supported the states in the first 1800s
the national government used grants to influence state actions as far back as the "Articles of Confederation", providing land grants
101
Categorical Grants
federal transfers formulated to limit recipient's discretion in the use of funds and subject them to strict administrative criteria that guide project selection, performance, and financial oversight, among other things
102
Block Grants
come with less stringent federal administrative conditions and provide recipient's more flexibility over how to spend grant funds
103
Federal Grants to State and Local Governments
Health: 55% Income Security: 17% Transportation: 11% Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services: 11% Other: 4% Community and Regional Development: 2%
104
Creeping Categorization
a process in which the national government places new administrative requirements on state and local governments or supplants block grants with new categorical grants
105
Unfunded mandates
federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the administrative costs they incur
106
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
the widespread use of federal mandates in the 1970s and 1980s provoked a backlash among state and local authorities and culminated it
107

United States Government (5 decks)

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