chapter 1 government by the people Flashcards
what is democracy?
Government by the people, both directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections
what is direct democracy?
Government in which citizens vote on laws an select officials directly
what is direct primary?
An election in which voters choose party nominees
What is initiative?
a procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters
what is referendum?
A procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.
what is recall?
A procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal from office before the end of their team.
what is representative democracy?
Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws: also called a republic
what is constitutional democracy?
Government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair and relatively frequent elections
what is consitutionalism
is a term we apply to arrangements-checks and balances, fedralism, separation of powers, rule of law, due process , and the bill of rights
what are natural rights?
the rights of all people to dignity and worth-and that government must be limited and controlled because it was a threat to those rights
political culture?
to refer to the widely shared beliefs, values, and norms citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another.
what is Statism?
The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation
What is the American dream?
A complex set of ideas that holds that the united states is a land of opportunity where individual initiative and hard work bring economic succes
what is popular consent?
The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs
what is majority rule?
Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority
what is majority?
the candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election
what is plurality?
The candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election, not neccessarly more than half
what is democratic consensus?
A set of widely shared attitudes and beleifs about government and its values , procedures , documents and institutions.
what is theocracy?
government by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance.
Articles of confederation?
The first governing document of the confederated stats, drafted in 1777 ratified in 1781 and replaced by the present constitution in 1789
what is annapolis convention?
a convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation attended by five states and important because it issued the call to congress and the states for what became the constitutional convention.
what is constitutional conventional?
the convention in philadelphia, fro may 25 to spetember 17, 1787 that debated and agreed on constitution of the united states.
Shay’s Rebellion
A rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western massachuttes in 1786-1787 protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the constitutional convention went out.
bicameralism?
The principle of two house legislature