Chapter 1-One Republic--Two Americas? Flashcards
What is government?
Term to describe institutions where decisions about allocation of resources are made and conflicts resolved.
What can the government do to individuals?
Force to comply to law through taxes, fines, power to send you to prison and death
Why did the founders of the United States impose limitations to the government?
To protect individual rights from their power
Besides defense, what does the government do?
Provide services in which some people cannot afford.
What is one of our defining values as individuals?
Belief in the rule of the law, implying no wealthy person, privilege or position is above the law.
How did philosophers challenge the “divine right of kings”?
Three said that the world can improve with human reason, science and religious tolerance.
What is social contract?
Political theory where individuals from political communities must give up some of their mutual liberty in order to have protection.
Who were the 2 social contrast theorist?
Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679
John Locke
1632-1704
Both shaped our theory of government
What was Hobbes’s theory?
That without government of rule of law, man would retire to a state of nature, to fight basic necessities.
Wanted a single ruler so poor can be protected.
What was Locke’s theory?
All humans were given reason therefore, individuals will give up some of their liberty for government protection.
Authors of the United States constitution believed that a nation can be sustained through its___?
Political culture
What is political culture?
Ideas, values and ways of thing toward the government by every individual
What is political socialization?
A set of beliefs about social issues passed down to generations.
What’s Liberty?
Greatest freedom for individuals
Name the civil liberties?
Religious freedom, freedom of speech, the right to privacy
