Chapter 2: Overview of the American Way of Government Flashcards
What is meant by the word “ideology”?
Refer to beliefs about the proper role of government (or legitimate purposes of government)
According to the textbook, what do most Americans agree is a primary purpose of government?
Secure rights
What is the difference between natural rights and legal rights?
o Natural Rights – Moral rights that all human beings have in a state of government prior to the creation of government
o Legal Rights – Written human-made laws
Make sure to know and understand why governments are necessary for terms of securing rights.
Without government, some human beings will violate others’ rights to life, liberty, property, etc.
What is “limited government”? What does it have to do with “securing rights”?
The government must be empowered to serve its purpose, including the protection of rights. But it must also be limited and controlled in its power so it does not pose a risk to rights.
According to the textbook, what are the three government purposes the mainstream of American politics considers to be illegitimate?
Theocracy, racial supremacy, and state socialism
In general, make sure to know and understand how the textbooks define these four distinguishing features of the American form of government: separation of powers, federalism, constitutional government, democratic government. What does the “rule of law” mean?
o Constitutional government – Government that are effectively bound by fundamental laws, i.e., USA and the Constitution
o Democratic Government – The difference between democratic and non-democratic government is the extent to which the people, adults, are legally and institutionally enabled to exercise ongoing control over the government
What, according to James Madison, is the “great difficulty” one must confront when “framing a government which is to be administered by men over men”?
You must first enable the government to control the governed; in the next place oblige it to control itself.
What, according to the textbook, did Madison mean by saying “a dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government.”
He was referring to the next feature of the American form of government: democracy.
What, according to the textbook, did Madison mean by saying “auxiliary precautions” are also needed for controlling government?
You can directly voice your views and needs to government officials.
According to the textbook, where does the word “democracy” come from? And what did it mean originally?
The original Greek word for democracy (‘Demokratia’) means “Rule by the people.”
Be sure to know and understand what aristocracy, oligarchy, monarchy or kingship, and tyranny mean, and how they are different from a democracy.
o Aristocracy – Ruled by a few virtuous citizens
o Oligarchy – Ruled by a few self-serving citizens
o Monarchy or Kingship – Ruled by one virtuous citizen
o Tyranny – Ruled by one self-serving citizen
What are the key differences between direct democracy and representative democracy? Which type of democracy do most democratic governments have today?
o Direct Democracy – Democratic government in which all the citizens directly participate in making and enforcing laws
o Representative Democracy – Citizens who make and enforce laws do so on behalf of the majority of citizens who do not directly participate in making and enforcing laws
Be sure to know and understand the key factor that distinguishes democracies from non-democracies (or “authoritarian” governments).
The extent to which all adult citizens are legally and institutionally enabled to exercise ongoing significant control over the government.
In general, make sure to know and understand the advantages democratic governments have over non-democratic (“authoritarian”) governments as discussed in the textbook.
o 1. More likely protect and respect people’s basic human rights
o 2. Less likely to go to war
o 3. More likely to do good things for the people
o 4. Reflect equality for all human beings most closely
