Competency 1 Flashcards
Understanding of the basic principles and practices of American democracy and how they are applied in our republican form of government
Social Contract
A theory of government first outlined by Thomas Hobbes whereby members of a society make a choice to give up some of their individual freedoms in order to create more collective order – the social benefits of a society (property rights, general welfare, security) come because we agree to follow some external authority (government).
John Locke
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Consent of the Governed
John Locke was a political philosopher, following in the footsteps of Thomas Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory. He argued that the authority any government might has comes from the consent of those who are governed.
Checks and Balances
A system of government structures that collectively ensure that no single part of government becomes too powerful. Under a government emphasizing this concept, each part has some power, but can also limit the powers of other parts.
Separation of Powers
The division of government responsibilities into distinct parts (branches, i.e. legislative, judicial, executive). The 3 branches of the federal government or our federal system are examples of how power is separated in the United States.
Montesquieu & Limited Government
Montesquieu was a French philosopher who argued that one of the primary ways that government power should be limited is by separation of powers. He argued that limited governments with separation of powers would promote justice and liberty.
Rule of Law
The “Rule of Law” is a concept that holds that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.
Due Process
The concept of “Due Process” reflects the idea that if a governments wants to limit someone’s life, liberty or property, they must take into account all of that person’s legal rights and apply the law in a just manner.
Equality Under the Law
This concept holds that each individual should have the same legal rights and responsibilities, regardless of their status in society.
Popular Sovereignty
In the most direct sense, “popular sovereignty” is the idea that governments derive their power from the people within that society. Power flows from the people to the government, not the other way around.
Natural Rights
These are rights that are believed to be universal and inherent in nature, not dependent on the laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government.
Natural Law
This is a philosophy asserting that certain rights or values are inherent in nature and can be universally recognized through human reason.
Federalism
This is a system of government in which power is divided between a central (federal) government and individual states or provinces. Federalism divides power as opposed to a unitary system, where all the power resides at the top level or a confederation, where all the power lies with the member parts.
Individual Liberty
This is the concept that individuals have the right to act as they choose, so long as their actions do not infringe upon the rights of others.
Republicanism/Representative Democracy
These are forms of government in which power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives. Sometimes called “Indirect democracy” – in a representative democracy like the United States, citizens choose individuals to represent their interests in government as opposed to directly voting on laws.
Constitutionalism
This is the idea that government should be limited in its powers and that its authority depends on its observation of these limitations as specified in a constitution.
