Dictatorship and Checks/Balances Flashcards
What is Authoritarianism?
Expecting blind submission to authority and often involves the concentration of power in the hands of a leader or small group that goes beyond what a constitution or laws allow.
What is a Dictator?
One holding complete control; one ruling in an absolute and often oppressive way.
What is Democracy?
Rule by the people.
What is Oligarchy?
Rule by the few.
What is Monarchy?
Rule by a single person.
What is a Republic?
A government in which the power belongs to a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by the leaders and representatives elected by those citizens to govern according to law.
Who are Tyrants?
Rulers who seized power in Ancient Greece and often ruled oppressively.
What is Direct Democracy?
The Athenian system where citizens participated directly in decision-making.
What is Ostracism?
Allowed the Athenians to send dangerous rulers into exile by writing their name down on pieces of pottery.
What is a Mixed Constitution?
Rome’s system during the republic, it featured elements of monarchy, oligarchy, and democracy.
Who is Cincinnatus?
A powerful example of how rulers should behave, known for giving up power voluntarily.
What is the Society of the Cincinnati?
An American club created in honor of Cincinnatus, with the motto ‘Omnia relinquit servare republicam.’
What does ‘Omnia Relinquit Servare Republicam’ mean?
He gave up all to save the Republic.
What are Emergency Powers?
The extra powers a dictator may gain to deal with a crisis, real or imagined.
What is Propaganda?
Information, especially biased or misleading, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
What is Scapegoating?
Blaming certain groups for the country’s problems.
Who was Julius Caesar?
Used his army to take power and proclaim himself ‘dictator for life’ in the 40s BC – killed by senators.
What does ‘Sic Semper Tyrannis’ mean?
A Latin saying meaning ‘Thus always to tyrants,’ associated with the death of someone considered a tyrant.
What is a Republic?
A form of government with no monarchs.
What is a Constitutional Republic?
What the US is.
Who was King George III?
The monarch overthrown during the American Revolution, seen as a tyrant.
What are the Branches of Government?
Judicial, Legislative, or Executive.
What is Virtue in the context of government?
Founders argued that morality and ethics would be important in a republic.
Who is Cincinnatus compared to?
A Roman figure likened to George Washington, he put Republic above personal interests (saved Rome and then lay down power).
Who is George Washington?
Served as a general and president, giving up power and returning home.
What is the 22nd Amendment?
Ratified to prohibit a president from serving a third term.
Who was Franklin Delano Roosevelt?
Ran for a third term and was elected four times, using World War II as justification.
What did Harry Truman state about Cincinnatus and Washington?
Stated that forgetting the examples of Cincinnatus and Washington could lead to dictatorship.
What did James Madison write in the Federalist Papers?
‘Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.’
What are Checks and Balances?
A system designed so that branches of government can limit each other’s powers.
Who was Augustus?
Julius Caesar’s grand-nephew who emerged as an emperor with absolute power.
What is the Roman Empire?
The political entity that replaced the Roman Republic after nearly 500 years.
What does it mean to Impeach?
Charge that an official has committed misconduct – however, official only removed if 2/3 senate approves.
What does appropriate (verb) mean?
What Congress does – indicate how funds should be spent.
What is a veto?
‘I forbid’ – president can block bills by Congress, but Congress can override with 2/3 vote in each house.
What is an appointment in government?
President can nominate judges, but senate has to approve.
What is the role of judges?
Judges can determine that actions of president or bills passed by Congress are not constitutional.
