Everything Flashcards
Mayflower compact
Document by pilgrims of mayflower in 1620 to declare self governance
Idea of America
Individualism Popular sovereignty Equality of opportunity Freedom of religion Economic liberty
Government
Procedures and institutions by which a people govern and rule themselves and through which binding decisions are made for a society
Politics
Process in which decisions are made and carried out
Process by which ppl decide who shall govern and what policies shall be adopted
Politicians
People who oversee and direct the government
Political science
Study of principles and structure of government and analyze political ideas and behaviors
Constitutional democracy
Government that enforcers recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent elections
Social contract
Agreement where individuals voluntarily commit to establish a government that will protect the common interests of all
Government Of By and For
Of- the people govern
By- people are engaged in self government
For- aims should be guided by what is good for the people
Democracy
Government by the people, directly or indirectly, with free and frequent elections
US Government in general:
Smooth transition of power
People want
Why has US succeeded?
Citizens live their country, revere the constitution, and respect the free enterprise system
There is debate, compromise and free elections
What does government by the people require?
Faith in humans Trust in self government Optimism & skepticism Healthy debate Smooth transition of power
Direct democracy
Government by which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly
-America combines representative and direct e.g. direct primary, initiative, referendum, recall
Direct primary
Election by which voters choose party nominees
Initiative
Procedure whereby certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters
Referendum
Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution
Recall
Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office e before the end of their term
Representative democracy
Government where people elect those who govern and pass laws
Also “republic”
Constitutionalism
Set of arrangements including Checks and balances Federalism Separation of powers Rule of law Due process Bill of rights That hold leaders politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers
Natural rights
Rights of all people to dignity and worth
Political cultures
Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms citizens hold about their relationship to government and to one another
Statism
Idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation
American Dream
Complex set of ideas that holds that the United States is a land of opportunity where individual initiative and hard work can ring economic success
Values of democracy
Personal liberty Individualism Equality Opportunity + American Dream Popular sovereignty
Personal liberty
Freedom and self determination: all individuals have the opportunity to repair their own goals
Freedom FROM and TO DO
Individualism
Individuals have rights, which are more important than the group rights
Rights are source of all legit government authority and power
Equality
All are equal and have the same rights and equal opportunity
Popular socereignity
Ultimate political authority rests with the people
Just government must derive powers from people
Political processes
Free and fair elections Majority and plurality rule Freedom of expression Right to assemble and protest Justice and rule of law
Majority
More than half votes to win
Plurality
Most votes to win, even if it’s not half
Rule of law
Generality: laws stated generally and not single out anyone
Prospectivity: laws apply to present and future, not punish for the past
Publicity: laws cannot be kept secret then enforced
Authority: valid laws made by those with legit power from popular consent
Due process: laws enforced impartially with fair processes
Political structures
Constitution Bill of rights Political parties Interest groups Media etc.
Conditions favorable for constitutional democracy
Educated citizenry Relatively prosperous nation Proper social conditions (not factioned) Democratic consensus (agree ideologically about governmental structure) Stability
Theocracy
Government by religious leaders who claim divine guidance
Articles of confederation
First governing document of the United States in 1781, central government during war, not strong, no judiciary, executive or national currency, no direct authority over citizens, no taxes, regulating trade
States still supreme
Annapolis convention
Convention in 1786 by only 5 states to address interstate trade and navigation issues> led to constitutional convention
Constitutional convention 1787
States appointed delegates, all important, upper class, week read, white males
Decided to write new, stronger constitution that needed 3/4 to ratify rather than unanimous
Had three branches and bicameralism
Virginia Plan
Initial proposal by VA for strong central government with bicameral legislature based on state size
New Jersey plan
Proposal by smaller states for single house legislature where each state represented equally
Connecticut compromise
Bicameral legislature with one house equal, and one proportional to size
Also included 3/5 rule
Electoral college
System used to elect president and Vice President, where voters oye for electors pledges to cast ballot for a particular party’s candidates
Federalists v Antifederalists
Feds supported ratification of constitution, anti feds did not
“Federalist” by Madison, Hamilton and Jay was paper that promoted ratification with political thinking and reasoning and explanation
Constitutional Foundation
Short and lacks specificity: skeleton Adaptable and flexible Natural Law: natures law defining right from wrong- higher than human law Symbol of unity and loyalty Gives government power and limits
Checks on government
Competing interests Elections, petitions, protests, amendments Federalism Separation of powers Checks and balances Each branch is independent Differing election times
Autocracy
Type of government where one person with unlimited power rules
Partisanship
Strong allegiance to ones own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party
Divided government
Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress
Unified government
Governance in which one party controls both the winger Jody and both houses of Congress
17th amendment
Direct election of senators by the people
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established judicial review
Jefferson refused to deliver commissions to judges after Adams packed the courts> marbury went to courts to issue “writ of mandamus”
Marshall said marbury was entitled to commissions and Madison should have delivered it, but the writ went against the constitution because it wasn’t under their OG jurisdiction, so he couldn’t issue a writ and that section was unconstitutional
Judicial review
Power of a court to review laws or governmental regulations to determine whether they are consistent with the constitution
Writ of mandamus
Court order directing an official to perform an official duty
Congressional elaboration
Congressional legislation that gives further meaning for the constitution based on sometimes vague constitutional authority, such as necessary and proper clause
Originality approach
Approach to constitutional interpretation that envisions the document document as having a fixed meaning that might be determined by a strict reading of the text or the framers intent
Adaptive approach
Method used to interpret the constitution that understands the document to be flexible and responsive to changing needs of the times
How to change the constitution
Need 2/3 of Congress or convention called by request of 2/3 of states to propose amendments
Need approval by 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of special state conventions to ratify
Can’t unratify except by new amendment
Must be ratified within “reasonable amount of time” aka 7 years
