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govt 2305 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Direct Democracy:

A

ordinary people are the government and make all laws themselves. (the New England town meeting model that evolved from pilgrim days)

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2
Q

Indirect (Representative) Democracy:

A

In which people choose their delegates or representatives. (these colonial assemblies or councils were essentially self-governing due to the distance from England and Parliament & the Crown)

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3
Q

Why is the rule of law and property rights so important:

A

It’s a pillar of democracy because the King would always try to steal the property. The Rule of Law protects property rights.

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4
Q

What does it mean to have a shared political culture and what aspects are important in ours:

A

People’s collective beliefs and attitudes about government and political process. Liberty, equality, capitalism and consent to be governed: Pluralist society; diverse

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5
Q

Social contract:

A

An unofficial agreement shared by everyone in a society in which they give up some freedom for security. (Ex= The U.S. Constitution)

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6
Q

What does “consent of the governed” mean:

A

The government’s power derives from the consent of those that it governs

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7
Q

Monarchy:

A

Usually single ruler, usually hereditary king or queen traditionally with absolute authority over the people. However, most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies. (by one, generally for the good of the rest)

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8
Q

Aristocracy:

A

power through inherited wealth or land. (by an elite few for the good of the rest)

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9
Q

Anarchy:

A

Is the state of a society being freely constituted without authorities or a governing body. (an absence of government) lack of rule

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10
Q

Oligarchy:

A

Power through ownership or control of resources. (by a powerful few for their own benefit)

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11
Q

Tyranny:

A

A Dictatorship Government who control every aspects of their citizens’ lives e.g. North Korea. (by one and regardless of the rest)

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12
Q

What does having an economic system of capitalism mean:

A

Capitalism is an economic system in which the means of producing wealth are privately owned and operated to produce profits. This means that in a pure capitalist system the marketplace determines the regulation of production (risk that pays rewards)

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13
Q

Hobbes (Leviathan 1651):

A

Social contract between absolute sovereign and people. Sovereign provides protection while people relinquish rights. Without government life would be “nasty, brutish and short” Even a tyrant is better than nothing - anarchy

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14
Q

Locke (Two Treatises on Civil Government 1689):

A

Social contract. Government required to protect people’s natural rights in return for popular acceptance of governmental authority. Right of rebellion in absence of such protection. (Optimist)

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15
Q

Rousseau (1712-1778):

A

asserted that the social contract relied on popular sovereignty or the idea that individuals possess free will and have an equal right to self-determination and the ability to consent to be governed.

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16
Q

Equality of Condition:

A

Is making everyone equal in material way.

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17
Q

Equality of Opportunity:

A

Means that there’s no discrimination

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18
Q

Do Americans trust their government today? Why is that good or bad?

A

No Americans don’t, but this just educates the citizens and keeps them on their toe. But, there needs to be a medium ground of trust

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19
Q

Do the majority of Americans vote?

A

No, most Americans don’t vote

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20
Q

Classical Liberalism: (what it values, who it emphasizes)

A

It’s a positive, humanist point of view

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21
Q

Modern Liberalism:

A

Both believe in limited government, but these liberals believe that government should be limited less in daily lives

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22
Q

What differentiates a Liberal from a Conservative:

A

Liberals believe government should promote opportunity, while conservatives want the government to have little power and protect the capitalist system (keep it traditional, self-controlled)

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23
Q

Citizenship:

A

Status wherein one is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a full fledged member of a political community

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24
Q

Immigration:

A

The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country

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25
The role of the virtuous citizen:
To pick the best canidate for presidency and fulfill their civic duty
26
What has been our history towards immigrants been generally:
We haven't always been kind to immigrants, but our country was founded on immigrants. Now, all our cultures are mixing making us the "melting pot".
27
What is the role of religion and our religious traditions in America:
Americans's have strong religious faiths, but understand that others have their own beliefs. We have separation of church and state, but like our government to have morals. Religious diversity was the first test of diversity.
28
Federalists:
Were the group that supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
29
Anti-Federalists:
Individuals who opposed ratification of the Constitution because they were deeply suspicious of the powers in gave the national government and of the impact those powers would have on the states' authority and individual freedoms. (Agreed on bill of rights)
30
What were the Federalist papers and why were they important:
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays that argued for the ratification of the Constitution. The Federalist were communicating their points of view with public.
31
Who wrote "Common Sense" and purpose:
Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense. This pamphlet encouraged hesitant colonists that breaking from England was a good thing.
32
What were the differences between the northern and southern colonies (why was each region first settled?):
North was industrial and urbanized with no slaves. While the South was about plantation agriculture and had slaves.
33
What events led up to the Declaration of Independence:
The Sugar Act Stamp Act Quartering Act Declaratory Act Townsend Duties Act Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party
34
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and signed:
Thomas Jefferson wrote the document and it was signed July 4th, 1776.
35
Articles of Confederation:
The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at a Constitution. But, this document gave too much power to the state and not enough to the national government. The currency and taxes also didn't compute right.
36
What shortfalls did the Articles of Confederation have? Which states favored them?
This document gave too much power to the state and not enough to the national government. The currency and taxes also didn't compute right.
37
Why was a convention called to amend the Articles and what incident is most often cited in the Articles:
The problems were more than just a small fix. They needed major revisions to fix the nation. -Shay's Rebellion
38
Which states came with plans that became the center of debate:
New Jersey & Virginia
39
What were some of the tensions between "big" states and "small" states:
If Congress representatives were based off of population then the small states wouldn't be well represented. If state taxes were based of population the big states would have to pay a lot of taxes.
40
What were some of the tensions between "Northern States" and "Southern States":
Slavery ... The Southern states wanted to count slaves in the population to have more representation in Congress, but the North saw that unfair.
41
Who wrote most of the Constitution:
James Madison
42
What is separation of powers:
The idea that government should be divided into 3 distinct and separate branches, such as the legislative branch, executive branch and the judicial branch
43
What were the major compromises over in the Constitution? Why Connecticut:
The Connecticut Compromise set up the Senate with equal representatives and the House based on population. The Three-Fifths Compromise counted 3/5 of a slave for representation.
44
Why have checks and balances:
Each branch of government can "check" or control, the actions of the other branches. It keeps each branch from becoming too powerful.
45
What is judicial review:
Refers to the power of a court to review a statute, treaty or administrative regulation for constitutionality or consistency with a a superior law.
46
What does the electoral college do? Why was this necessary:
Was created for two reasons. The first purpose was to create a buffer between population and the selection of a President. The second as part of the structure of the government that gave extra power to the smaller states.
47
How is the constitution amended:
first the amendment has to be proposed, which means a 2/3 majority vote in the House and Senate or 2/3 of the state's legislators has to approve. Then the amendment has to be ratified.
48
How is the constitution ratified:
To be ratified that amendment has to have 3/4 of the state' legislators votes or by a special state convention in which 3/4 of the states approve. 9 out of 13
49
Federalism:
Federalism is what happens when the power is divided between the national government and the states.
50
"Dual" Concurrent or Shared Federalism:
Basic governing functions of all sovereign governments. They are held at the national, states and local.
51
Federal System:
Has two levels of government that has sovereignty over different policy matters
52
Unitary system:
Has one level of government that has sovereignty over different policy matters
53
What was the era of dual federalism, and what events did it influence:
Era was the Civil War because the south wanted nullify the North's effects to abolish slavery. This then led to the 16th and 17th amendment and the Doctrine of Nullification.
54
What is cooperative federalism and when was it first really used:
Cooperative Federalism is the relationship between the national government and state government whereby the two work together. It was first used during the great depression.
55
Why are states considered laboratories of democracy:
A "state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country."
56
Devolution:
The process whereby the national government returns policy responsibilities to state and/or local governments.
57
Unfunded Mandates:
When state or local governments must cover all or some of the mandates
58
Doctrine of Nullification:
The doctrine states that a State can nullify any act of Congress or part of the Constitution for that matter that it disagrees with
59
What resulted when states challenged their right to nullify federal law:
The Civil War resulted and then the 16th and 17th amendment.
60
Reserve Clause (where is it found):
Says that any power not exclusively given to the federal government is left to the states, is found in the Tenth Amendment of the bill of rights
61
Enumerated Powers:
The power of the national government that are listed in the Constitution
62
Why have the necessary and proper clause:
Found in Article 1 Section 8 during enumerated rights. Because it's a catch all. It sums up all the powers Congress has the right to.
63
Categorical Grants:
The national government says what categorical grants are supposed to be used for
64
Block Grants:
Unrestricted federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services. (let's the states choose what the block grants are used for)
65
Multiculturalism:
The preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation
66
Direct democracy refers to what relationship:
When citizens of a community meet and vote on issues together, and not through an elected body
67
Classical liberalism is a political philosophy:
- importance of self-determination and free will - resulted from the enlightenment - emphasizes the rights of individuals
68
(T/F) Indirect or Representative democracy both mean political representation through an elected official?
True
69
Who are constituents?
- the people who an office-holder represents - are eligable to vote for that person
70
Primary
This is when the party's voters select their party candidate
71
General
This is the election in which the office-holder is decided
72
Recall
This type of election occurs after voters petition to remove an elected official
73
Referendum
This type of election is when voters approve of proposed state laws or changes to the state constitution
74
(T/F) Electoral incentive is the desire to be elected, or re-elected to office?
True
75
Virginia Plan
A bicameral legislature, with both houses chosen by proportion of population
76
New Jersey Plan
A unicameral legislature, with states having equal representation
77
Connecticut Plan
A bicameral legislature, with one house having proportional representation, and the other equal.
78
What issue was at the center of the 3/5th clause?
whether or not to count slaves for purposes of apportionment
79
a federal system is one in which
power is divided, or shared between the national and state governments
80
(T/F) The doctrine of nullification asserts that states can declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
True
81

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