Exam 1 Flashcards
Totalitarianism
Government has complete control over the people
One person in charge
Authoritarianism
Gov/ select group in charge
uses force
Democracy
Checks and balances
Separation of powers
What is politics?
The struggle over who gets what, when, and how
John Locke
-People are innately (born) good, they can be trusted
-A strong central authority (government) controlling people is not needed
1.) Kings do not have absolute power;
2.) The people have basic (natural) rights of life, liberty and property, and; 3.) The people can overthrow the government if those rights are threatened
Thomas Hobbes
-People are bad, they cannot be trusted
-A strong central authority (government) is needed to control people or they will hurt/ kill each other
1.) People should come together and form a contract to create government
2.) The people give power to government, not God
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
-Believed in an agreement between the people to create government is known as a social contract.
(His book is titled The Social Contract.)
1.)The social contract is formed by the people; therefore government works for the people
2.) The people do not work (controlled by) for the government
Boston Tea Party
- East India Tea Company EIC awarded a monopoly by Parliament
a. Monopoly on shipping and sale of tea to colonies
b. Colonial shippers and merchants were locked out
c. Major negative economic impact on colonists involved in tea trade
- Boston harbor was a major trade port. Many EIC ships carrying tea docked in the
harbor
a. Bostonians (colonists) dressed as Indians (Native Americans) threw tea from EIC ship
overboard at night
b. The ‘Boston Tea Party’ was a major turning point in relations (for the worse)
between the colonies and Britain
Intolerable Acts
1.) Boston Port Act
- Port closed to colonial shipping until East India Tea Company had
been repaid for lost tea
2.) Quartering Act
- Homes and other buildings could be used or seized to house British
troops
3.) Administration of Justice Act
- British officials accused of crimes in colonies would be tried in
Britain
4.) Massachusetts Government Act
- Political power in colonies held by King, which means all colonial
appointments made by the King (Parliament)
- Town meetings allowed only once a year
Articles of Confederation
- Created a very weak national government, but strong state governments
1.) Instead of three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) there was only one, (Legislative)
2.) State governments selected members of Congress. State governments are responsible for paying them and can recall them at any time
3.) Each state has one member and one vote
4.) Congress cannot tax or regulate commerce to gain revenue
5.) No national army, only state militias
6.) Congress can borrow and coin (create) money. However, revenue is required and states already
coined their own money
7.) Amendment (change) to Articles required unanimous agreement of all state
Great Compromise
Virginia (large state) Plan
- Congressional rep based on pop
- Congress should consist of two houses, First house elects the second
New Jersey (small state) Plan
-Congressional representation should be equal
- Congress should consist of one house
Compromise:
- Representation based on population in ‘lower house’
- House of Representatives
- Each state has equal representation in ‘upper house’
- Senate (each state has two
Three- fifths Compromise
compromise on the population/representation issue
1. Southern states had many slaves – although not citizens, they could be counted toward a state’s population
2. Each slave counted as three-fifths of a person
Expressed vs. Implied Powers
Expressed Powers:
Specific powers written in the Constitution
Examples:
Taxing, Regulating commerce, Coining and borrowing money
Implied Powers: Not specific or written, but still necessary and proper
N & P clause:
Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Clause 18
Supremacy Clause
Constitution article 6
- The US Constitution, Laws of the US, all Treaties, and Federal Court decisions have supremacy over state constitutions, state laws, state court decisions,
etc
Federalism
- Divided and shared powers between national and state gov
Types of Grants
Categorical
- to fix a specific problem
In-Aid
- To create jobs
Procedural Liberties
Restraints on government such as, Due Process of Law
Due Process of Law
The right to be protected from arbitrary action by the federal and
state government. These are known as Legal protections
Voluntary Consent
If an individual voluntarily consents (agrees to) a search, no
warrant is needed
Plain Sight
A police officer that spots something in plain view does not need a
search warrant to seize the object
Legal Arrest
If a suspect has been legally arrested, the police may search the
defendant and the area within the defendant’s immediate control
Visual Inspection
Following an arrest, the police may make a protective sweep
search if they reasonably believe that a dangerous accomplice may be hiding in an area near where the defendant was arrested
Probable Cause
If the police stop a car based on probable cause, they can search
for objects related to the reason for the stop without obtaining a warrant
1st Amendment
Congress shall make no law: (1a.) respecting an establishment of religion, or (1b.) prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or (2a.) abridging the freedom of speech, (2b.) or of the press; or (3) the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to (4) petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Establishment & Free Exercise Clauses
Establishment Clause: Government is not allowed to start (establish) a state religion - Government cannot take sides between competing religions
Free Exercise Clause: Citizens have right to practice religion of choice or not to practice
religion at all
Civil War Amendments
13th Amendment-abolished slavery
14th Amendment-guaranteed equal protection and due process
15th Amendment-guaranteed voting rights for African American men
