Final Flashcards
Classic Forms of Government
Monarchy - “In a monarchy, the government is lead by one person, such as a king or queen.”
Dictatorship - “A system of rule in which a dictator can hold unlimited power over government.”
Democracy-“The people make major government decisions through a process of majority rule.”
State of Nature (Locke, Hobbes, Montesquieu, Rousseau)
Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
The Spirit of the Laws
“Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments only when there no abuse of power: but constant experiences show us that every man invested in power is apt to abuse it.”
Keep peace among man. Checks and balances.
“To prevent this abuse, it is necessary , from the very nature of things, that power should be a check to power.”
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
The Social Contract
“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”
“The social order is a sacred right serves as a foundation for all others. Man can’t create any new forces, but only combine and direct those that exist.”
Man makes the general will. Actively participates.
“This sum of forces can be produced only by the combination of man; but the strength and freedom of each man being the chief instruments of his preservation.”
John Locke (1632-1704)
Civil Government
“No one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possession.”
“Men living together according to reason, without a common superior on earth, with authority to judge between them, is properly the state of nature.”
Purpose of government is to protect rights.
“Nothing was made by God for man to spoil or destroy.”
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
The Leviathan
“If any two men desire the same thing, they become enemies”
Purpose of government is to prevent chaos.
“Nature of man may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves….”
Man should not be involved in government
Compare Democracy to Republic
“A republic is an indirect form of democracy that places political decision one step away from the people. A representative democracy is that people are the ultimate source of government authority.”
Advantages/Disadvantages to a presidential system
“It’s difficult to remove a terrible president from office.”
“Presidents may become too strong.”
Enlightenment Influences (Magna Carta, Petition of Rights, English Bill of Rights)
“The Magna Carta guaranteed people accused of crimes the right to a trial by a jury of their peers.”
“The petition of rights said that monarchs couldn’t illegally imprison people, force citizens to house soldiers in their homes, or establish military rule during times of peace.”
“The English bill of rights guaranteed parliament the privilege of free speech and gave all people protection from cruel and unusual punishment.”
6 Goals of Constitution
Form a perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and the generations that followed
6 Principles of government in the Constitution
Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism
Define: Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government
“Popular sovereignty is the concept that the people establish government and are the source of its power.”
“Limited government is the concept that government powers are restricted to protect individual rights.”
Virginia vs New Jersey Plan
“The Virginia Plan called for a central government divided into three branches each with the power to check the other branches - legislative, executive, and judicial.Virginia’s proposal called for a strong national government with the power to make laws, levy its own taxes, and control commerce between the states.”
“The New Jersey Plan compromised that each state would have one vote, giving equal representation to every state regardless of its population.”
3 major compromises
“The Great Compromise combined elements from both the Virginia and New Jersey plan. House of Representatives would be based on a state’s population. The senate would have two members protecting the smaller states by granting them equal representation.”
“The Three-Fifths Compromise provided that for every five enslaved people, three would be added to the states population total to determine the number of representatives a state would have in the house.”
“The Presidential Compromise said the president would be chosen by state electors.”
Federalists vs Anti-Federalist
Anti-federalists wanted a small central government.
Federalists wanted a strong central government.
Why did Tom Jefferson believe the Constitution should be amended every generation?
The constitution should be changed as society and circumstances change. Jefferson saw change as inevitable and positive. Each generation of Americans should be regarded as a distinct nation with the right to govern itself but not to bind succeeding generations.
What is an amendment? Process for amending the Constitution
Amendments can be proposed by a congress with two-thirds vote in each house or a national convention called by congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislators. Amendments can be ratified by legislators of three-fourths of the states or conventions in three-fourths of thew states.
Why federalism?
The United States were falling as confederation and the country needed more strength and central government
Expressed, Concurrent, Reserved Powers
Expressed power lists powers granted to the national government.
Reserved powers are not specifically mentioned in the constitution.
Concurrent powers collect taxes.
Full Faith and Credit Clause, Supremacy Clause, Elastic Clause
“Full faith and credit clause ensures that extradition can take place.”
“The supremacy clause declares that the constitution, national laws, and treaties made by the national government are the supreme law of the land.”
“The elastic clause stretches the powers of congress.”
