Foundations Flashcards
Alexis De Toqueville
- French Aristocrat
- Diplomat
- Political Scientist
- Political Philosopher
- Historian
- July 29, 1805 - April 16, 1859
- Book: Democracy in America
US Constitution
- Constitution - Fundamental laws of principles by which a nation is governed by, usually written doc
- September 17, 1787
- “Supreme Law of the Land”
- James Madison (Father of the Constitution)
- Included the Virginia Plan (blueprint)
- “We the people…..”
- Separation of Powers
Federalism
- Shared powers between state & national govt.
- Bicameral Legs (2 houses)
- Dual Citizenship
- 3 Branches
E Pluribus Unum
- meaning 1 of many
- chosen for the cont. congress when a single country was created from the 13 colonies
Separation of Powers
3 Branches of Govt.
- Leg (makes laws)
- Exec (carries out laws, pres)
- Jud (court system)
- checks and balances regulate this
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of govt. to limit the powers of the other branches to prevent abuse of power
Ex:
- Exec can veto
- Legs can override veto
- Jud can use judicial review
Judicial Review
The ability of the court to declare a legislative or executive act in violation of the constitution
How a Bill becomes a Law
- A bill is proposed
- Must pass BOTH houses & be signed pr vetoed by the pres. but can be overridden by legs.
(Idea can come from anyone but only a member of the house or senate can sponsor and guide it)
Declaration of Independence
- July 4 1776
- Purpose: Declared independence from Great Britain
- Written by Thomas Jefferson
- “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal….”
- Unalienable Rights
Signers of the Declaration
- John Hancock
- Charles Carroll
- John Witherspoon
- Benjiman Rush
“We mutually pledge to each other our lives, fortunes, and our sacred honor”
Supporters of the Declaration
- John Jay
- Johnathan Trumbull
- John Peter Muhlenburg
John Locke
- Created idea for unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
Capitalism
An economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods
Popular Sovereignty
- Only by the consent of the people
- The govts. authority comes from the people
- “WE the people”
Bicameral/Bicameralism
- The principle of a two-house legislature
(the House of Rep and the Senate)