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)
“In God We Trust”
- was placed on US currency
- due to the increased religious sentiment during the civil war
- been used since 1909
- law passed by 84th congress to make national motto
Federalist Papers
- written by : Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
- 85 convincing newspaper essays for ratification
- published under Pseudonym Pubilus
Federalists V Anti-federalists
Federalists | Anti-federalists
- Alexander Ham. - George Mason
- James Madison - Patrick Henry
- John Jay - Richard Lee
> made federalist > from Virginia
papers did not like that
there was no bill of
rights as a legal
guarantee of
personal liberty
Ratify
- to approve by voting
Amendment/Amendment Process
Amendment - A change made in a motion, bill, or constitution
Amendment Process:
1. Propose with approval from 2/3 of both houses or state legs
2. Ratified by 3/4 of the states
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments of the constitution
1. RAAPS
2. RIght to bear arms
3. Right not to quarter soldiers
4. Freedom from unreasonable search & seizure
5. Due process
6. Right to speedy trial
7. Right to trial by jury
8. No cruel or unusual punishment
9. Peoples rights
10. States rights
Laissez-faire
A policy of minimum govt. interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society
Democracy
- Run by the people
- Our gov. is elected by the citizens vote
