Foundations and the Constitution Flashcards
What’s government?
The formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people
What’s sovereignty?
The highest political authority/ independent ability to act as it wishes
What’s politics?
The process by which gov. makes and carries out decisions
According to Aristotle, what is the root cause of evil in all forms of gov.?
Self interest
Why is the concept of legitimacy important for a gov.?
Illegitimacy gov don’t last long
What’s social contract theory according to John Locke?
Society decide to create gov., they surrender some rights so there can be law and gov. To protect those rights
What’s democracy?
The people are in charge
What is a federal system? (Federalism)
Power divided among national gov. and regional gov.s
Differentiate direct democracy and a republic
In a direct democracy people makes laws directly
In a republic people select representatives to make laws and govern
What’s a bi-cameraman legislator?
It’s a two chamber legislature
Summerize the philosophical justification for revolution expressed in the Declaration of Independence
people have alienable rights gov. can’t take and people can change gov. if they fail
What are the Articles of Confederation?
the nations first constitution
What was the original purpose of the May 1787 meeting now known as the constitutional convention?
to fix the Articles of Confederation
What were the basic ideas put forth in the Virginia Plan? Which type of states supported it? Why?
representation based on population and bicameral legislature
big states supported because they had an advantage over the population for their representation
How was the New Jersey Plan different from the Virginia Plan? Which states supported it?
separation of powers, unicameral legislature, equal representation
small states
What was the great compromise ( also known as the Connecticut compromise)?
having a bicameral legislature, house of representatives, equal representation of the senate
What issue was resolved by the three-fifths compromise?
How to count the enslaved population for the purpose of representation for congress
What did the Federalists want?
Strong national gov. ratify the constitution (federalist supported constitution)
What did the Anti-federalists want?
Apposed the constitution
What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers? Who wrote them?
To defend the constitution
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Jon Jay
What is the Bill of Rights? Why was it added to the Constitution in 1789?
first 10 amendments of the constitution (protected basic rights)
To appease the antifederalist
Popular sovereignty-
Ultimate political is w/the people
Limited Government/ Rule of Law-
The idea that the power of gov is limited by a constitution
Separation of Powers-
The powers of gov that are separated into 3 powers leg. exec. jud.
