Foundations of the U.S. Government Flashcards
Beginning with Greco-Roman principles of democracy through the Articles of Confederation system, this deck examines the underpinnings of the American political system.
Define:
anarchy
Anarchy is the absence of any governmental authority.
What is an autocracy?
An autocracy is rule by a single individual.
An autocratic government in which power is held by a leader, who is unrestricted by constitutional limits or social or political powers within a state, is known as a ______.
dictatorship
The term “dictator” stems from Roman law and refers to the creation of a special office by the Roman Republic. A Roman dictator was usually given absolute power in times of national emergency to carry out a specific task and then expected to return his power to the state.
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy?
Whereas absolute monarchies (e.g. Saudi Arabia) place no limits on a monarch’s power, constitutional monarchies (e.g. Great Britain) place substantial constitutional limits on a monarch’s power.
Define:
oligarchy
An oligarchy is a type of government in which power is concentrated in the hands of only a few people. Aristocracy (rule by the elite) is a type of oligarchy.
What is a democracy?
A democracy is a form of government under which the people govern themselves.
For much of its history, Athens was a democracy. The term stems from the Greek word “demos,” meaning “people” or “population.”
What is the difference between a direct democracy and representative democracy?
In a direct democracy all citizens meet together and make decisions via a vote. ex. Switzerland
In a representative democracy citizens elect leaders who make decisions on their behalf. ex. The United Kingdom
A republic (meaning rule by elected officials) is a form of democracy. Thus, all republics are democracies, but not all democracies are republics, because in a direct democracy there are no elected officials.
What is the traditional theory regarding how democracy derives its authority?
Traditional political theory holds that governments of all types, including democracies, derive their power from the consent of the governed.
The U.N. General Assembly’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights put it succinctly by stating, “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of the government.”
In political science, what is elite theory?
Elite theory describes power relationships in modern states and contends that the economic elite holds the most power, exercises this power through policy planning, and does so independently of the state’s electoral process.
According to political scientist Max Weber’s theories, who holds power in the modern state?
In Weber’s view, most political power is ceded to unelected bureaucrats, who handle much of the daily function of government.
Although Weber was concerned that bureaucracy was a threat to individual freedom, he also contended that it was the most efficient form of societal organization.
In political science, what is pluralism?
As a political theory, pluralism holds that when different interests compete, they conflict and are forced to negotiate and compromise.
In Federalist No.10, James Madison suggested that factionalism could be offset by pluralism; the many competing factions would prevent any single faction from dominating the new country.
How does hyperpluralism differ from pluralism?
Pluralism posits that competing factions negotiate and compromise, eventually reaching agreement. Hyperpluralism contends that competing factions pull the government in different directions, resulting in gridlock and a lack of progress on substantive issues.
What influence did the Greeks and Romans have on the eventual development of American democracy?
Many Greek city-states and the Roman Republic were seen as models for the Founding Fathers, especially those societies’ use of democratic government and representative democracy.
What was the Magna Carta?
Signed in 1215, the Magna Carta forced King John of England to recognize limits on his arbitrary authority. The Magna Carta granted certain rights to the English nobility, such as a right to trial by jury and due process before the taking of life, liberty, or property.
In 1628, the Petition of Rights extended the Magna Carta to commoners as well as the nobility.
In political theory, what is the social contract?
The social contract contends that individuals consent to the transfer of some of their freedoms to the government. In exchange, the government protects their remaining rights.
John Locke, who wrote about the social contract, argued that it was acceptable to overthrow a government that infringed on these remaining rights, which included life, liberty, and property.
