gov Flashcards
What is the Government supposed to do?
Acts for the benefits of the citizens.
Has a balanced power system and good defense
Punishes bad behavior and encourages good behavior
depends on ideas of good/just/right
How should we act in relation to government
Submit to government
Participate when possible
As Christians, pray for government
Thomas Hobbes: Sovereignty
Power entrusted to a ruler who is powerful enough to keep his subjects from killing each other
Thomas hobbes: Legacy
Government is defined as an institution with a monopoly on legitimate use of force
TH: Police power
Governments authority to maintain order and safety
John Locke:
(1) Governments exist to protect the basic rights of individuals (life, liberty, property)
(2) Governments that don’t do this are illegitimate and can be replaced
John Locke Legacy
Liberalism: Government exist to protect freedoms of individuals
Constitutionalism: Governments and rulers are bound by a basic law
Dictatorship
Government rules without the consent or input from the governed
Totalitarianism
The Government seeks to control every aspect of life
Popular Government
The governed participate in the government
Direct Democracy
Voters are directly involved in every decision
indirect democracy
voters choose representatives to make laws and run the government
Unitary
Power is centralized
Federal
Division of powers among central, local, and state government
Confedrate
Weak central government, strong state governments
Opportunity
People must believe that democracy offers them the best chance at social and economic advancement as well security
Education
People must be trained in how democratic governments works at how to participate intelligently
responsibility
people must be willing to live with the consequences of their choices
Majority Rule
The side with the biggest number of votes gets to make decisions that are binding on everyone
popular majority
Of all citizens/voters
Representative majority
of elected representatives
Pluralism
differing opinions and political parties exist freely and are allowed to compete for popular supports
Equality
Law treats everyone the same
Compromise
Everyone gets some of what they want rather than nothing and another group getting everything they want
Problems with the articles of confederation
1: Congress could make laws, but had little money/power to enforve them
2: Congress was controlled by and was dependent on state governments
Popular Sovereignity
Government power is from the people
Limited Government
Government powers are restricted by law
Separation of powers
Avoids concentration/abuse of government powers in one branch
Checks and balances
Each branch works to prevent overreach by other branches
federalism
Separation of powers between national and local government
Legislative Power
The power to make laws
LOOK AT OTHER FLASH CARDS
:)
1st amendment
Congress cant make laws that limit..
Religion: “Wall of separation between the church and state” comes from jeffersons letter to baptiste
Free Speech: Federal courts have ruled this doesnt protect slander (verbal defamation) libel (defamation in wiritng) endangering public safety but these are still broad protections compared to other countries
4th amendment
No unreasonable searches or seizures
Searches/seizures require court-issued warrant based on probable cause
5th amendment
Captial and other serious crimes usually involve indictment by a grand jury before trial
No double-jeopardy
No compulsion to testify against self
No deprivation of life/liberty/ property without due process
10th amendment
Powers not given to the federal government by the constitution belong to the states or the people
Except if constitution says they can’t have such powers
Incorporation:some constitution restrictions now apply to states and the federal government
Birthright Citizenship
included in the 14th amendment (1868) and states that everyone born in the US is a US citizen
Equal protection clause
included in the 14th amendment (1868) and states that everyone has the same protections under law no matter what may differentiate them
Protection of Voting right
included in 15th amendment and states that a citizens right to vote cannot be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or having been a slave
Goals
Govern the increasingly complex society
17th amendment
direct election of the US senators
24th amendment
No poll taxes- used by southern states to prevent poor (black) people from voting
