GOVT Test #1 Flashcards
Politics
conflicts & struggles over leadership, structure, and policies OF governments
Government
formal institution through which territory & people are ruled
Federalist #1
-can we establish good government by choice
-True vs. partial/private interests
-problem: those who resist chage
Aristotle on Democracy
5 Types of Democracy: split up into who can run for office
*first 4: law is supreme
1. No class divisions (rich=poor)
2. Assessment of wealth
3. Anyone born naturally
4. Any citizens
5. Multitude: fall of democracy.. *people> law
What would cause the decline of democracy according to Aristotle?
A demagogue! (Popular leader) Leads the people according to personal interests, puts people’s opinions above the law… makes decrees
Liberal Democracy
America, idea gov’t servers purpose of protecting ind’v rights
Liberalism
refers to purpose of gov’t is to protect ind’v rights
What do Hobbes and Locke agree on?
Gov’t should maintain:
1. safety/self preservation
2. natural rights
What does Locke suggest following Hobbes’ proposition?
Humans are more peaceful than Hobbes thinks
What two additions does Locke make to Hobbes gov’t set up?
- We need separate branches of gov’t (check and balances)
- There is a right of revolution against an unjust gov’t
What are the 3 main points of the Declaration of Independence?
- Entitlement of Separation
- Natural rights > gov’t
- Gov’t serves the PEOPLE… GB not doing that
Entitlement of Separation
Portion of the Declaration of Independence, said the colonies were ENTITLED to SEPARATE because of idea of Natural Law (comes from Hobbes n Locke)
What are the natural rights?
life, liberty, property
What is the separation of powers? List them in order
- Legislative (Congress): makes laws
- Executive (President): enforces laws
- Judicial (Supreme Court): judges laws
Continental Congress
series of meeting that led to writing of Declaration of Independence
1. arm themselves, plot to boycott British goods
2. goal becomes independence from GB
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What were the main problems with the Articles of Confederation?
- No president (weak central gov’t)
- Congress couldn’t tax or enforce laws
- States were COMPLETELY separate
New Jersey Plan
favored small states, based on 1 vote per state
Virginia Plan
favored big states, based on population
What was the Connecticut Compromise?
compromised VA and NJ plans, created House (∝ pop.) and Senate( = rep of each state)
Who wrote the US Constitution?
James Madison
What are the two parts of Congress?
House(∝ pop., reelection every 2 yrs) & Senate ( = rep of each state, reelection every 6 yrs),
What are some of Congress’ key powers?
- taxes
- declare war
- regulate commerce
- AND MORE!!! has “Enumerated Powers” = listed powers