govt. unit 1 Flashcards
🌟Comparing democracy and dictatorshipThose who rule are responsible to…
Democracy- the peopleDictatorship- how they see fit
🌟Comparing democracy and dictatorshipPower is gained by…
Democracy- people elect representatives to carry out their willDictatorship- autocracy, military force oligarchy, birthright or religious power
🌟Define democracy, give 2 examples
A form of government in which supreme authority rest with the people. Either direct, individuals vote on laws. Or indirect, people elect representatives vote on laws.Examples - United States, India
🌟Define Dictatorship, give 2 examples
A form of government where in which the leader has absolute power and authority.Examples- Nazi Germany, People’s Republic of China
🌟Where is the power the power held? 2 examplesUnitary government
All power held by a central government. In theory, the central government could completely disband all local governments if it wanted to.Examples- Great Britain, most world governments
🌟Where is the power the power held? 2 examplesFederal government
Powers are divided between a central government and local governments. A superior authority (like our constitution) divides the powers on a geographic basis.Examples- United States, India, Canada, many others
🌟Where is the power the power held? 2 examplesConfederation or confederate government
Power is held by individual states or countries. The confederation has very limited powers that its members assign to it. Confederations are often formed so that its members agree to trade rules or defend each other.Examples- EU the European Union, early United States (1781-1789) under the Articles of Confederation
🌟What is the relationship between legislative and executive branches of government? Give 2 examples.Presidential?
Executive (the President) and legislative (Congress) are separate, independent of each other and coequal. Each has powers that can block the other. Both are elected by the people.Examples, United States, France
🌟What is the relationship between legislative and executive branches of government? Give 2 examples.Parliamentary
The prime minister or premier is chosen by the parliament’s ruling party. The prime minister chooses their cabinet from parliament members. The prime minister gets their power from the parliament. If their party is voted out, they’re out too. No checks and balances.Examples- Great Britain, Israel, most of the world
What prevents Illinois from being a state?
A state is 4 things: 1- a population of people, 2- a territory, 3- a government, and 4) sovereign (doesn’t report to a higher power) Illinois reports to the U. S. federal government and therefore isn’t sovereign.
What is the purpose of government?
To enforce public policies.To help people and to control their behavior in an organized manner.This is done through legislative power (laws), executive power (enforce) and judicial power (interpret the law).
🌟How does a unitary government differ from a confederate government?
A unitary government is like drawing a big, STRONG Central power circle that can dissolve the itty-bitty dot of local (state) government inside it.A confederate government is like a WEAK itty-bitty dot of Central power that is controlled by a big circle of of states around it.
🌟Why is compromise an essential part of the democratic process?
No large group will ever have complete agreement. Compromise helps ensure Majority agreement. But, the MINORITY still have a voice.
🌟What is the name of a government that uses one person or one party rule?
Dictatorship
🌟What is the difference between a presidential and parliamentary style of government?
Presidential- executive and legislative branch are elected by the people separately. One can block the other. They are independent and coequal.Parliamentary- executive is chosen by the legislative branch and is in fact the leader of it. They are tied together.
What is Force Theory?
The state was born of force. All 4 parts of a state.Conquerors held a territory, with a population, had sovereign power and acted as the government.
What is the Evolutionary Theory?
The state developed out of the early family. One family grew into a clan which became a tribe which became a council. When the people stopped being nomads and became farmers in a set territory, the state was born.Population, government, territory sovereignty
What is the Divine Right Theory?
Belief that God created the state and had given those of royal birth, divine right to rule.Popular in 15th to 18th century Europe, but also believed at different time throughout the world.
🌟What is the Social Contract Theory?
The people possess the sovereign power. The government exists to serve the will of the people and can only do what the people gave it power to do. If people are unsatisfied it is replaced.THIS IS THE BIG ONE!
🌟Comparing democracy and dictatorshipWho holds sovereign power
Democracy- the peopleDictatorship- a single person or group Autocracy or Oligarchy
🌟What are the 5 concepts of Democracy?
- Equality 2. Individual worth3. Individual freedom 4. Necessity of compromise 5. Majority rule
Ordered Government
A government created by the people when they seek order
Limited Government
The government can only do what the people have given it the power to do.The people have certain rights the Government CAN NOT take away.
What is Representative Government?
System of government, in which public policies are made by officials selected by voters and held accountable in elections.
What body was the first national government of the US?What were their responsibilities to the power they held?
The New England ConfederationIt was created to defend people against the native Americans
Who was the declarations main author???
Thomas Jerferson
What are Unalienable rights?
Rights that can’t be questioned, and must be given
What was the name of the first government after the revolutionary war, what were some of its weaknesses?
The articles of Confederation-Had no power to tax-No power to regulate trade between states-Absolutely no power to enforce law
🌟Who were the Framers?What traits did they have in common?(list 2 individuals)
55 delegates who attended the Philadelphia meeting (Constitutional convention) Some of the most brilliant men in the country, were there to make THE perfect Gov.(George Washington, Thomas Jefferson?)
What was George Washington’s role at the Philadelphia convention?
He was the leader, or ‘President’ of it.
What momentous decision did the Framers make?
To make a whole new Government At the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia 1787
🌟What was the Virginia plan at the Philadelphia convention?
-Legislative, executive, and legislative branches-Congress should be given all of the powers it held under the articles plus new, stronger ones.- wanted bicameral congress based on population and money
🌟What was the New Jersey Plans idea at the Constitutional Convention?
-Confederation powers and a little more for trade/taxes-more than a single federal executive- unicameral congress based on equal state votes
🌟Why did the executives of the smaller states object to the Virginia plan?
They found it was way too radical, because they wanted in equal say in important matters.Population representation in congress wouldn’t give small states much power.
🌟What was agreed upon at the Connecticut compromise? (Great Compromise)
Congress should be made up of two separate houses. In the senate the states would be represented equally with 2 senators. In the house, each state would be represented based on population. This combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
What is the three fifths compromise?
Slaves would be counted as only 3/5 of a person.
Why do you think we refer to the Constitution as a “Bundle of Compromises”?
With 55 people in one room, theres bound to be arguments over what their government should be. The outcome in the end, was just one big compromise we all came up with.
Ratification of the Constitution
To fully except and approve the constitution (9 states did this)
🌟Who were the Federalists?What was their view of the constitution?
They were people who believed in it
🌟Who were the anti Federalists? What were the 2 main features to draw their fire?
They were people against the Constitution, and they didn’t like the increase of central power nor the lack of the bill of rights
🌟Why did Virginia agree to Ratify the Constitution?
George Washington’s influence made the people want to
🌟Why did New York Ratify?
They only did it after fighting about it for a long time. Whether it was the essays that swayed them or any other reason, they did in the end agree to the constitution.
Why might the failure of Virginia and New York Ratifying have doomed the constitution?
To many people disagreeing with it could have led to America never forming because if Virginia and New York nor agreeing might have encouraged others not to.
The articles of confederation
Can only request state tax, had no system of federal court, no way to regulate trade, no executive power (president of US merely presided over congress), 13/13 needed to amend articles, each state=1 vote, congress=no drafting, no control of disputes, power resides in states, 9/13 needed to approve legislation
Constitution
Congress can tax, court system, congress regulates trade between states, executive branch=president who chooses cabinet and had checks in power of judiciary and legislature, 2/3 of both house of Congress and 3/4 state or national convention to amend document, senate has 2 votes and the house of representatives represents its sate based on pop, congress can draft, federal court, constitution=supreme law, passing a law requires 50%+1 of both houses plus signature of president
Popular Sovereignty
The National Government draws its power from the people of the US, Bd the people have given that power to the government through the constitution
What are the 6 principles of the Constitution?
- Popular Sovereignty, 2. Limited Government3. Separation of Powers 4. Checks and Balances 5. Federalism 6. Judicial Review
🌟Separation of Power
Power is distributed to 3 separate and independent branches
🌟Checks and Balances
This means each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks by the other branches.
Veto
(reject) an act the president can make when congress wants to make a new law he/age doesn’t agree with
Judicial review
The power of courts to determine wether what government does is in accordance with what the Constitution provides. (or rather, it is the power of a court to determine the the constitutionality of a governmental action)
Bill of rights
The first 10 amendments to the constitution. They set the constitutional guarantees of freedom of belief, expression, security of the person, and of fair and equal treatment before the law
🌟Legislative power
The power to make laws and to frame public policies
🌟Executive power
The power to execute, enforce, and administer law
🌟Judicial power
The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise in society
Law of supply and demand
When supplies and goods and services are plentiful, prices tend to drop.
Bicameral
2 house legislature
Unicameral
One house body
Albany plan of union
Proposed by Ben Franklin, he suggested that a formation of an annual congress of delegates should be made from each of the t13 colonies to have power to raise military and naval forces, make war and peace with native americans, regulate trade with them, tax, and collect custom duties.
Mixed economy
An economy in which private enterprises exist in combination with a considerable amount government regulation and promotion
Free enterprise system
An economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control, and determine in a free market
What was the result of the meetings at Mount Vernon and Annapolis in 1785 and 1786
Mount Vernon - Maryland and Virginia worked through trade disputes. They decided federal trade rules should be discussed by the coloniesAnnapolis - only 5 of the 13 colonies showed up to talk. Philadelphia - they tried again and wrote the constitution.
Commerce and slave trade compromises
Congress is forbidden to tax the export of goods from any state, and it also forbids the power to act on the slave trade for a period of at least 20 years.
🌟List 2 examples of how checks and balances work in a federal Gov.
Veto powerSupreme Court can overturn lawsLegislature can get enough votes to override a veto
What is the purpose of a Preamble to the constitution
It states the purpose of the constitution.
🌟Federalism
The division of power among a central government and several regional governments by the Constitution
What part did Thomas Jefferson take in the making of the declaration of independence ?
Fhvdgxhxfrghh
🌟Who has the power? Lay and collect taxesOptions=-delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Concurrent
🌟Who has the power? Grant divorces Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Reserved
🌟Who has the power? Coin moneyOptions= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Delegated
🌟Who has the power? Establish public schools Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Reserved
🌟Who has the power? Declare warOptions= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Delegated
🌟Who has the power? Purchase territoryOptions= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Delegated
🌟Who has the power? Establish local gov. Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Reserved
🌟Who has the power? Make and enforce lawsOptions= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Concurrent
🌟Who has the power? Pass license requirement Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Reserved
🌟Who has the power? Regulate foreign and interstate commerceOptions= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Delegated
🌟Who has the power? Define crimes, set punishments Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Concurrent
🌟Who has the power? Regulate intrastate commerce (inside a state)Options= -delegated(Federal gov)-reserved(state gov) -concurrent(both)
Reserved
🌟What type of government holds Delegated powers?
Federal Gov
🌟What type of government holds Reserved powers
State gov
🌟What type of government holds Concurrent powers
Both Delegated (federal) and Reserved (state)
Electoral college compromise
-Each state has as many electors as they have senators and representatives -person w/ most votes is president-2nd most votes is vice president -no majority in votes=house chooses-president has 4 year term
🌟The federal papers
85 essays that supported the constitutionHamilton, Madison, and JayNew York, Virginia
The 27 expressed powers
Powers spelled out in the constitution. Examples= coin, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.
Implied powers
Reasonably suggested through the NECESSARY AND PROPER CAUSE. (also called the ELASTIC CLAUSE) If the constitution gives the power to Declare War, than that implies the ability to draft an army.Examples= military draft, punish tax evaders
Inherent powers
Powers traditionally granted to world governmentsExamples= territorial gains, immigration, eminent domain, defend against rebellion
Reserved (state) powers (10th amendment)What are the powers denied to states?
Grants power to the states, establishes public schools, regulate alcoholic beverages, and licensing Powers denied= coin, depriving of natural rights
The supremacy clause Hierarchy
Federal law supersedes state law, US supreme court Hierarchy: Federal, state, county, local
🌟What is the importance of Marbury vs. Madison 1803?
In deciding this case, the Supreme Court established the power of judicial review.
What were 4 questions of our founding fathers about how the government should work?
- Organization of power - strong central govt. vs. strong states2. Representation in congress - population vs. equal representation (hint, Great Compromise with 2 houses settled this)3. Slaves - 3/5 compromise for population representation4. Electing the president - people vs. congress (settled on electoral college)
How many sections are in the constitution?How are they ordered?
8 sections1. Preamble (states purpose of constitution), 2. Article I legislative branch 3. Article II executive branch, 4. Article III judicial branch, 5. Article IV relations among states, 6. Article V amending the constitution,7. Article VI national debts, supremacy of national law, and oaths of office 8. ratifying the constitution (((8)))
