History Exam 1 Flashcards
define government
institutions and processes through which societies are governed
define institutions
formal or informal rules and procedures
define politics
way people negotiate and compete in making a collective decision
define power
capacity to bring about intended effects
define authority
right to rule accepted by the population
define regime
political system based on a set of principles, norms, and rules
what is the object of study + examples
unit of analysis like countries, states, political parties
what is level of study
the level of analysis
macro-level examples
political systems, countries, states
micro-level examples
individuals, voters
what was john locke known for
classical liberalism and political thought
what does state of nature entail
individuals’ natural rights are not protected
what does social contract entail
people consent to institute a civil government in order to protect their natural rights
what are the natural rights
life, liberty, property
what does classical liberalism entail
liberty, individual rights, limited government, equality under the law
what do we call whenever the british parliament was imposing taxes on the american colonists and they had no elected representatives
taxation without representation
what was the controversy between small states vs. large states
representation
key features and problems of the articles of confederation
states had most power, central gov could only handle national defense, foreign relations, and settling disputes amongst states
problems were that the central gov was too weak, they could not impose taxes or borrow money, couldn’t raise an army, and changes required consent from all states
what was the controversy of federal supremacy vs. state supremacy
federalism
what was the controversy of northern states vs. southern states
slavery
what was the controversy of liberty vs. stability
values
key features of virginia plan
bicameral legislature, population based representation, national gov can legislate for states and veto state law
what was the problem with slavery between northern and southern states in 1787
northern states had mostly gotten rid of it but southern states still had it
what was the problem of federal supremacy vs. state supremacy regarding federalism
federalists favored a strong nat gov w supremacy over states and they had the power to tax, legislate, and borrow money
anti federalists wanted states to govern themselves and they feared a tyrannical central gov
what was the problem of liberty vs. stability regarding values
liberty meant a new government should guarantee the rights of life, liberty, and property
and stability national gov should maintain order, and this might require it to limit personal liberty at times
what does it mean by bicameral legislature
two chambers one representing House of Representatives and the other Senate
HoR is based on each states pop
Senate is equal representation like 2 senators for each state
this gave congress more power to tax, coin + borrow money, mantain an army and regulate commerce and declare war
what was the 3 fifths compromise
southern states thought slaves should be counted as part of the population but northern states didn’t
what are the 3 separate branches of government that help prevent a tyrannical government
executive, legislative, judicial
another way to prevent a tyrannical government
checks and balances; each branch can restrict the power of the other two
explain the executive branch
president is in charge of military, handles foreign relationships, picks important judges and other officials, forgives people who have broken laws, and can reject laws aka veto
explain the judicial branch
the supreme court listens to important cases involving federal laws, can decide if laws by the gov are not allowed by constitution , and the chief justice aka leader of supreme court is in charge of impeachment trials for high gov officials
explain the legislative branch
congress makes laws, declares war, senate must approve treaties, senate must approve president’s choice for important jobs like judges, congress can remove president, and congress decides how many judges are on the supreme court and sets rules for what the court can handle
political theories of the founders
classical liberalism and republicanism
classical liberalism includes
liberty, natural rights, limited government, equality under the law
republicanism includes
separation of powers (branches), checks and balances, and elected representatives
explain the central federal gov vs. local state gov in a federal system
allows states to govern themselves in areas not covered by federal law, helping to restrict the central government’s authority by enumerated powers and 10th amendment which states that any powers not specifically given to the federal gov by the const are resrved for the states or the people
what is the supremacy clause
constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land so if there is a conflict between federal and state laws, federal law prevails
what is the necessary and proper clause
grants congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers so this allows congress to pass laws that are implied by its constitutional powers
is the U.S. constitution democratic
it is a liberal democracy
examples of classical liberalism
constitutionalism, bill of rights, limitation of govt powers
examples of republicanism
3 branches of govt, bicameralism, electoral college
first amendment
freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition
13 amendment
abolished slavery
14 amendment
granted citizenship to african americans and equal protection under the law regardless of race
15 amendment
extended the right to vote to all men regardless of race
16 amendment
enabled the federal gov to collect revenue more directly from individuals
17 amendment
direct election of US senators
19 amendment
prohibits denying the right to vote based on sex basically allowed women to vote
22 amendment
limited the president to two terms
why didn’t the founders like direct democracy
they were scared it would lead to the tyranny of the majority they were concerned that direct democracy could endanger the rights of minorities and lead to potential abuses
liberal democracy
majority rule (via elections), rights of the minority
direct democracy
majority rule
is the US a republic or a democracy
both, republic with separation of powers and liberal representative democracy
Totalitarianism - authoritarian regime
no individual rights
no elections
complete state control
autocracy - authoritarian regime
very limited individual rights
no elections
extensive state control
electoral autocracy - hybrid regime
limited to moderate individual rights
unfair elections
liberal autocracy - hybrid regime
moderate individual rights
no or unfair elections
illiberal democracy - hybrid regime
limited to moderate individual rights
fair elections
liberal democracy - liberal democratic regime
extensive individual rights
fair elections
limited state intrusion
what happens in 1787
constitutional convention approves document for the new constitution but it first had to be ratified by 9/13 states
greatest points of contention in the new constitution
stronger federal government relative to the states
did not guarantee specific individual rights and liberties
federalists vs. anti federalists
federalists supported ratification, agreed w a stronger nat gov and were strong in new england
anti federalists opposed ratification they feared the power of nat gov and were strong in the south
constitutional change of articles of confederation
unanimity of states needed to change the constitution
new constitution needed no unanimity
since ratification in 1789, the constitution has been amended how many times
27
when were the first ten amendments added?
1791
what was added to assuage anti federalists and to guarantee basic individual rights and liberties
the bill of rights
federalist n. 10
madison is highlighting how the federal system’s division of powers between national and state governments creates a balanced approach that manages both national and local interests effectively
federalist no. 39
madison explains that the new gov has national and federal elements. the HoR operates nationally by representing individuals based on population, while the Senate operates on a federal level by representing states equally
federalist no. 51
madison argues that the federal system of the US provides enhanced protection for individual rights by creating multiple layers of gov and separation of powers which prevents any entity from becoming too powerful
federal government
handles matters that affect the country as a whole
state governments
handle matters that lie within their regions
judicial system
federal courts adjudicate conflicts between federal and state governments and between states
more decentralized
confederation - central gov - subnational gov - voters
middle of alternatives to federal system
federation - subnat gov | central gov - voters
more enctralized
subnat gov - central gov - voters
enumerated powers
powers granted to the federal government in constitution
reserved powers
powers not granted to the federal gov in the constitution and reserved to states
concurrent powers
powers shared by federal and state govs
denied powers
federal gov - change state boundaries, violate bill of rights
state gov - tax imports and exports, coin money, enter into treaties
