Midterm (MrT) Flashcards by Scott Kuna

Rulers are seen as right and proper by important segments of a nation’s population. As a result, people voluntarily accept governance.

Legitimacy

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The theory that a monarch rules by the sanction or approval of God

Divine Right of Kings

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A theory of society in which government is a contract between a government and the governed to provide protection and support for the people under this theory a government is legitimate only as long as the people voluntarily agree to hand over their power to the state

Social Contract Theory

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A form of government in which political power is exercised by a single ruler such as a king or queen who exercises absolute authority under the claim of divine or hereditary right

Monarchy

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A system of rule in which one person, a dictator, or a small group of people can hold unlimited power over government, which is usually controlled by force.

Dictatorship

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Rule by a few small groups of people, usually members of the military or the economic elite

Oligarchy

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A form of government in which citizens met regularly in a popular assembly to discuss issues of the day, pass laws, and vote for leaders

Direct Democracy

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An indirect form of democracy in which people elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf

Republic

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The ability of people to act and think as they choose, so long as their choices do no harm to the liberty or wellbeing of others

Liberty

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The principle that all people possess a fundamental, moral worth that entitles them to fair treatment under the law and equal opera unity in all aspects of life political social and economic

Equality

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The belief that ordinary people could aspire to rule themselves and do so as political equals

Self Government

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A basic principle of democracy that decisions are made by a majority, by getting more than half of the votes cast

Majority Rule

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The political rights held by groups that make up less than half the population

Minority Rights

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A form of democracy that protects the rights of the minority

Liberal Democracy

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An economic system in which individuals and businesses are free to engage in economic activity with a minimum of government interface

Free Enterprise

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A legislative body composed of two chambers.

Bicameral

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Established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute and guaranteed trial by jury and due process of law to the nobility.

Magna Carta

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Designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; forms the basis for much in American government and politics today.

English Bill of Rights

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Were directly controlled by the king through an appointed governor.

Royal Colonies

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Operated under charters agreed to by the colony and the king.

Charter Colonies

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Meeting of representatives of nine of the thirteen colonists held in New York City in 1765, during which representative drafted a document to send to the king that listed how their rights have been developed

Stamp Act Congress

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Meeting held in Philadelphia from September 5th on October 26, 1774, in which 56 delegates (from every colony except Georgia) adopted as resolution in opposition to the Coercive Acts

First Continental Congress

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Meeting that convened in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, at which it was decided that a army should be raised and George Washington of Virginia was named commander in chief

Second Continental Congress

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The compact between the thirteen original colonies that created a loose league of friendship, with the national government drawing its powers from the states.

Articles of Confederation

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A rebellion in which an army of 1,500 disgruntled and angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Massachusetts, and forcibly retrained the state court form foreclosing mortgages on their farms

Shays Rebellion

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Known for their efforts in drafting the framework of the new government.

Framers

The first general plan for the Constitution offered in Philadelphia. Its key points were a bicameral legislature, as well as an executive and a judiciary chosen by the national legislature

Virginia Plan

A framework for the Constitution proposed by a group of small states. Its key points were a one-house legislature with one vote for each state, a Congress with the ability to raise revenue, and a Supreme Court with members appointed for life

New Jersey Plan

The final decision of the Constitutional Convention to create a two-house legislature, with the lower house elected by the people and with powers divided between the two houses.

Great Compromise

Agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention stipulating that each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining population for representation in the US House of Representatives

Three-Fifths Compromise

Those who favored a stronger national government and supported the proposed US Constitution; later became the first political party

Federalist

Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government; opposed the ratification of the US Constitution

Anti-Federalist

A series of 85 political essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the US Constitution

Federalist Papers

The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, which largely guarantee specific rights and liberties

Bill Of Rights

Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed

Popular Sovereignty

Basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

Limited Government

Concept that holds that government and its officers are always subject to the law

Rule of Law

The powers of the government are divided between three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.

Separation of Power

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Checks and Balances

The power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature)

Veto

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional

Judicial Review

Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect.

Unconstitutional

A form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

Federalism

A statement establishing that the Constitution, laws passed by congress and treaties of the United States "shall be the supreme Law of the Land".

Supremacy Clause

More than half the votes cast, is a common voting basis. Can be specified using any fraction or percentage which is greater than one half, or 50 percent.

Super Majority

To cancel (a law)

Repeal

Pact made by the president directly with foreign head.

Executive Agreement

Organized group that seeks to win elections in order to influence the activities of government

Political Party

The leaders of the executive departments who also act as advisors to the president

Cabinet

The inability to govern effectively due to separation of powers or a conflict between political parties

Gridlock

Is a group of specially selected voters who actually elect the President and Vice President of the United States. This system was designed to ensure the indirect election of the President. It is the result of a compromise between the election of the President by Congress or election by popular vote.

Electoral College

Powers granted to the National government that are spelled out in the Constitution

Expressed Powers

Powers not expressly states in the Constitution but are reasonably suggested by the expressed powers

Implied Powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

Inherent Powers

Those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does not, at the same time, deny the states

Reserved Powers

Those powers that both the National government and the states possess and exercise

Concurrent Powers

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Both state and national government were equal authorities operating within their own spheres of influence, as defined by a strict reading of the Constitution

Dual Federalism

The belief that the states had the right to cancel federal laws which they believed contradicted or clashed with state interests

Doctrine of Nullification

The idea that a state had the right to separate from the Union

Doctrine of Succession

An era of federalism during which the national and state governments shared functional authority in broad policy areas

Cooperative Federalism

The period in which the national government channeled federal funds to local governments and citizen groups to address problems that states could or would not address

Creative Federalism

The modern era in federalism in which authority that rested with the national government is being returned to the states

New Federalism

Federal funds given to state and local governments for specific projects

Grants-in-aid

Federal grants that can only be used for a specific purpose, or category, of state and local spending

Categorical Grants

Federal grants given to state and local governments for broad purposes, such as welfare, community development, public health, or education

Block Grants

A system of spending, taxing, and providing aid in the federal system

Fiscal Federalism

The people of a particular geographic area who are represented by a lawmaking body

Constituents

The distribution of seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population

Apportionment

A congressional act or bill that sets aside funds for a specific purposed

Appropriation

the process of charging officials in the executive and judicial branches with wrongdoing and bringing them to trial

impeachment

the power of Congress to check up on the executive brach and make sure it is following the laws that Congress passed

Oversight

another title for the president, who holds the executives power to run government programs and implement laws that are passed by Congress

Chief Executive

another title for the president, who serves as commander of the nation's military forces

Commander in Chief

the president has the job of formulating the nation's plans and procedures for dealing with other countries

Foreign Policy Leader

the art of negotiating with foreign governments

Diplomacy

another title for the president, takes on the role of the symbolic figurehead of the United States

Chief of State

the process of succeeding, or coming after someone

Succession

formal, signed statements from the president that instruct or guide executive officials and have the force of law

Executive Orders

the power that allows a president to refuse to release information to Congress or a Court

Executive Privilige

the presidential power to formally recognize the legitimacy of a foreign government

Diplomatic Recognition

a postponement in the carrying out of a prison sentence

Reprieve

an official act by the president or by a governor forgiving a person convicted of a crime and freeing that person from serving out his or her sentence

Pardon

a general pardon for offenses committed by a group of offenders

Amnesty

to reduce a person's sentence

Commute

the group of people who work for the executive branch under a specific president

Administration

the group of advisors and assistants to the president

Executive Office of the President

the official who manages the everyday operations of the White House Office or who may serve as the primary presidential adviser who controls all access to the president and helps map political strategy

Chief of Staff

the group of the top military , foreign affairs, and intelligence officials in the president's administration that focuses on US National Security

National Security Council (NSC)

the leaders of the executive departments, who also act as advisors to the president

The Cabinet