Quiz 1 Flashcards
Author(s) of the Declaration of Independance
Thoman Jerrferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman
Features of constitutional democracy
- Free, fair, and frequent elections
- Recognized and enforced limits of power on government officials.
-Written set of rules and procedures: a constitution!
Definition of democracy
Government by the people - the people elect those in power
tyranny of the majority
The weakness of majority rule: when a majority of the electoral pursues only its own objectives at the expensive of the minority
a just government must derive it’s powers from:
Popular consent - the consent of the people to vote for the popular choice
majority and plurality
majority: 50% +1, plurality: most votes win
a central feature of capitalism
private property, competitive markets, economic incentives, limited government involvement in producing pricing and distribution of goods and services - aka make PROFIT
favorable conditions for democracy
educated citizens/education, economic opportunity, social cohesion, and stability
George Washington at the Constitutional Convention
reluctant, but agreed to meditate convention as convention president
Patrick Henry
declared the 2nd Virgina convention - also known for saying “Give me liberty or give me death!”
the primary motive of the framers of the constitution
that all branches of the government could not overpower the other, introducing a system of checks and balances
Shay’s Rebellion
farmers in Massachusetts revolted/rebelled against taxes, lead by Daniel Shay in 1786
balanced government
bicameralism: a town-house legislature with power divided between them
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Federalists were pro-radification and in favor of a stronger national government. Anti-Federalists were the opposite
The three-fifths compromise
Compromise between the north and south, 3/5th of slaves would count towards representation for taxation and the House of Representatives
