Semester 1 Exam Flashcards
What is a monarchy?
Power is vested in hereditary kings and queens who govern in the interests of all
What is a totalitarian government?
Power resides in a leader who rules according to self-interest and without regard for individuals rights and liberties (Iraq under Saddam Hussein)
What is an oligarchy?
The right to participate is conditioned on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement
What is a democracy?
Power to the people, whether directly or through elected representatives
What is a direct democracy?
Members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide by majority rule
What is a representative (indirect) democracy?
Gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives who will work on their behalf
What is a republic?
A government rooted in the consent of the governed; a representative or indirect democracy
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
Famous for The Leviathan; actions in society done out of self interest; All men are equal; individual rights
Who is John Locke?
Famous for Two Treatises on Government; refuted the divine right of monarchy; believed personal liberty and political order could coexist; men are subject to moral law; men born free and equal
Most influential in the writing of the Declaration of Independence because of his social contract Theory
What is the social contract theory?
People are free and equal by natural right and in turn requires all people give their consent to be governed
Who is Thomas Paine?
Famous for Common Sense; believed men are born free and equal; political associations created to preserve rights
What are the major events that led to the independence?
Treaty of Paris
Stamp Act Congress convenes to talk about what can be done about the stamp act (1765)
Townshend Acts (1767): several acts impose duties on colonial imports, like tea
Boston Massacre (1770)
Boston Tea Party (1773)
Coercive Acts
First Continental Congress (1774): not thinking about split from Britain yet, but want to iron out differences and oppose the Coercive Acts
Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775)
Second Continental Congress (1775): adopted the Olive Branch Petition, but was rejected by King George
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Mainly Thomas Jefferson, but included others
When was the Declaration of Independence formally adopted?
July 4, 1776
Who/what is the philosophical inspiration of the Declaration of Independence?
John Locke’s social contract theory
What are the 6 basic tenets of American democracy?
Personal liberty Equality Popular consent Majority rule Popular sovereignty Civil society Individualism Religious faith and freedom
What parties make up the political party scale/spectrum?
Libertarian: favors free market and oppose govt. interference
Conservative: government is best that governs least
Liberal: favors government involvement and provision of social services
What is mercantilism?
Theory designed to increase a nation’s wealth via commercial industry and favorable balance of trade; how Britain justified strict import/export on colonies to establish this
What are the Committees of Correspondence?
Created because of new taxes, especially the Tea tax, led by Samuel Adams,
Meant as a communication network about developments with the British
Served as molders of public opinion against the British
What is the First Continental Congress?
Didn’t plan on breaking ties with England
Made Declaration of Rights and Resolves to try to iron out differences with the king
What is the Second Continental Congress?
The king didn’t agree to Declaration of Rights and Resolves, fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord, drafted the Olive Branch Petition, and voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776
What was the Articles of Confederation?
Basics:
- Each state held supreme authority
- One vote in the Constitutional Congress for each state, regardless of size
- Must have nine state votes to pass any measure
- Vote of all states to amend Articles
- Selection and payment of delegates to the Congress handled by respective states legislatures
What are the problems or weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Little unity, couldn’t get enough agreement to make anything happen, economic turmoil, chaotic regulation of trade, no federal govt power, no judicial system
What was Shay’s Rebellion?
Shay and 1500 armed farmers who weren’t paid for their military services b/c of Massachusetts law favoring the wealthy revolted
Congress called for militia and state donations but only Virginia complied and private money was raised
Demonstrated the weakness of the Articles of Confederation
Called for another convention for the “sole and express” purpose of revising it
What is Article 1 of the Constitution?
Establishes the rules and laws that govern the legislative branch. Issues such as the powers and responsibilities of Congress, how members of Congress are to be chosen, and how bills become law are explained
What is Article 2 of the Constitution?
Establishes the rules and laws that govern the executive branch. The powers of the President are divided into four sections.
What is Article 3 of the Constitution?
Establishes the rules and laws that govern the judicial branch. Both the Supreme Court and inferior courts are covered in the first two articles, while section three address the act of treason
What is Article 4 of the Constitution?
Deals with the states. The relationship between the states, issues of territory, and the federal government’s responsibility to the states
What is Article 5 of the Constitution?
Establishes the rules for amending the Constitution
What is Article 6 of the Constitution?
Establishes the role of treaties, requires that all members of the individual branches of government swear an oath to support the constitution, and declares that no religious test will be required of those seeking public office
What is Article 7 of the Constitution?
States the number of states needed to ratify the Constitution, as well as lists the names of the Constitution’s signers
What is the Full Faith and Credit clause?
States that legislative acts, judicial decisions, and public records of other states must be recognized in every other state
What is the Supremacy Clause?
Asserts the federal law supreme over all other establishments (local law, state law, etc.)
What are the different types of powers outlined by the Constitution?
Delegated federal power, reserved state power, and concurrent powers, implied powers
What is the New Jersey Plan?
Strengthens not replaces Articles
One house legislature w/ state representatives chosen by state legislature
Gave Congress power to raise revenue from duties and postal service
Created Supreme Court appointed for life
What government plan favored smaller states?
New Jersey Plan
What was the Virginia Plan?
Powerful central government
Three branch government (judicial, executive, legislative)
Two house legislature
Legislature has the power to elect the judiciary and executive branches
Presented by James Madison
Which government plan favored bigger states?
Virginia Plan
What are the Federalists?
Wanted to abandon Articles of Confederation and ratify the Constitution
Thought Constitution would help control debt or tensions
Liked strong, central government
George Washington, John Jay, and John Adams
What are the Antifederalists?
Wanted to amend Articles of Confederation, rejected Constitution
Changed their minds with the addition of the Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Henry, Samuel Adams
When was the Constitution ratified?
September 17, 1787
What were the Federalist Papers?
Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pen name Publius
Series of 85 essays
What are the methods of amending the constitution?
2/3 vote in both houses of Congress
National convention called by Congress by 2/3 of the state legislature
What are the methods of ratifying the constitution?
Legislation in 3/4 of the states
Conventions in 3/4 of the states
What is the first amendment?
The freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and redress
What is the second amendment?
The right to bear arms
What is the third amendment?
The right to be protecting from quartering of troops
What is the fourth amendment?
The freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
What is the fifth amendment?
The right to due process; eminent domain
What is the sixth amendment?
The rights of those accused of crimes (trial by jury, right to counsel, etc.)
What is the seventh amendment?
The right to a civil trial by jury
What is the eighth amendment?
Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
What is the ninth amendment?
Protection of rights not specified in the Constitution
What is the tenth amendment?
Powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution belongs to the states
What is federalism?
The idea that power comes from different levels of government joining together as one (local, state, federal)
What is dual federalism?
The idea that there is a clear line between state and federal power, and there are limits to what each cannot do
Ex: reserved power
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
Law that allows all laws to be passed that are “necessary and proper” for making sure taht the expressed powers can be implemented
Used in McCullough v. Maryland to declare chartering banks constitutional
AKA “elastic clause”
What are enumerated powers?
Powers specifically granted to the federal government via the Constitution
Military Control, Federal courts, Currency, Declare War, Necessary and Proper, Postal
What are reserved powers?
Under the 10th amendment, Powers not already designated to the federal govt are reserved to the state
Control of local govts, State Courts, State level Education