Social Studies Flashcards
Representative Democracy
A system in which people elect representatives to make decisions & create polices. Examples would be the U.S & the U.K.
Direct Democracy
A system in which people decide on laws and decisions as opposed to electing representatives to decide for them. Examples would be Ancient Athens.
Presidential Democracy
System in which the people elect a president to be the chief of government and head of state. Examples would be the U.S.
Parliamentary Democracy
System in which the elected legislators (law makers) appoint a person to be chief of government. Examples would be the U.K.
Sectionalism
Restrictions of interest to a narrow sphere; undue concern with local interests or petty distinctions at the expense of general well being.
Amendment
A minor change or addition designed to improve a text, piece of legislation, etc
Constituent
A voter who is represented by a particular lawmaker
Market Distortions
Any event in which a market reaches a market clearing price for an item that is substantially different from the price that a market would achieve while operating under conditions of perfect competition & state enforcement of legal contracts & the ownership of private property.
Supply & Demand
The amount of commodity (economic good/resource) , product, or service available & the desire of buyers for it, considered as factors regulating its price
Immigration Act
U.S. Federal law that prevented immigration from Asia & set quotas (limit) on the number of immigrants from the eastern hemisphere. Published 5-26-1924
Emergency Quota Act
Restricted the number of immigrants admitted from any country annually to 3% of the number of residents from that country living in the U.S. as of the 1910 census.
Mayflower Compact
Created in 1620, originally titled “Agreement between the settlers of New Plymouth”, was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the male passengers of the mayflower, consisting of separatist puritans, adventurers, & tradesmen.An agreement to establish a government entered into by the Pilgrims in the cabin of the Mayflower on 11-11-1620.
Suffrage
The right to vote in political elections
Diplomacy
The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country’s representatives abroad. The art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way
Imperialism
A policy of extending a country’s power & influence through diplomacy or military force
Isolationism
A policy of remaining apart from the affairs or interests of other groups, especially the political affairs of other countries.
The Elastic Clause
Statement in the U.S. constitution (Art 1 SEC 8) granting congress the power to pass all laws necessary & proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.
The commerce clause
An enumerated power listed in the US Constitution, it states that the us congress shall have power “to regulate, commerce with foreign nations & among the several states, & with the Indian tribes
Confiscation Act of 1861
Act of congress during the early months of the American civil war permitting the confiscation of any property including slaves, being used to support the confederate independence effort.
Please V Ferguson decision 1896
Advanced the separate but equal doctrine for assessing the constitutionality of racial segregation laws
Civil rights act 1964
Comprehensive US legislation intended to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin
Voting Rights Act of 1965
I.S. Legislation that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state & local levels that prevented blacks from exercising their rights to vote under the 15th amendment to the US Constitution
Which of the following amendments was responsible for putting a stop to slavery?
13th amendment
Where in America did Christopher Columbus’s ship initially land?
Bahamas
How many members are elected to the House of Representatives?
435
Boston tea party
An American political & profit-oriented protest by the Sons of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts on Dec 16 1773.
Resulted in: intolerable acts
Goals: to protest “British parliaments” tax on tea. No taxation without representation.
Methods: throw the tea into Boston harbor.
Location: Boston, Boston harbor
The Stamp Act
Act requires the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on various forms of papers, documents, & playing cards. Direct tax imposed by the British govt without the approval of the colonial legislatures & was payable in hard to obtain British sterling, rather than colonial currency.
.*March 22 1765- repealed on March 18 1766
Intolerable Acts
A series of punitive laws passed by the British parliament in 1774 after the Boston tea party. The law aimed to punish Massachusetts colonists for their defiance in the tea party protest of the tea act.
Constitutional convention
•took place from may 14 1787-September 17 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The point of the event was to decide how America was going to be governed. Although the convention had been originally called to revise the existing articles of confederation, many delegates had much bigger plans
Articles of Confederation
An agreement among the 13 original states of the U.S.A. that served as its 1st frame of government.
•ratified on Feb 2 1781.
Magna Carta
•Written in 1215 by nobles from England
• it’s purpose was to sought to limit the power of the king & protect the rights of individuals
Political parties
• Organizations composed of people with similar ideologies that seek to get Luke minded candidates elected and pass laws consistent with their ideologies
Interest groups
Represent a cause, a group of people or even an industry they attempt to get officials elected or laws passed that support their respective groups or industries
Bill of rights
The first 10 amendments of the u.s. constitution
Gross national product
The total value of goods produced and services provided by a country during one year, equal to the gross domestic product plus the net income from foreign investments.
27th amendment
•ratified in 1992
•congressional compensation
26th amendment
•ratified in 1971
•right to vote at age 18
25th amendment
•ratified in 1967
•presidential vacancy,disability, & inability
24th amendment
•ratified in 1964
•abolition of poll tax requirement in federal elections
23rd amendment
•ratified in 1961
•district of Columbia presidential vote
22nd amendment
•ratified in 1951
•2 term limitation on president
21st amendment
•ratified in 1933
•repeal of 18th amendment (prohibition)
20th amendment
•ratified in 1933
•commencement of presidential term & succession
19th amendment
•ratified in 1920
•womens right to vote
18th amendment
•ratified in 1919.
•prohibition
17th amendment
•ratified in 1913
•popular election of senators
16th amendment
•ratified in 1913
•federal income tax
15th amendment
•ratified in 1870
•voting rights
14th amendment
•ratified in 1868
•protects rights against state infringements,defines citizenship,prohibits states from interfering with privileges & immunities, requires due process & equal protection punishes states for denying vote & disqualifies confederate officials & debts
13th amendment
•ratified in 1865
•abolition of slavery & involuntary servitude
12th amendment
•ratified in 1804
•election of president & Vice President
11th amendment
•ratified in 1795
•suits against a state
