Stupid Ass Unit One Flashcards
What are citizens.
By law, citizens are members of the political community who by nature of being born in a particular nation (or becoming nationalized) are entitled to all freedoms provided by the gov’t.
What is government.
Government is made up of individuals and institutions, it is the vehicle through which policies are made and affairs of states are conducted.
Monarchy.
Rejected by the framers. The rule of one person in the interest of all their subjects.
Totalitarianism.
Contrasting to a monarchy. One leader excersizes total and unlimited power. Individuals have no rights or liberties. Generally with religion and ideology.
Oligarchy.
Participation in the gov’t is limited and determined by possession of wealth, social status, military status, or personal achievement.
Social contract.
Agreement between the people and their gov’t signifying their consent to be governed.
Political culture.
Commonly shared attitudes, beliefs, and core values about how a gov’t should operate.
Personal liberty
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Political ideology
The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of gov’t held by groups and individuals.
Conservatives
Political faction in which the members are the defenders of the status quo who, when change becomes necessary in tested institutions or practices, prefers that it come slowly, and in moderation.
Liberals
Currently those who believe in more gov’t action to meet individual needs. Originally one who resisted gov’t encroachments on individual liberties.
Libertarians
They believe in the evils of big government and stress that gov’t should not involve itself in the plight of the people or attempt to remedy social ills.
Conservative vs. liberal views on gov’t and economy
Conservative= less active gov’t
Liberal= more active gov’t
Mercantilism
An economic theory designed to increase a nations wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade.
Stamp act congress
This gathering was the first official meeting of the colonies and the first step toward a United nation.
Committee of correspondence
Created to articulate ideas and keep communications open through the colonies.
1st continental congress
Fifty six representatives from the colonies (except Georgia) who met on October 26, 1774.
2nd continental congress
Adopted the olive branch petition and asked the king to end all hostilities. The king refused.
Confederation
Type of gov’t where the nat. Gov’t derives its powers from the states ; a league of independent states.
Declaration of Independence
Document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that proclaimed the rights of the American Colonies to separate from Great Britain.
Articles of Confederation
The compact among the thirteen original states that was the basis of their gov’t, written in 1776, the articles were not ratified by all of the states until 1781.
Shay’s Rebellion
A 1786 rebellion in which an army of 1,500 disgruntled and angry farmers led by Daniel Shays marched to Springfield, Ma.
Federalist no.51
Madison highlighted the unique structure of gov’t powers created by the framers.
Federal system
System of gov’t where the national gov’t and state gov’t derive all authority from the people.
Unitary system
System of gov’t where the local and regional governments derive all authority from a strong national gov’t.
Enumerated powers
also known as delegated powers
Powers granted to congress under Article 1, section 8, of the constitution; these powers include taxation, coinage of money, regulation of commerce, and authority to provide for a national defense.
Necessary and proper clause
Final paragraph of article 1, section 8, of the U.S constitution, which gives congress the authority to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers
Supremacy clause
Portion of article 6 in the U.S constitution mandating that national law is supreme to all the other laws passed by the states or by any other subdivision of gov’t.
Bill of Attainder
A law declaring an act illegal without judicial trial.
New Federalism
Federal/state relationship proposed by reagan administration during the 1980’s; hallmark is returning administrative powers to the state gov.
