Test 1 (10.08.2020) Flashcards
define democracy
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them (majority rules)
define participatory democracy
a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to decide directly on policy and politicians are responsible for implementing those policy decisions–broad direct participation in which most or all citizens participate in politics directly (voting for men, women, minorities, etc.)
define pluralist democracy
no one group dominates politics; political power rests with competing interest groups
define elite democracy
a model in which only a small number of people (millionaires, billionaires, etc.) influence political decision making
What are the 5 sections of the declaration of independence?
Preamble, statement of human rights, charges against human rights, charges against king and parliament (grievances), and statement of separation & signatures
Who wrote the Federalist papers?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the name Publius
What was the publication discussed for Hobbes?
Leviathan
What was the publication discussed for Locke?
Two Treatises of Government
What was Hobbes’s view of natural state of man?
Humans are selfish creatures. People will fight against each other to be better.
What was Locke’s view of natural state of man?
All men are free. People are rational and capable of operating a society.
What was Hobbes’s view of natural rights?
negative - he believed that they needed an absolute monarchy where people gave up their rights and allowed the government to govern them
What was Locke’s view of natural rights?
positive - believed that property was the most important, and the government was supposed to protect people’s right to property.
What was Hobbes’s view of social contract?
it is among the people and the people decide to surrender all power to the king
What was Locke’s view of social contract?
it is between the people and the sovereign – people gave up rights in exchange for protection from the government
What type of government did Hobbes prefer?
absolute monarchy headed by a king - all of the power in the hands of one person provides more consistent authority
What type of government did Locke prefer?
constitutional monarchy (limited)
Who was Montesquieu?
a French judge and philosopher who is known for the theory of separation of powers. He believed in civil liberties – people are only subject to laws established for common good. He was a founding father of comparative law.
What was the name of Montesquieu’s book and what ideas in it influenced the founding fathers?
Spirit of Laws – separation of powers
Did Hobbes believe in divine right?
No
What is the purpose of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
to limit the power of the federal goverment; it is NOT to give us rights
Article 1 of the Constitution
Legislative Branch –Senate and House, all about representation
Article 2 of the Constitution
Executive Branch – President enforces the laws
Article 3 of the Constitution
Judicial Branch – the supreme court interprets the law
What was the main problem with the Articles of Confederation?
having no money and being in debt
What are the 8 Constitutional principles?
popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights & liberties (individual rights), separation of powers, checks & balances, republican form of gov’t (representative), judicial review (limited government), federalism (representation & limited gov’t)
What is popular sovereignty?
people are the only source of government (coming from social contract) – power is received from the people
What is the check from legislative to executive?
congress approves presidential nominations and controls the budget – it can pass laws over the president’s veto and can impeach or remove the president from office
What is the check from executive to legislative?
The president can veto congressional legislation
What is the check from judicial to legislative?
The Court can declare laws unconstitutional
What is the check from legislative to judicial?
The Senate confirms the president’s nominations. Congress can impeach judges and remove them from office
What is the check from executive to judicial?
The president nominates judges
What is the check from judicial to executive?
The Court can declare Presidential acts unconstitutional
What are some of the national powers?
declaring war, maintaining armed forces, regulating interstate and foreign trade, admit new states, establish post offices, set standard weights and measures, coin money, establish foreign policy, make all laws necessary and proper
What are some powers shared by national and state gov’t?
maintain law and order, levy taxes, borrow money, charter banks, establish courts, provide for public welfare
What are some state powers?
establish and maintain schools, establish local gov’ts, regulate business within the state, make mortgage loans, provide for public safety, assume other powers not delegated to the national gov’t or prohibited to the states
What is the necessary and proper clause?
power is granted to Congress to make all laws that are necessary and proper
What is the supremacy clause?
establishes the Constitution as the “supreme law of the land” – federal law supersedes state laws when a conflict exists – also known as the “linchpin clause”
Federalist views
in favor of the constittion, the AOC should be abandoned, the power of the states should be curbed by a central gov’t, the Bill of Rights is not necessary, large Republic was best (supported mostly by wealthy)
Antifderalist views
against Constitution, AOC should be amended or fixed, states power is highest, lack of Bill of Rights is a threat to liberties, small republic is best (supported mainly by small farmers)
What is the 10th Amendment?
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.