Test 1 Flashcards
What are characteristics of a presidential system?
Executive and legislative branches are separate and the leader of the executive branch is usually called the president
What are characteristics of a parliamentary system?
Executive and legislative branches are combined, leader of executive branch is chosen by legislative branch, and is often called the prime minister/premiere
What did enlightenment thinkers want?
To improve human conditions
Governments often struggle balancing what?
Freedom and security
What are examples of events that showcase how the government balances freedom and security?
The Patriot Act which the act of protecting against terrorism
What phrase did Hobbes say about anarchy?
All against all
What type of sovereignty did Hobbes want?
Absolute monarchy
Who did Hobbes believe the social contract was between?
Between the people, not between them and the king. This means the people had no right to revolt
Who wanted “power to check power” and what does this translate to?
Montesquieu, translates to checks and balances
What kind of government did Locke want?
Representative democracy
What were characteristics of the social contract Locke wanted?
It was between the people AND the sovereign, the government protects the people’s unalienable rights IF they give up absolute freedom
Who thought that property was evil?
Rousseau
What are characteristics about the social contract Rousseau wanted?
It would be amongst the people that follow the “general will” and those who didn’t would be forced to be “free” and banished
Who holds the supreme authority in a democracy?
The people
What is the most common type of government in the world?
Unitary government
What are examples of a unitary governments?
England and China
What is an example of a direct democracy?
Ancient Greece
Which branch is the prime minister chosen from in a parliamentary style government?
Legislative
What are examples of parliamentary style governments?
England, Canada, and France
What type of government does the United States have and what other names does this type of government have?
Indirect, Republic, or Representative democracy
What is an example of an oligarchy?
Early South Africa
What is an example of a confederacy?
The United States when it had the Articles of Confederation
What are examples of federalism?
United States and Germany
What was the English document that was written in 1215 and was one of the first documents in Europe to limit the absolute authority of the monarchy called?
Magna Carta
How many houses did the colonial legislatures have by being modeled after the English Parliament?
2
What is a term that describes a government that has a 2-house legislative system and what does it mean?
Bicameral, latin for 2 houses/chambers
What is a place called when people are ruled by a government in another place?
Colony
What does the quote “no taxation without representation” mean?
If people had no say in government, they shouldn’t have to pay taxes
What does popular sovereignty mean?
People have power, government can only exist with consent of the people
How does the quote “no taxation without representation” relate to popular sovereignty?
If people had no say or no power in government, then their responsibility of taxes would make no sense because tax money goes to the government
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Which political theorist influenced Jefferson for the Declaration of Independence and what did this person say?
Locke, he said all people have a right to life, liberty, property that should be protected by the government
How does Locke’s theory of the social contract relate to the Declaration of Independence?
It states that if the government fails to protect our natural rights, we have the right to make a new one
What was our government known as after the Revolution?
Articles of Confederation
What does the Declaration of Independence state?
How the king broke the social contract (his grievances) and declared independence from England
What was the earliest representative democracy created by colonists in Jamestown, Virginia?
Jamestown House of Burgesses
What agreement did the Plymouth settlers sign aboard the Mayflower that created a direct democracy upon arrival in the New World?
Mayflower Compact
