Test 1 Flashcards
what is a constitutional government
a government that is based in principle and grounded in law
what are the 3 things the US constitution does?
- creates structure of government
- gives the sections of government power
- limits the power for sections of government
- (maybe) allows itself to be changed
what are examples in the constitution that gives government powers
Art 1 Sec 8 for congress
What is article 1 of the constitution about
legislative branch
what is article 2 of the constitution about
executive branch
what is article 3 of the constitution about
judicial branch
what is article 4 of the constitution about
relations between states
what is article 5 of the constitution about
amendment procedures
what is the main part of article 6 of the constitution
supremacy clause
what is the main point of article 7 of the constitution
ratification procedures
how many total amendments have been passed
27 currently
what is authority
power to make rules and compel others to follow them (through force or writing or other means)
what is legitimacy
a sense of rightfulness with exercising authority
what is the relationship between legitimacy and authority
- legitimacy helps in having authority (allows a government to be stable and last)
- encourages obedience if thought to be legitimate
what are the 2 theories of legitimate authority
- divine right of kings
- social contract theory
what is social contract theory
the idea that the government gets authority from the consent of the governed
what 2 people are associated with social contract theory
thomas hobbs and john locke
what are some agreements between hobbs and locke
- people exist in state of nature
- men are born with rights in state of nature
- to accomplish goals men should give up rights to government
what did hobbs think about the nature of man
- man acts in their self interest even if it means killing their neighbor
- nature is very brute and cold
- every man for himself
how did hobbs see the social contract theory
- thought governments job was to provide order to stop evil nature of man
- one way contract (give up all rights to government, Pro-Monarch)
what did locke think about the nature of man
- man wasn’t necessarily evil and tries to do good but falls short
- role of government is to facilitate men in accomplishing goals and help them
what did locke think about the social contract theory
- saw as a 2 way contract
- people give up SOME rights to government
- if the government does not respect these rights kept people have the right to revolt
what are the 2 sources of legitimacy for the US
- limited government powers from constitution
- periodic democratic elections
why was the french and indian war important
- war on north american soil
- england needed money to pay for war
- started taxing colonies