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American Government > Test 1 > Flashcards

Test 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

The collection of public institutions in a nation that establish and enforce the rules by which the members of that nation must live

A

Government

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2
Q

A voluntary agreement among members of a society to cooperate for social benefits

A

Social contract

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3
Q

The ability of public institutions and the officials within them to make laws, independent of the power to execute them

A

Authority

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4
Q

The ability to get individuals to do something that they may not otherwise do

Ex: pay taxes, stop at red lights

A

Power

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5
Q

The extent to which the people afford the government the authority and right to exercise power

A

Legitimacy

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6
Q

A form of government where free, open, and regular elections are held to allow voters to choose who will govern on their behalf

A

Representative/indirect democracy

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7
Q

A system of government in which all citizens participate in making policy, rules, and governing decisions

A

Direct democracy

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8
Q

The idea that the ultimate source of power in the nation is held by the people

A

Popular sovereignty

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9
Q

The title of a resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives as an entry into a patriotic contest

A

American Creed

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10
Q

John Locke

A

Believed in natural rights and social contract based upon individual consent

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11
Q

Thomas Hobbes

A

Believed that government was to manage naturally occurring conflicts. Humans by nature are selfish

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12
Q

Plato

A

A philosopher that believed that having a king was the idea form of government

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13
Q

How was the power distributed under the Articles of Confederation?

A

Every state had one congressional vote, regardless of population

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14
Q

Why did the Articles of Confederation need to be revised?

A

There was a need for stronger federal government

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15
Q

Virgina plan

A

“Large states plan” empowered 3 separate branches of government

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16
Q

New Jersey plan

A

“Small states plan” states have equal representation

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17
Q

The Great Compromise

A

A proposal of a 2 house legislature with a senate (2 reps per state) and a House of Representatives (reps based on population)

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18
Q

A series of articles which argued in favor of ratifying the proposed U.S. Constitution

A

Federalist papers

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19
Q

Who wrote the federalist papers?

A

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay

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20
Q

The principle that each branch of government enjoys separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility

A

Separation of powers

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21
Q

A system of limits imposed by the constitution that gives each branch of government the limited right to change or cancel the acts of the other branches

A

Checks and balances

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22
Q

Those who supported ratification of the proposed constitution

A

Federalist

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23
Q

Those who opposed ratification to the proposed constitution

A

Anti-federalist

24
Q

A system of government in which two or more independent states unite to achieve certain specified common aims

A

Confederation

25
Q

The doctrine underlying a system of government in which power is divided between a central government and constituent political subunits

A

Federalism

26
Q

The constituent states are strictly subordinated to the goals of central government as a whole

A

Unitary system of government

27
Q

The doctrine of federalism that holds that state authority acts as a significant limit on congressional power under the constitution

A

Dual federalism

28
Q

Which two clauses in the constitution have paved the way for expanding federal powers?

A

Necessary and proper clause

Supremacy clause

29
Q

Grants congress the power to make laws that serve as means to achieving its expressly delegated powers

A

Necessary and proper clause

30
Q

Provides that the constitution and federal laws override any conflicting provisions or state laws

A

Supremacy clause

31
Q

Marbury v Madison

A

Doctrine of judicial review

32
Q

McCulloch v Maryland

A

Established the implied powers of the national government and the idea of national supremacy

33
Q

Gibbons v Ogden

A

Established that the power to regulate interstate commerce was an exclusive national power

34
Q

Who invented the concept of federalism?

A

Alexander Hamilton, George Washington and James Madison

35
Q

What does federalism have to do with the civil war?

A

The civil war was fought over balance of federal and state governments

36
Q

Affords congress nearly unlimited authority to exercise its powers through means that often coerce states into administering and/or enforcing federal policies

A

Cooperative federalism

37
Q

Civil liberties

A

Areas of social lie that Americans believe should be free from government interference

38
Q

Civil rights

A

Areas of social life Americans believe require government actions to ensure fairness and equality

39
Q

What does the majority of the bill of rights concern?

A

Guaranteeing citizens specific rights

40
Q

Amendment 1

A

Freedom of religion, speech and press

41
Q

Amendment 2

A

The right to bear arms

42
Q

Amendment 3

A

Government can’t lodge troops in private homes

43
Q

Amendment 4

A

Warrant needed for search and seizure

44
Q

Amendment 5

A

The accused is entitled to certain rights

45
Q

Amendment 6

A

Right to a speedy trial by jury

46
Q

Amendment 7

A

Jury trial in civil cases involving money

47
Q

Amendment 8

A

Forbids cruel and unusual punishment

48
Q

Amendment 9

A

People have natural rights not stated in the constitution

49
Q

Amendment 10

A

Powers not given to the federal government belong to the states

50
Q

What are the clauses associated with freedom of religion?

A

Free exercise clause
Establishment clause
Lemon test

51
Q

Denies government the ability to prohibit the free exercise of religion

A

Free exercise clause

52
Q

Prohibits government from enacting any law “respecting an establishment of religion”

A

Establishment clause

53
Q

The legal test that determines if a government statue aiding public or private schools is a unconstitutional violation of the establishment clause

A

Lemon test

54
Q
  • appeals “to a prurient interest in sex”
  • showed “patently offensive” sexual conduct
  • lacks “serious literacy, artistic, policial or scientific values”
A

Miller v California

55
Q

Ruled unconstitutional a state law that banned abortions except to save the life of the mother

A

Roe v Wade

American Government (1 decks)

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