Test One Flashcards
What are the unique powers that government has compared to other organizations?
they have the legitimate authority to take away your life, liberty, and property
What is an aristocracy and what is an oligarchy?
aristocracy - elite group rules for the good of the people
oligarchy - elite group rules for their own selfish needs, not the needs of the society
What is a monarch and what is a tyrant?
monarch - leader of a monarchy that is doing what’s best for a whole nation
tyrant - leader in a tyranny who rules for themselves, not for the good of their nation
What is the difference between a democracy and an anarchy?
democracy - people rule for the common good of the nation
anarchy - no one rules, because everyone rules for themselves (causes mass chaos)
What is a republic? Give an example.
representative democracy
ex: United States
What is an authoritarian state and what is a totalitarian state? Give examples.
authoritarian - monopoly of power for a select few (citizens have no political freedom)
ex: China
totalitarian - government has total control of every aspect of your life (citizens have no freedom of anything)
ex: Taliban
What is constitutionalism?
constitutional democracy in which you have a document (Constitution) that puts constraints on governmental power
What is an illiberal democracy? Give examples.
where you have elections, but no freedom
ex: Iran, Russia, Venezuela
What are the conditions necessary for a liberal democracy?
- rule of law
- property rights
- individual liberty
- large middle class
Why is rule of law so important?
prevents someone from becoming above the law and abusing peoples freedoms and rights
What were the contributing factors to the failure of the Athenian democracy?
- no limit on the power of assembly
- no large middle class
What was Plato’s recommendation?
- a republic with a philosopher king monarch
- based on being trained to be virtuous
- he thought democracy was evil (mob rule)
What was Aristotle’s theory on democracy?
it would work if you built it on a large middle class, but he said such qualities were very rare
What were the contributing factors to the faulure of the Roman Republic?
- there was no way of controlling the military
- the people depended on the generals for money and necessities so the generals gained more and more power
Why was the Magna Carta so important in English history?
established that the king was under the rule of law
What was the major reason that the English kings granted more and more power to Parliament?
they needed money from Parliament
What were the problems between the Stuart kings and Parliament?
- the Stuart kings believed they were above the law and that they had absolute power, and believed Parliament was a footstool for them
- arguments over who controlled taxes and taxation
What was the Petition of Rights?
a list of the abuses of the king, and he had to sign the petition to say he would quit doing those things
What was the English Bill of Rights?
- the authority of Parliament at the expense of the king (power taken away from the king and given to Parliament)
- started freedom of speech, no cruel and unusual punishment, trial by jury, and right to bear arms
At the end of the 17th century who ruled England?
Parliament
Why was it important for Washington to be the president of the Convention?
he was trusted with power because he didn’t have a huge thirst for it
Why was secrecy so important?
so the delegates could speak freely and they could have compromise
What were the three major issues during the Convention?
- basis of representation
- trade
- slavery
What was the basis of representation in the Virginia Plan?
bicameral congress based on population for both houses
What was the basis of representation in the New Jersey Plan?
unicameral congress and each state had one vote
What was the basis of representation in the Connecticut Compromise?
bicameral congress, upper house based on 2 votes per state, lower house based on population elected by the people
How were the issues of export taxes, trade approval and the importation of slaves resolved?
- no export taxes (export tax)
- simple majority (trade)
- could not be prohibited for 20 years (slave importation)
How was the representation and taxing of slaves resolved?
3/5th Compromise
How was the census and reapportionment resolved?
census every 10 years
What was the significance of the Northwest Ordinance?
five free states
Which branch would tend to predominate?
legislature
What are the minimum requirements for a bill to become law?
identical bills must pass both houses, as long as the president doesn’t veto it
What does it take for Congress to override a Presidential veto?
2/3 vote in both houses
Identify which branch has the power of the purse.
Congress
Identify which branch has the power to raise an army or build a navy.
Congress
Identify which branch has the power to give diplomatic recognition.
President
Identify which branch has the power to declare war.
Congress
Identify which branch has the power to send troops overseas.
President
What is the term length for a House Representative?
2 years
What is the term length for the President?
4 years
What is the term length for a Supreme Court Justice?
lifetime
What is the term length for a Senator?
6 years
Who impeaches a President and who removes the President?
the house impeaches a president, removal done by the Senate
How is a President elected?
majority vote of electoral college, 270 votes
What institution must provide advice and consent to ratify a treaty? By what size vote?
the Senate; by a 2/3 vote
Who approves Presidential appointments?
the Senate
Who determines the number and types of lower federal courts and their jurisdiction?
Congress (both houses)
What is an ex post facto law?
a law you pass that applies to a crime retroactively
What is a writ of habeas corpus?
you have the right to be brought before a judge to be told what you’re being held for
What is a bill of attainder?
a legislative act that punishes you without a trial
What is the procedure required to ratify the Constitution?
approval of state conventions in 9 states
What was the strongest argument against the Constitution?
lack of a Bill of Rights
Who initiated the Federalist Papers?
Hamilton
Name the three writers of the Federalist Papers.
- Hamilton
- Madison
- Jay
What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?
- defend the Constitution against the anti-federalists and their misleading statements
- argue there was no need for a Bill of Rights
What was the separation of powers designed to do?
- prevent the concentration of power
- checks and balances to insure the separation of powers
What were the Founders’ beliefs concerning human nature?
- people will tend to act out of self interest
- human nature is to be selfish
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
Madison
Cleisthenes
wrote the Athenian constitution
Utopianism
the idea of creating the perfect state, leads to totalitarianism
Fareed Zakaria
talked about conditions for liberal democracy
Hobbesian Theory
he believed without government life would be short and “brutish”
Plato’s Republic
- democracy was mob rule and worst form of government
- wanted a republican build
Aristotle’s Politics
a democracy will work if it is based on a large middle class
War Powers
- Who raises troops?
- Who funds army and raises navy?
- Who sends troops into harms way?
- Who recognizes nations?
- Who declares war?
- Congress
- Congress
- President
- President
- Congress
Roger Sherman
compromiser of Connecticut Compromise
Shays Rebellion
incident that led to the Constitutional Convention
Committee of a Whole
meeting of everyone before the convention so they could do compromises and figure out how one another was going to vote before the actual official vote in the convention
Annapolis Convention
originally called for constitutional convention, but was ignored; wanted to revise Articles of Confederation
reapportionment
reallocation of the seats in Congress, in the house based on population after the census every 10 years
money bills
bills that must originate in the house
Fukuyama video
What does he mean by centralized state?
a state where power is concentrated with one entity
Fukuyama video
What is the meaning of the rule of law?
where you have law that everyone in the society must admit to
Fukuyama video
What does he mean by the term accountability?
the idea that the government rules for the good of society (usually insured by elections)
Fukuyama video
What is patrimonialism? Why did China set up the first impersonalized central state? Why does it need to be impersonal?
the natural tendency to favor friends and family; because they needed competent people to win a war; because of the fact that you need talented people
Fukuyama video
What is the source of rule of law in history?
religion
Fukuyama video
How did the Catholic Church help in the development of rule of law in Western Europe?
they laid the foundation for independent rule of law separate from secular authority
Fukuyama video
Why is England so important to the development of accountability?
because the Parliament was able to force the king to submit to the consent of the governed
Fukuyama video
What is the difference between China and India in their history?
- China has been an authoritarian government, has had no religion, no rule of law, unified for most of its history
- India has been unified, has a religion, and has a village community society for most of its time so it tends to be more democratic
Fukuyama video
What does he mean by political decay? What are the two major sources contributing to political decay?
- when institutions in a society doesn’t change when the world changes
- (1) institutions have become too rigid and don’t adapt to new conditions (2) the rich accumulate wealth and power at the expense of the rest of society, they ignore the good of society
Fukuyama video
What is the immediate political advantage of China over the United States? What does he believe long term? Why?
- doesn’t have chekcs and balances so they can get done whatever necessary easily
- he believes the US system will succeed long term because China has no checks and balances it could fall to a dictator
Federalist Papers
What is Madison’s definition of a faction?
group with similar interests or passions that may harm or oppose the well being of others
Federalist Papers
What are the two methods of removing the causes of factions?
destroy liberty and give everyone the same opinion
Federalist Papers
What are the disadvantages of each of these methods? Be specific.
liberty needed for politics in a democracy and it is against nature for everyone to have the same opinion
Federalist Papers
If the causes cannot reasonably be removed, then how does Madison recommend controlling the effects of factions whether a majority or a minority? Give his recommendations for each.
If minority, regular vote by the majority.
If majority, make it difficult for a majority facgtion to form and act.
Federalist Papers
What are the two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic?
Responsibilities are delegated to a few representatives who are elected and the larger size of the republic.
Federalist Papers
What is the great advantage of a large republic over a small one?
It will be difficult for a faction to gain complete control of the government and also less likely for an unworthy person to be elected.
Federalist Papers
What does Madison propose as a great security against the gradual concentration of power?
Prevention of the concentration of power through checks and balances.
Federalist Papers
In a republican government, the legislative authority predominates. What is Madison’s solution to this tendency?
Bicameral legislature with different terms, constituencies and responsibilities.
Federalist Papers
What gives the American Federal system its double security?
National and state governments who have separate spheres of operation and powers as well as being further separated into different branches with their own checks and balances.
Federalist Papers
The United States as a republic guards the society against injustice by one of its parts. How does our federal republic accomplish this goal?
Society being broken into so many interests and classes that it will be difficult for a majority faction to form.
politics
deciding who gets what, when, and how
tyranny
ruler (tyrant) rules for themselves, not for the good of their nation
democracy
people rule for the common good of the nation
totalitarianism
government has total control of every aspect of your life (ex: Taliban)
constitutionalism
constitutional democracy in which you have a document (Constitution) that puts constraints on governmental power
government
has the legitimate power to take your life, your liberty, and your property
oligarchy
elite group rule for themselves, not the society
5th Amendment
- right to trial by jury
- cannot force someone to self incriminate
- due process
- no double jeopardy
- eminent domain (govt can take your property for public use, but must properly compensate you)
9th Amendment
- rights retained by the people
- people have additional rights not included in the Bill of Rights
- (1) Privacy rights
- (2) Presumption of innocence
- (3) Beyond a reasonable doubt
authoritarianism
monopoly of political power by an individual or small group that otherwise allows people to go about their private lives as they wish
bill of attainder
legislative act inflicting punishment without judicial trial; forbidden under Article I of the Constitution
Bill of Rights
written guarantees of basic individual liberties; the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
checks and balances
Constitutional provisions giving each branch of the national government certain checks over the actions of other branches
Connecticut Compromise
a constitutional plan that merged elements of a Virginia plan and a New Jersey plan into the present arrangement of the U.S. Congress: one house in which each state has an equal number of votes (the Senate) and one house in which states’ votes are based on population (the House of Representatives)
direct democracy
decisions are made directly by the people usually by popular initiative and referendum voting, as opposed to decisions made by elected representatives
Electoral College
the 538 presidential electors apportioned among the states according to their congressional representation (plus 3 for the District of Columbia) whose votes officially elect the president and vice president of the United States
Federalists
those who supported the U.S. Constitution during the ratification process
judicial activism
making of new law through judicial interpretations of the Constitution
judicial review
power of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, to declare laws of Congress, laws of the states, and actions of the president unconstitutional and invalid
Supremacy Clause
clause in article vi of the U.S. Constitution declaring the constitution and laws of the national government “the supreme law of the land” superior to the constitutions and laws of the states
paradox of democracy
potential for conflict between individual freedom and majority rule
popular sovereignty
constitutional principle of self-government; belief that the people control their government and governments are subject to limitations and constraints
representative democracy
governing system in which public decision making is delegated to representatives of the people chosen by popular vote in free, open, and periodic elections
republic
form of government in which representatives of the people, rather than the people themselves, govern
separation of powers
constitutional division of powers among the three branches of the national government–legislative, executive, and judicial
3/5th Compromise
a compromise in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 between free and slave states in which slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for both taxation and representation
1st Amendment
- establishment clause
- freedom of religion
- freedom of speech
- freedom of press
- right to assembly
- right to associate
- righ to petition the government
2nd Amendment
right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
no quartering troops
4th Amendment
no unreasonable searches and seizures
6th Amendment
right to a fair trial (speedy, public, trial by jury)
7th Amendment
right to a jury trial in a civil case
8th Amendment
- excessive bail is prohibited
- excessive fines should not be imposed nor cruel and unusal punishment be inflicted
9th Amendment
rights retained by the people
10th Amendment
states’ rights
