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American National Government > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is government?

A

A system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people. As well as the institution in society which has a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force.

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2
Q

Types of physical force

A

Taxes, enlisting, imminent domain, inmate forced labor, death penalty

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3
Q

What is the purpose of allowing our government to utilize types of physical force?

A

It creates order and social structure

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4
Q

Why has every society adopted a system for exercising collective authority?

A

Mutual benefits

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5
Q

Defense against outside enemies, peace and safety within our group, active trade to meet needs and make life easier and more enjoyable, care of children and perpetuation of our people and customs.

A

Examples of mutual benefits

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6
Q
  1. Threat
  2. What do we do? (Who goes out first/solves the problem)
  3. What tools will help and how do we decide this?
A

Mutual Defense

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7
Q

What does government do?

A

Provides systematic order to competing ideas over power and social order.

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8
Q

Why big government?

A

Policing, k-12, colleges, soldiering, parks, sewer/water

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9
Q

Situation in which competitive structures of a capitalist economy fail to provide a commodity for the public.

A

Market Failure

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10
Q

Monopolies, unprovided public goods, externalities/spill over, asymmetric info

A

The four types of market failure

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11
Q

Excessive possession/control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service

A

Monopoly(ies)

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12
Q

Externalities/Spillover (pollution example)

A

Private market activities of an individual spill over/have consequences for another individual

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13
Q

Asymmetric Info

A

When seller has more info than consumer

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14
Q

Republicanism

A

Also known as representative. Select representatives to make good public policy.

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15
Q

Why not direct democracy?

A

There must be three conditions for direct democracy to work:
1. Small number of citizens
2. Property and wealth distributed equally
3. The society must be culturally homogenous

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16
Q

-Republicanism
-Separation of Powers
-Federalism
-Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

A

Four principles of constitution

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17
Q

-Unicameral legislative body (1 rep per colony)
-Executive could only wage war or make peace
-States hold all remaining powers
-No national judiciary
-State-specific currency
-No resolving conflict as country

A

Characteristics of Articles of Confederation

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18
Q

Flaws of the Articles of Confederation

A

-Gridlock
-No incentive to work together
-Gov could do whatever they wanted (state-wise)
-Representatives were white male land-owners
-No national treasury
-Unresolved conflict
-No execution of laws

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19
Q

What were the characteristics of the Shay Rebellion?

A

-Burning shit down
-Legislative nearly powerless
-Highlighted weaknesses
-Had to hold their farms above their heads for them to fight but they weren’t preserved anyways
-In prison after they finished fighting
-Salesman had to make an army to fight off rebels

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20
Q

This plan favored big states and represented based on population

A

Virginia Plan

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21
Q

This plan favored little states and allowed representation to remain equal for each state

A

New Jersey Plan

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22
Q

This plan combined the two individual plans and created a bicameral legislative body. Representatives existed by population and the Senate existed with the number being equal for every state

A

The Great Compromise/The Connecticut Compromise

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23
Q

Produces a republican system of government with separated and overlapping institutions containing multiple levels. This included attention to individual rights and liberties.

A

The Key Principles of Constitution

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24
Q

The objective of the Constitution is….

A

To SLOW THE PROCESS

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25
Q

The slow system was intended to….

A

Maintain the status quo, value generational wealth, and prevent quick change.

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26
Q

Counter-majoritarian

A

Opposite of majority rules.

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27
Q

Federalists

A

Pro-ratification of Articles, pro-constitution

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28
Q

Anit-Federalists

A

De-centralized government, individual state power, amend the articles.

29
Q

What was one of the biggest disagreements between the delegates about what should be added to the constitution?

A

Whether or not slaves should be counted in the census. (North opposed counting slaves while south wanted them to count for benefits)

30
Q

What was the consensus about slaves in America?

A

For every 5 persons, 3 slaves count for representative purposes.

31
Q

What is a constituent?

A

Citizens that answer back. Voters.

32
Q

Horizontal Power

A

Spread across the board (involving many people) to dictate a larger group of people

33
Q

Vertical Power

A

Exists in tiers: Big boss, manager, shift leads/small managers, workers.

34
Q

Legislative

A

Makes legislation

35
Q

Executive

A

Executes legislation

36
Q

Judicial

A

Interprets legislation

37
Q

Do the different powers overlap? (Leg, Exec, Jud)

A

NO! Kind of. Separation of powers BUT there are checks and balances in place to allow things to be questioned/taken back if it goes overboard.

38
Q

Term

A

How long someone serves in their respective government position

39
Q

Mechanics through which each branch is able to participate and influence activities of other branches.

A

Checks and Balances

40
Q

Federalism

A

Way of organizing national and state government. Mode of government with a central government and regional governments ruling over the same group of people.

41
Q

What are the 3 arrangements for central-regional relations? (gov types essentially)

A

Unitary, confederal, federal

42
Q

Unitary Arrangement

A

Most, if not all power is located in central or national government. Central government is very strong and regional government is only as powerful as the central government says they are.

43
Q

Confederal Arrangement

A

Group of sovereign states creates a central government for a common purpose yet retains most legal power (opposite of unitary) (very weak)

44
Q

Federal Arrangement

A

Two or more levels of government share power and authority each with certain powers and responsibilities assigned to it.

45
Q

Narrow nationalism

A

State laws determine lifestyle. Lots of diversity and there is shared power and authority.

46
Q

Broad Nationalism (Ex: North korea)

A

One “boss” determines lifestyle of everyone. Little to no diversity and authority is all under one person or very few individuals.

47
Q

What are the three ways that powers are distributed in our government today?

A

Powers of national government, powers of state government, state to state relations.

48
Q

Powers of National Gov

A

Expressed powers, implied powers, inherent powers

49
Q

Expressed powers

A

Delegated or enumerated powers. Written out by founding fathers. (i.e. post office, collect taxes, coin money)

50
Q

Implied powers

A

Might not be specifically written BUT it is very obvious. If we allow x, then y must be done as well. 3 types: Necessary and proper clause, interstate commerce clause, National supremacy clause.

51
Q

Inherent powers

A

Central gov has authority involving other nations as if it was the only authority. Only applicable to foreign affairs.

52
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

Expands national power, elastic clause, fits almost anything if need be. (i.e. the draft during war time)

53
Q

Interstate commerce clause

A

Congressional power regulates commerce among the states. (i.e. Dred Scott v Sanford, Gibbons v Ogdon, US v Lopez)

54
Q

National supremacy clause

A

If state law is in conflict with US Constitution, national government always supercedes

55
Q

Powers of State Government

A

Concurrent powers, forbiden powers, powers NOT granted to national government

56
Q

Powers not granted to the national government

A

Powers that are not given to the national government nor prohibited to the states belongs to the states. (intrastate commerce, run elections, local government, public health)

57
Q

Concurrent powers

A

Levy taxes, set up judiciary, borrow money, charter banks, make and enforce laws. Basically things that both types of gov can do.

58
Q

Forbidden Powers

A

What state gov cannot do. Make treaties, coin money, keep troops, tax imports/exports, deny due process.

59
Q

State to state relations

A

Full faith and credit, privileges and immunities, extradition/rendition, interstate impacts.

60
Q

Full faith and credit

A

Documents legal in home state valid in other states. (Loving v Virginia, interracial marriage, gay marriage, financial and medical benefits, alabama 2001)

61
Q

Privileges and Immunities

A

Treat people of different states the same, golden rule, everyone gets the same accessess. EXCEPT: hunting, state taxes, certain jobs (law, cosmetology, accountant, teacher)

62
Q

Extradition and Rendition

A

Criminal returned to state of original crime no matter what.

63
Q

Interstate compacts

A

Contractual agreement of two or more states to agree on a specific policy issue. (ex: nursing licensure)

64
Q

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

A

Strong protections for the integrity of the individual against the many.

65
Q

Civil Rights (equality)

A

Governmental responsibility for guaranteeing that all citizens are able to participate as equals in the practices of democratic life. What gov can do. Positive freedom.

66
Q

Civil Liberties (freedom)

A

Constitutional provisions, laws, practices, that protect individuals from government interference. What gov cannot do. Negative freedom.

67
Q

De jure

A

As a matter of law

68
Q

De facto

A

As a matter of fact

American National Government (4 decks)

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