Unit 1 pt.1 American Democracy

Question 1

Natural Rights

Answer 1

Life, Liberty, and Property (pursuit of happiness, updated by Jefferson. All people have certain rights that can’t be taken away.

Question 2

John Locke

Answer 2

English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights. He wrote “Life, Liberty, and Property.”

Question 3

Social Contract

Answer 3

Agreement between people in a society to give up some freedom.

Question 4

The “Grand Committee”

Answer 4

A group chosen to settle disagreements between power in states. Led by Benjamin Franklin.

Question 5

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Answer 5

The fundamental document establishing the US as an independent nation, adopted on July 4, 1776. It declared the 13 colonies independent from Britain, offered reasons for the separation laid out the principles for which the Revolution was fought. God made all men equal and gave them the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Question 6

Articles Of Confederation

Answer 6

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade).

Question 7

Limited Government

Answer 7

Certain restrictions placed on the government to protect individual rights.

Question 8

Preamble of the US Constitution

Answer 8

Introduction to the Constitution

Question 9

U.S. Constitution (1787)

Answer 9

Replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a functioning government. Established (1) federalist system, (2) separation of powers, (3) checks and balances, (4) Bill of Rights.

Question 10

Representative Democracy

Answer 10

A system of government in which citizens elect representatives, or leaders, to make decisions about the laws for all the people.

Question 11

Participatry Democracy

Answer 11

a system of government where rank-and-file citizens rule themselves rather than electing representatives to govern on their behalf.

Question 12

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 12

A theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power.

Question 13

Elite Democracy

Answer 13

A theory of democracy that limits the citizens’ role to choosing among competing leaders.

Question 14

Brutus #1

Answer 14

To argue against a strong central government. The country would be too large for one central government and the government would have too much power.

Question 15

Federalist #10

Answer 15

An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.

Question 16

Federalists

Answer 16

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

Question 17

Anti-Federalists

Answer 17

People who opposed the Constitution.

Question 18

Central Government

Answer 18

A form of government in which the national government has most of the power, while the states have little power.

Question 19

Reserved Powers (10th Amendment)

Answer 19

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Question 20

Republic

Answer 20

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting.