Unit One – The Why And Context Of Government Flashcards
Public policy
All those things a government decides to do
Government
The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policy
Constitution
The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
Politics
Activities that regulate to influencing the actions and policies of a government or getting and keeping power in the government
Three kinds of governmental power
Legislative (Makes the laws)
Executive (enforces the laws)
Judicial (interprets the laws)
Purposes of the U.S. Government (Found in the preamble of the U.S.Constitution)
Form a more perfect union Establish justice Ensure domestic tranquility Provide for the common defense Promote general welfare Secure the blessings of liberty
Democracy
Supreme political power rest in the people
People must be well informed
Direct democracy
Exist where the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves
Indirect democracy
A small group of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives express the popular will
Dictatorship
Those who rule can’t be held responsible to the will of the people
What governmental power does the US use based on geographic distribution? (Define the word also)
Federal government – powers of government are divided between a central government and several local
Types of government based on relationship between legislative and executive branches (what are the two types)
Presidential and parliamentary government
Presidential government
Legislative and executive branches are independent of each other
Parliamentary government
The chief executive is a member of the legislature or Parliament
Principles of American democracy
Worth of the individual Equality of all persons Majority rule, minority rights Need for compromise individual freedom
Citizen
One who hold certain rights and responsibilities with in a state (country)
Three types of colonies and their governments
Royal colonies (king had Direct rule) Proprietary colonies (a person whom the king appointed had rule) Charter colonies (group ruled itself)
Purposes of the Declaration of Independence
Announces US independence
Gives reasons why the colonist want their freedom
Liberty
The state or condition of people who are able to act and speak freely
Security
Things done to make people or places safe
Common good
The advantage or benefit of all people in a society or in a group
Justice
Process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals
Equality
The quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc.
Law and order
Relating in characterized by or advocating strict laws in their environment
What is the articles of Confederation and what were two major problems?
United states first constitution
Too weak to solve the nations problems
Confederation, “ league of friendship,” with no real national power
Virginia plan
Bicameral legislature
Representation based on population
National law is supreme
New Jersey plan
Unicameral legislature
One state, one vote
State law is supreme
Federalist
Believed the Constitution was strong enough to solve the country’s problems
Anti-Federalist
They feared a strong central government
Wanted a Bill of Rights to protect the states and people
What does the U.S. Constitution do for America?
Through separation of powers and checks and balances, the document safeguards America from tyranny
It sets up powers for the national government and some of the state powers. What is not listed is left to the states to do
Popular sovereignty
Government can exist and function ONLY with the consent of the people
Limited government
Government only has the people give it (obey the Constitution)
Separation of powers
The executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government
Checks and balances
System of overlapping the powers of the three branches to check the action of the others
Judicial review
power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of the of the actions of the legislative and executive branches
Federalism
The division of power among the central government and several regional governments
Rule of law
Government and its officers are always subject to – never above – the law
Amendment
A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law
How many amendments of the U.S. Constitution have?
27
Formal amendment process
National government (Congress) has to propose and the states most approve
Supremacy clause
The constitution stands above all other forms of law in the US
Ladder of the law (supremacy clause)
US Constitution National law (what Congress creates) State constitutions State law local law
National governments obligations to the states
Republican (representative) form of government
Invision an internal disorder
Respect for territorial integrity (state will always be a state)
