U.S. GOVERNMENT Flashcards

1
Q

Evolutionary State Theory

A

The state evolved from the family, with the head of the state with equivalent of the family’s patriarch or matriarch

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2
Q

Force State Theory

A

One person or group of people brought everyone in an area under their control, forming the first government

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3
Q

Divine Right

A

certain people were chosen by the prevailing deity to be the rulers of the nation, which is itself created by deity or deities

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4
Q

Social Contract

A

There is no natural order.
People allow themselves to be governed to maintain social order
People have the right to seek new leaders

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5
Q

Aristotle and Plato

A

Political science would lead to order in politics and a socially just society

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6
Q

Thomas Aquinas

A

Individuals should have certain rights and duties and these rights and duties should determine the type and extent of governments in rule

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7
Q

Thomas Hobbes

A

Leviathian (1651)

believed individual lives were focues solely on a quest for power, state must work to control this urge

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8
Q

John Locke

A

“Two Treatises of Civil Government” (1690)
Tabula rasa theory- people are born with minds that are a blank slate– experience molds individual minds, not innante knowledge

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9
Q

Montesquie and Rousseau

A

“Social Contract” (1762) “Declaration of the Rights of Man” , “The Citizen” (1789)
Believed government policies and ideas should change to alleviate existing problems (liberalism)

Individual freedom and community welfare are of equal importance
Man’s innate goodness lead to natural harmony
Reason develops with the rise of civilized society
Individual citizens carry certain obligations to the existing government

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10
Q

Jeremy Bentham and Hume

A

Politics should have its main goal maintaining “the greatest happiness of the greatest number”

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11
Q

John Stuart Mill

A

believed in progressive policies such as women’s suffrage, emancipation and the development of labor organizaitons and farming coops

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12
Q

Liberal

A

Government work to increase equality
Assist those in need of help
Focus on enforced social justice and free education

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13
Q

Conservative

A

Government should be limited in most cases
Should allow its citizens to help one another and solve their own problems rather than enforcing solutions
Business should not be overrugulated (free market)

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14
Q

Moderate

A

Incorporates some liberal and some conservative values,

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15
Q

Libertarian

A

Government role should be limited to protecting the life and liberty of citizens
No involvement in any citizen’s life unless citizen is encroaching upon the rights of another

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16
Q

Principles of Government in the Constitution

A
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty 
Separation of Powers
Judicial Review
Checks and balances
Limited Government
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17
Q

Federalism

A

power of the government not belong entirely to national government
split between state and national gov

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18
Q

Popular sovereignty

A

Government determined by the people, gains authority/power from the people

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19
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Divided into 3 branches (exec, legis, judic)

Each branch has it’s own enumerated powers

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20
Q

Judicial Review

A

Courts at all levels of government can declare laws invalid

Supreme Court serving as the final judicial authority on decisions

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21
Q

Checks and Balances

A

No branch can action without input from another

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22
Q

Limited Government

A

government powers are limited and certain individual rights are defiend as inviolable by the government

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23
Q

Powers delegated to the national government by the US Constitution

A

Expressed Powers
Implied Powers
Inherent Powers

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24
Q

Expressed Powers

A

Powers directly defined in the constitution

Power to declare war, regulate commerce, make money and collect taxes

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25
Q

Implied Powers

A

Powers the national government must have in order to carry out the expressed powers

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26
Q

Inherent Powers

A

powers inherent ot any government.

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27
Q

Qualifications of a US Citizen

A

anyone born in the US, to US Citizens or has gone through naturalization is a citizen

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28
Q

Rights of a citizen

A

Certain rights are defined by the US government

Bill of Rights that include freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and a variety of otehr rights

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29
Q

Duties of a US Citizen

A

Paying taxes
Loyalty to the government
Support and defend the consitution
Serve in the armed forces (as required by law)
Obeying laws set by various levels of government

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30
Q

Responsibilities of a US citizen

A

Voting in elections
Respecting one another’s rights and not infringing upon them
Staying informed about various politcal and naitonal issues
Respecting one another’s beliefs

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31
Q

Bill of Rights

A

First ten amendments of the US Constitutions
Prevent government from infringing upon certain freedoms
seen as natural rights

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32
Q

First Amendment

A

Grants freedom of relgion, speech, press and assembly

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33
Q

Second Amendment

A

Right to bear arms

34
Q

Third Amendment

A

Congress cannot force individuals to house troops

35
Q

Fourth Amendment

A

Protection from unreasonable search and seizure

36
Q

Fifth Amendment

A

No individual required to testify against himself, can’t be tried for the same crime twice

37
Q

Sixth Amendment

A

right to be criminal trial by jury

38
Q

Seventh Amendment

A

Right to a civil trial by jury

39
Q

Eighth Amendment

A

No excessive bail, cruel or unusual punishment

40
Q

Ninth Amendment

A

prevents the absence of rights not explicitly named in the Constitution from being interpreted as a reason to have them taken away

41
Q

Tenth Amendment

A

Any rights not directly delegated to the national government, or not directly prohibited, belong to the states or to the people

42
Q

Restrictions on the Freedom of Religion

A

when a religion espouses activities that are otherwise illegal (polygamy)

43
Q

Restrictions to Freedom of Speech

A

Restricted free speech endangers other people

44
Q

Restrictions of the press

A

Prevent the press from publishing falsehoods

45
Q

Rights of the Accused

A

4th, 5th, 6th and 8th Amendment protect the rights of those accused of crimes

46
Q

Supreme Court

A

Evaluates various laws and court decisions to determine fi they properly represent the idea of equal protection

47
Q

Civil Liberties

A

Role of the state in providing equal rights and opportunities to individuals within that state

48
Q

Civil Rights

A

defines the limitations of state rights

Rights that belong to the individual and cannot be infringed upon

49
Q

Suffrage and Franchise

A

Both terms referring to the right to vote
15th amendment right for slaves to vote
19th amendment gave women right to vote
26th Amendment gave right to vote to anyone over 18

50
Q

Federalists/ Democratic- Republicans

A

formed in the late 1700s and disagreed on the balance of power between national and state government

51
Q

Democrats and Whigs

A

Developed before the Civil war– based on issues of slavery

52
Q

Democrats and Republicans

A

Developed after Civil War– based on issues centering on the treatment of post war South

53
Q

Nominating Conventions

A

First Process in selecting political candidates

Official meeting of the members of a party for expressed purpose of nominating candidates for upcoming elections

54
Q

Caucuses

A

Second Process in selecting political candidates

Meeting, usually attended by a party’s leaders

55
Q

Primary Elections

A

Third Process in selecting political candidates

Publicly held election to choose candidates

56
Q

Petitions

A

Fourth Process in selecting political candidates

Signatures gathered to place a candidate on the ballot

57
Q

Anarchists

A

Believe all government should be eliminated and that individuals should rule themselves

58
Q

Communism

A

Based on a class conflict, revolution and a one party state
Involve a single government for the entire world
Control the production and flow of goods/services rather than leaving this to companies/individuals

59
Q

Dictatorships

A

Rule by a single individual

Rule enforced by small group is oligarchy

60
Q

Facism

A

Centers on a single leader and is ideologically an oppositional belief to Communism
Single party state and centralized control
“Cult of Personality”

61
Q

Monarchy

A

led by a single figure head
Position is hereditary and rulers are not elected
Constitutional Monarchy- king/queen exist but decisions made by democratically elected institutions

62
Q

Presidential System

A

No difference between the head of state and head of government
Includes legislature and political parties

63
Q

Socialism

A

State controls production of goods, though it does not own all means of production
Provides variety of social services to citizens and helps guide economy

64
Q

Totalitarian

A

Everything should be under the control of the government

All aspects of life conform to ideals of the government

65
Q

Authoritarian

A

Practice Wide spread state authority, but do not dismantle all public institutions
As long as they are not seen as a threat to the state

66
Q

Parliamentary System of Government

A

Government involves a legislature and a variety of political parties.
Head of government (Prime Minister) is typically the head of the dominant party

67
Q

Democratic System of Government

A

People elect their government representatives.

68
Q

Indirect Democracy

A

Employs a legislature that votes on issues that affect large number of people

69
Q

Direct Democracy

A

Each issue/election is decided by a vote where each individual is counted separately

70
Q

Realism

A

Nations are aggressive by nature and work in self interest
Relations b/w nations determined by military/economic strength
Nation highest authority

71
Q

Liberalism

A

States can cooperate, and that they act based on capabilities rather than power

72
Q

Institutionalism

A

Provides structure and incentive for cooperation among nations
Institutions: are the set of rules used to make international decisions
Help distribute power and determine how nations work

73
Q

Constructivism

A

Based on international cooperation but recognizes that perceptions countries have of each other can affect their relations

74
Q

Foreign Policy

A

Set of gaols, policies and strategies that determine how an individual nation will interact with other countries.
Based on certain set of ideals and national needs

75
Q

Isolationism vs. Internationalism

A

debate during the 1800s that questioned the amount to which US should intervene in foreign affairs

76
Q

Department of State

A

Carries out policy, negotiations of treaties, maintains diplomatic relations, asists citizens traveling in foreign countries and ensures that the president is properly informed of any international issues

77
Q

International Organizations (IOs)

A

Organizations that transcend borders

78
Q

Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)

A

Organizations that are made up of members from various national governments
i.e. UN

79
Q

Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)

A

Lies outside the scope of any government and are usually supported through private donations

80
Q

Diplomats

A

Individuals who reside in foreign countries in order to maintain communications between that country and their home country
Negotiate trade agreements, environmental policies, convey official information

81
Q

United Nations

A

Helps form international policies by hosting representatives of various countries who then provide input into policy decisions.