Vocabulary & People Flashcards
Civic Life
Participation in the collective life of the community
Government
The body or bodies charged with making official policies for citizens
Social Capital
Bonds of trust and reciprocity between citizens that form the glue that holds modern societies together
Direct Democracy
Form of government in which decisions about public policy extend to the entire citizenry
Representative Democracy
Form of government in which popular decision making is restricted to electing or appointing the public officials who make the public policy
Majority Rule
The requirement that electoral majorities determine who is elected to the office and that majorities in power determine our laws and how they are administered
Political Power
The ability to get things done by controlling or influencing the institution of government
Ruling Elite Theory
View positing that wealthy and well-educated citizens exercise a disproportionate amount of influence over political decision making
Pluralism
View posting that various groups and conditions constantly vie for government favor and the ability to exercise political power but none enjoys long term dominance
Initiative
Procedure that enables citizens to approve or repeal measures already acted on by legislative bodies (24 states)
Popular Referendum
Ballot measure aimed at securing voter approval for some legislative acts, such as changes to a states constitution (50 states)
Recall
Procedure whereby citizens can remove and replace a public official before the end of a term. (18 states)
Ideology
Ideas, values, beliefs about how government should operate
Political Participation
Taking part in activities like voting or running for office aimed at influencing the policies or leadership of government
Social Class
The perceived combination of wealth, income, education, and occupation that contribute to one’s status and power in society
Politics
The process by which we choose government officials and make decisions about public policy
Service Learning Programs
Agencies that help connect volunteers with organizations in need of help
Robert Filmer
Wrote “Patriarcha”
Bicameral
Composed of two houses
Elastic Clause
Provision of Article I of the Constitution authorizing Congress to make those laws necessary and proper for carrying out the other laws it passes
Supremacy Clause
Provision of Article VI stipulating that the federal government, in exercising any of the powers enumerated in the Constitution, must prevail over any conflicting or inconsistent state exercise of power
Civil Society
The broad array of voluntary associations that bring citizens together to deal with community and social issues of common concern
Federalist
Supporters of the Constitution and its strong central government
Antifederalists
Opponents of the ratification of the Constitution
Faction
Group (most often driven by economic motives) that places its own good above the good of the nation as a whole
Judicial Review
Power of the US Supreme Court to review the acts of other political institutions and declare them unconstitutional
Unicameral
Composed of a single body
John Locke
Argued that the power of the government comes from the consent of its citizens.
2 books defending Liberal Democracy and the right to property called “The Second Treasure of Government” & “Essay Concerning Toleration”
3 Major Changes in Citizenry
Growing more diverse
Living longer
To get more educated
Great Compromise
An agreement at the constitutional convention splitting the legislature into two bodies - one apportioned by population, the other assigning each state two members
Mayflower Compact
Guaranteed government representation that implied laws and rights
House of Burgesses
Representative Government of VA that gave alienation from Great Britain, made tax policies and made VA insecure about Indian attacks
Stamp Act 1763
Required revenue stamps on newspapers and pamphlets as well as legal documents
Townshed Act 1765
More taxes on a wide variety of colonial items
Lexington
“shot heard ‘round the world” a march led by Thomas Gage toward Concord Mass. In April 1775 to confiscate munitions. 8 were killed and 10 were wounded by minutemen.
Articles of Confederation
- Legislative Department -organization, powers, restraints.
- Executive Department -powers, restraints, duties, and elections
- Judicial Department -powers, jurisdiction, Restraints, Definition of treason.
- Relations of the States To each other and to the federal government. Guarantees to states. Government of territories.
- Amendment Process -> Amendments pro- Posed by 2/3, ratified by 3/4
- Debts of Confederation, “supremacy clause,” duties of officials.
- Ratification
Annapolis Convention
55/74 invited came.
42/55 left convention in September. 39/42 Signed the Constitution.
3/ 42 Refused (George Mason, Edmond Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry.