We the people note- Purposes of gov Flashcards
What is authority
The right to command, or the holder of official power
What is anarchy
An absence or lack of any formal system of government or control
What is public policy
A course of action accepted or used by a government to respond to a problem
What is an institution
An established organization that is influential in the community
What is infrastructure
Basic physical systems of a community’s people (roads, electricity, water, etc)
What is the US Constitution
The plan detailing the structure, functions, and powers of the government of the United States, also known as the Constitution.
It is the basis for creating and following laws and policy
It outlines the structure and functions of the U.S. Government
What is the common good
The greatest possible conditions of society for the greatest number of people living in it
What is consent
To agree or give permission
What is the rule of law
The principle that both those who govern and those who are governed must obey the law and are subject to the same laws
Nobody is above the law
What is legitimacy
Lawful and complying with recognized rules, standards, or traditions; public trust and acceptance of court rulings
What is the divine right of kings
European historical principle that the king/monarch has God-given powers to rule
What is tyranny
Cruel and unjust government
What is democracy
Governed by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system
What is a republic
Form of government in which people elect representatives to exercise power for them
What is republicanism
The principle that government officials are elected by the people and represent their interests
What is the magna carta
Document written in England in 1215 remembered for ending the absolute power of the monarchy by placing limits on the king’s authority
What is English Common Law
Body of law based on tradition and court rulings; was an early basis for governance in the American colonies
What was the European Enlightenment
A time of change in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries when philosophers focused on reason as a way to solve problems; their ideas spread to and influence the founders of the United States
What is constitutionalism
The idea that government should be structued and function based on a set of guidelines and principles, especially the rule of law and limited government
Formed by Niccolò Machiavelli
What is the purpose of having a government
The purposes of having government are to keep peace within its territory, protect its citizens, provide important services, and maintain public institutions
Identify the five important features of law for rule of law to be effective.
Transparent- The laws are easy to understand
Accessible- It’s easy to find out what the laws are
Equally applied- The same laws apply to every person no matter their job or personal background
Aligned with international huma rights- The laws do not conflict with widely accepted individual basic rights
Adjudicated by an independent judiciary-Disputes are settled in courts with no personal interest of the judge or jury in the outcomes
What are natural rights
The Enlightenment philosopher John Locke listed life, liberty, and estate, or property, as “natural rights.” These are rights individuals are born with, that no government can take away. People have interpreted those words to determine rights that give people protection of their personal selves, their material goods, and the ability to determine their future without interference.
What is social contract
A government is legitimate only if the people agree with its existence, meaning the government has their consent to rule. Social contract takes this a step further to say that this consent places government under an obligation to fulfill its purpose by protecting the people and their rights. If it does not, the people could withdraw their consent, abolish the government, and form a new one.
What is popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is the principle that the people themselves, rather than the government, have final authority. A direct democracy upholds this principle because the citizens themselves vote to make decisions. A republic can also reflect this principle because the people give power to those they elect as representatives.
