Week One: Declaration of Independence and Governments

Question 1

Constitution [job]

Answer 1

Define and limit powers of national government

Question 2

Constitution on language

Answer 2

Purposely vague and can be interpreted differently

Question 3

The Constitution is a product of…

Answer 3

conflict and compromise

Question 4

British, 1765

Answer 4

Started heavily taxing the colonies b/c of the French and Indian War

Question 5

First Continental Congress

Answer 5

1774, Philadelphia

Question 6

Sections of Declaration of Independence

Answer 6

1. Circumstances leading to declaration
2. Arguments from John Locke
3. Oppressive acts of the Crown
4. Failed attempts of colonists at reconciliation
5. Declaration of independence

Question 7

Dates of US documents

Answer 7

1776: Declaration of Independence
1781: Articles of Confederation
1787-88: Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers
1788: The Constitution
1791: Bill of Rights

Question 8

Thomas Hobbes

Answer 8

1588-1679.

Question 9

Hobbes’s beliefs

Answer 9

1. People compete, and are not equal. Men work together to stop predation. Found governments.
2. Surrender some freedoms for protection of remaining rights.
3. Government cannot be removed once in place

Question 10

John Locke

Answer 10

1632-1704. US based off a lot of his theories

Question 11

Locke’s beliefs

Answer 11

1. People are reasonable, tolerant, equal, and independent.

2. Natural right for life, liberty, and property.

Question 12

Locke, government

Answer 12

Government formed to resolve conflicts before it comes to violence. Right to revolution if govnt abusing power. Separation of powers.

Question 13

Politics

Answer 13

The process of determining who gets what, when, and how. (Harold Waxwell)

Question 14

Authority

Answer 14

Recognized right of official or institution to exercise power

Question 15

Legitimacy

Answer 15

Status, designation or acceptance of an authority given by people to govern

Question 16

Power:

Answer 16

ability of people/institution to control policy

Question 17

Oligarchy

Answer 17

Rule of a powerful few, typically wealthy

Question 18

Economic systems

Answer 18

Often blurred with political systems, as they both need each other to work

Question 19

Majoritarian

Answer 19

System of policy making in which those with numerical majority hold authority. 50%+1 vote = all the power.

Question 20

Self-government

Answer 20

Goal of democracy where all ordinary have control of all institutions of the government.

Question 21

Egalitarianism

Answer 21

Belief in human equality that disdains inherited titles of nobility and wealth.

Question 22

Equality

Answer 22

Idea that all individuals are equal in their moral worth and must be equal in treatment under the law and have equal access to decision-making.

Question 23

Parliamentary systems

Answer 23

A political system in which the head of the executive branch is selected by members of the legislature rather than the popular vote.

Question 24

Presidential systems

Answer 24

A political system in which the head of the executive branch is selected by some form of popular vote and serves a fixed term of office.

Question 25

Challenges of democracy

Answer 25

1. Tyranny of majority 2. Loss of order 3. Mob rule

Question 26

Mob rule

Answer 26

Government by a mob or mass of people with no formal authority whatsoever

Question 27

US is a...

Answer 27

constitutional democracy and representative democracy.

Question 28

Major Differences between Articles of Confederation and the Constitution

Answer 28

1. Weak, one-branch Congress 2. President nothing more than figure; one-year terms 3. States had most of the power 4. National government could not enforce decisions

Question 29

Second Continental Congress

Answer 29

July 4, 1776. Approved Declaration of Independence.