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38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Anarchy |
A state of lawlessness, chaos, discord in a political system caused by a lack of government |
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Monarchy |
Government, in which one person, usually a member of the royal family or designee exercises supreme power. (Saudi Arabia/Great Britain). *However, true power rest in the parliament, whose members are elected by the people. |
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Theocracy |
Government in which a particular religion or faith plays a dominant role. (Iran) |
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Government Branches |
a. Executive (Signs Laws) (President) b. Legislative (Makes Laws) (Congress) c. Judicial (Decides if laws are constitutional) -(Supreme Court) |
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Democracy |
A government in which the people, either directly or indirectly, hold power and authority within the government. |
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Direct Democracy |
System of Government where all citizens participate in making policy, rules and governing decisions (Town Meeting/County Commission) |
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Representative Democracy |
Designed by the U.S Constitution whereby free, open and regular elections are held to allow voters to choose those who govern on their behalf. We elect people to make policies, rules, and governing decisions (USA). Features the notion of majority rule. 1.AKA an Indirect Democracy |
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Majority Rule |
The notion that the will of the people (The Majority) should guide decisions made by the American Government. *Majority rule is how popular sovereignty is exercised. |
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Popular Sovereignty |
The concept that is the bases of the Constitution. It is the idea that the ultimate source of power in the U.S is held exclusively by the PEOPLE. This popular perspective frames our understanding of how the US Government works. Follows the majority rule concept (popular vote)/ How we exercise that power. |
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Limited Government |
The value that promotes the idea hat government power should be as restricted as possible. “The government that governs least governs best” Suspicion of the government and those with power is firmly rooted in the American political culture. |
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Federalism |
Division of powers between the states and federal government |
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Federalist |
were those who supported the ratification of the new constitution |
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Anti-Federalists |
were those who opposed the new constitution |
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Federalist Papers |
Written by James Madison, Hamilton, and Jay urging the support of ratification of the new constitution.The Federalist Papers outlined the philosophy and motivation of the new constitution. |
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Federal Government |
Confederation and unitary form of government were mixed by the founding fathers to come up with the Federal Government |
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Individualism (Basic American Value) |
The value that individuals are primarily responsible for their own lot in life and that promotes and rewards individual initiative and responsibility. This value underlies America’s reliance on a capitalistic economy/society and a free-market system. Promotes Equal Opportunity. |
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Natural Law |
People are born with certain“Natural Rights”, which they derive from “Natural Law”, the rules of conduct inherent in the relationship among human beings and thus more fundamental than any law that a governing authority might make. “Life, Liberty, and Property”.Therefor the law must be based upon the consent of the governed (the citizens are responsible for choosing their government and their leaders) John Locke: British PoliticalPhilosopher that defined Natural Law. Thomas Jefferson: “All men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights and whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it. |
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Power |
The ability to get people to do something they may not otherwise do. (Pay taxes, Abide by Traffic Laws.) Without power it would be difficult for a government to enforce rules. |
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Authority |
The ability of public institutions and public officials (Elected or Appointed) within those institutions to make laws and execute them. People obey authority out of respect, whereas they obey power out of fear. |
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Legitimacy |
The extent to which the people or the governed afford the government the authority and right to exercise power.The sustained power of any government largely rests on its legitimacy. A government maintains this as long as the governed are served well and as long as the government respects the natural rights of individuals. |
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Father of the Consitution |
James Madison is considered to bethe Father of the Constitution |
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Articles of Confederation |
Created a league of friendship among the states, but the states remained sovereign and independent with the power and authority to rule the colonist’s daily lives. Under the articles of confederation the power was vested in the states, not the central government. Congress had limited power and had no authority to raise revenue, regulate commerce, raise troops or levy taxes, hampering George Washington’s efforts to fight the British. Changing the articles required the approval of ALL 13 colony state legislatures, making it nearly impossible. |
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Basic Two Step Process to Amend Constitution |
Proposal Ratification First, either 2/3 of both houses of congress OR 2/3 of a national constitutional convention need to propose an amendment. Then, to ratify it, either 3/4 of state legislatures OR 3/4 of state constitutional conventions need to approve it. |
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Bill of Rights |
The first 10 amendments to the constitution that protected various rights of the people from the federal government. Several states refused to ratify ifthe bill of rights were not included. |
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States Reserved Powers Amendment (10th Amendment) |
All those powers that are not granted to the federal government are granted to the state government. States wanted autonomy. |
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Enumerated Powers |
Powers explicitly stated in the constitution that are granted to the federal government |
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Concurrent Powers |
Shared powers by the state/federal governments |
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Loose Interpretations of the Constitution |
Interpretation that gives constitutional provisions broad and open-ended meanings. Changes may occur through Congressional action or judicial ruling. |
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Strict Interpretations of the Constitution |
Interpretation that limits the government to only those powers explicitly stated in the constitution. Changes in the constitution may only occur through the formal amendment process, not through congressional action or judicial ruling. |
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Taxation without Representation |
Contributed to the colonies leaving the British Crown |
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Declaration of Independence |
Documentation that declared to the world that the colonies were a new nation (the USA) and no longer associated with the British Crown |
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Supremacy Clause |
The constitution and federal laws override any conflicting provisions in state constitutions or state laws. (article 4, clause 2) |
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Full Faith and Credit Clause |
All states will give full faith and credit to all other states as it relates to their legal proceedings/actions(marriage in one state is viewed as just in across all states)
A state must respect the civil laws of all other states, each state must abide by the decisions of other states and local governments including their official acts and judicial proceedings. |
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Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) |
Provides Congress the power to make laws that serve as a means to achieve its expressly enumerated powers. Was not intended to be used as an instrument to expand federal legislative authority. |
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Political Socialization (Political Culture) |
The values and beliefs about a government’s purpose and operations and institutions that are widely held among the citizens in a society. The political beliefs and values we hand down through the family structure. |
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Self Governing Society |
We believe that we are capable as a society to self govern. We vote and come together to select our leaders and govern so that we don't have anarchy. Elected rulers are able to make most decisions without referring to the colonial power with nominal control of the colony |
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Separation of Powers |
Each Branch of government is separate with independent powers and responsibility. |
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Checks and Balances |
Requires each branch of government to work together to formulate policy. Ensures that no one interest of faction could dominate the government. Tools were designed to help each branch have an opportunity to contend for influence. |