POLS chapter 2 & 3

What two men inspired political thought in the American colonies?

King John and John Locke

What did King John write?

Magna Carta

What did John Locke believe?

People have certain natural rights - life, liberty, and property

What war led to the American Revolution?

7 years war / French and Indian war

What was the 7 years war?

The war between the British and French

Why were colonists unhappy after the end of the 7 years war?

Colonists fought on the side of the British and believed they would be able to settle upon the land on the west of the Appalachian, the British did not allow for it. The British also taxed the colonists to regain money post war.

Does war lead to financial gain or loss?

Loss

What are some of the acts that the British placed upon the colonists?

Sugar act (1764)

Stamp act (1765)

Coercive acts (1774)

What were the coercive acts in response to?

The Boston Tea Party

What was the purpose of the first continental congress?

To express grievances against the British

What was the purpose of the second continental congress?

To establish an army

Who was named Commander in Chief?

George Washington

What happened on July 4th, 1776?

The Declaration of Independence was signed

What system of government was the United States initially?

A confederation

Why didn't the Articles of Confederation work?

Weak central government

What plan was: Bicameral

Population based representation

National government has authority over the states

Virginia plan

What plan was: unicameral

State based representation

National government doesn’t override state authority

New Jersey plan

What was the name of the plan that combined both the Virginia and New Jersey plans?

The Great Compromise / The Connecticut Plan

What were the points of The Great Compromise / The Connecticut Plan?

Bicameral legislature with a senate and house

Which chamber is the upper chamber has equal representation?

The Senate

Which chamber is the lower chamber and has representation based upon population?

The House of Representatives

What is the difference between state representatives and U.S. representatives?

State reps represents the state to the state, where U.S. reps represent the state to the nation

How many senators are per state?

2

What consists of a preamble and 7 articles?

The constitution

What does the constitution establish?

The legislative, judicial, and executive branches

What does the legislative branch do?

Makes laws (Congress)

What does the judicial branch do?

Interprets the laws (courts)

What does the executive branch do?

Enforces laws (the president)

What is another word for the 3 branches of government?

Checks and balances

What was the name of the compromise that allowed states to count 60% of their slave population towards their amount of representatives?

The three fifths compromise

How did the constitution protect slavery?

It postponed the abolition of the foreign slave trade, allowed unrestricted importation of slaves, and the fugitive slave clause

What was the Fugitive Slave Clause?

Slaves that escape can't be free in states where slavery is illegal, are still owned

What clause states that the laws of the national government reign supreme?

The supremacy clause

What is the necessary and proper clause?

Constitutional clause that gives congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" for executing its powers

What clause leaves all the gray area in the constitution to the discretion of the states?

Reserved powers clause

National refers to what?

The government of the nation as a whole

Subnational refers to what?

The state governments

What does federalism do?

Portions the power between national and subnational governments. Gives both states and the nation their say in certain subjects

Where are subnational governments represented?

The upper house / senate

What are the 3 branches of government?

Legislative, Executive, Judicial

What apportions the power between national and subnational government?

Federalism

True or false: a federal government can change the written national constitution without the consent of the states

False

How many senators are there per state?

2

What are the 3 systems of government?

unitary, confederal, federal

What is the name of the government system where the subnational government tells the national government what to do?

Confederal

What is the name of the government system where the power goes both ways?

Federal

What is the name of the government system where the national government tells the subnational government what to do?

Unitary

True or false: intrastate is ran by state government

True

True or false: interstate is ran by state government

False

What does article 1, section 9 do?

Restricts the national government from doing anything that causes the deprivation of personal liberty

What are some of the important clauses?

Supremacy clause (article vi)

Full faith and credit clause (article iv)

DOMA

Privileges and immunities clause (article iv)

What are some of the key cases?

Dred Scott v Sandford

(Citizenship)

McCulloch v Maryland

(Taxes)

Gibbons v Ogden

(Interstate commerce)

Which type of federalism is also referred to as "layer-cake federalism"?

Dual federalism

What does dual federalism mean?

It means national government and state government do not mix

Which type of federalism is referred to as "Marble-cake federalism"?

Cooperative federalism

What does cooperative federalism do?

Both state government and national government work together, utilized during the 1930s-1960s

What was the government under FDR called?

New Deal

What was the government under LBJ called?

Great Society

What did the New Deal put in place?

Social Security, unemployment insurance, and protections for organizing in the workplace

What did the Great Society put in place?

Medicare and Medicaid

What does new federalism do?

Power was passed back to the state governments and revenue sharing: grants and mandates

Who brought new federalism to the United States?

Nixon and Reagan