Civics Chapter 1

purpose of government

maintain public order, protect life,liberty and property, and provide public goods.

coercion

The use of force or threats to make people do things against their will.

Direct Democracy

People themselves vote on every issue

Politics

Process of making decisions for a group

Formal Authroity

Power comes from the power holder’s position and duties with an organization.

Reserved Powers

Are granted to the state government

Expressed Powers

Granted to the federal government

Concurrent Powers

Powers granted to both the state and the federal government

Republic

A system in which people elect others to act in their place.

Sovereignty

The right to exercise supreme power and authority over a region, a group, or oneself.

Social Contract

Agreement between people that takes them out of a State of Nature and into a Civil Society.

State of nature

No government

Enumerated Powers

Powers listed in the constitution

Nation States

geographic areas controlled by 1 government that shares a common language, characteristics include, territorial integrity, state population, code of laws, and national sovereignty.

Elastic Clause

Congress' ability to make laws that are not enumerated are covered under

Article One of the Constituion

Legislative Branch

Constitutionalist

Someone who takes the constitution into account the way the framers intended in 1789.

Horse Trading

Winning by giving to get

Demolition Derby

Civil Disobedience

Power Struggle

Walk Out

Declaration of Independence

The soul of the U.S

Independent Judiciary

Courts are independent and non partisan

Rule of law

People and government must abide by a set of laws

Federalism

Power divided between state and federal government

Legitimacy

leaders power is seen as valid by the people over who they govern

Power

the ability to get others to do what you want them to do

Authority

Legal right to have power and enforce it legally.

Civil Virtue

ancient roman idea that citizens should serve their country

Seperation of Power

Government split into three branches to ensure no single person nor branch has too much power.

Anti Federalists

Complained that the national government was too powerful and there was no bill of rights. Think the states should hold power

Popular Sovereignty

People are the ultimate source of the authority and legitimacy of the government.

Unalienable RIghts

Life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Judicial Review

grants the supreme court the power to declare acts of congress and the states unconstitutional. Not found in the constitution.