gov midterm

election day is on

first Tuesday after a Monday (the Tuesday that falls between Nov. 2-Nov. 8)

electoral college

actually elects the president

in electoral college, each state has people based on

size

electoral college has

senators and representatives

in electoral college, small states _______

have an advantage

Electors have to vote how the states votes except ______ and ________, which split electors.

Maine, Nebraska

government

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

public policy

what the government decides to do

legislative branch

power to make laws and create public policy

executive branch

power to execute, enforce, and administer laws

judicial branch

power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise in society

state

a group of people (population) living in a definite territory with a government and with the power to make and enforce laws (government) without the consent of any higher authority (sovereignty)

population

a group of people living in a specific area

territory

land having recognized boundaries

government

makes and enforces policies within its territory and being able to decide its own foreign and domestic policies

sovereignty

having absolute power within its territory and being able to decide its own foreign and domestic policies

what does the government do

establish justice, keep the peace, protect the nation, help citizens, protect rights

direct democracy

all citizens vote on everything; only works in smaller communities

indirect democracy

people elect other people who represent them in the government (ex. Republic)

autocracy

government in which a single person holds unlimited power

theocracy

legal system of state based on religious law

unitary government

centralized government, power held by a single agency; can create smaller governments + limited power (ex. Great Britain)

federal government

powers divided between central government + federal government; geography basis cannot be changed by local/national government (ex. USA)

confederate government

alliance of independent states; power to handle only those matters the member states assigned; weak central government

presidential government

system of shared powers in which executive + legislative branches have separate powers

parliamentary government

A form of government in which the executive branch is made up of the prime minister, or premier, and official's cabinet (ex. Canada)

legislative branch in parliamentary government

parliament which is voted by people; parliament has power to remove the Prime Minister

ancient greece - athens

birthplace of democracy - direct democracy, not everyone, just men

ancient rome

the world's first republic; has patricians and plebeians

patricians

wealthy landowners/inherited status; elected to office; paid taxes, served in military, and could vote

plebeians

farmers, artisans, more population; paid taxes, served in military, can vote

government in ancient rome

legislative has the senate and assembly of centuries; executive branch has consuls (2 of them, head of state), and veto

individual

everyone is a separate + distinct individual

independence of each person

has rights and responsibilities to the society

equality

equality of opportunity, equality before the law

equality of opportunity

giving people an equal chance to succeed

equality before the law

A person's right to fair and equal treatment and protection under the law (of a particular country)

the government cannot discriminate against ________

hiring of people from different religions, gender, races, etc.

majority rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters

minority rights

A principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities.

tyranny of the majority

the tendency in democracies to allow majority rule to neglect the rights and liberties of minorities

compromise

an agreement between people who disagree that is acceptable to both of them

democracy doesnt and cant insist on complete freedom of an individual (absolute freedom) which can lead to ______

anarchy

french and indian war happened about when?

late 1750s-early 1760s

who was on the British side for the French and Indian war?

British + British colonists

who was on the French side for the French and Indian war?

French + Native Americans

Who won the French and Indian War?

British

What was the outcome of the french and indian war?

British received most of France's territory in the New World; treaty of paris

what was the perspective of the british after the french and indian war?

the british went into debt-- they spent too much money, and will try to increase tax revenue from colonies to get money back

What was the perspective of the colonies after the french and indian war?

"DO THEY REALLY LOVE US?" and had some revelations

revelations from the colonies on the british

british see them as lesser than the people in england because the way they were treated in the army, british were NOT invicible, resent taxes and no say in government, they have george washington

proclamation of 1763

Colonists could not settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.

why did the british set up proclamation of 1763?

there was clashing with the native americans, and they wanted to keep peace

why were colonists so upset by the proclamation of 1763?

the colonists wanted land, and british were attempting to control them

sugar act

lowered taxes on sugars as an attempt to stop the colonists from smuggling, buying illegally from the dutch-- one of the ways british tried to raise money

why did the sugar act upset the colonists?

money and representation

stamp act

increased revenues on paper goods; required a stamp which needed to be paid for

why did the stamp act upset the colonists?

money and representation

boston massacre

The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans

propaganda of the boston massacre

it was utilized to create a narrative that fueled anti-british sentiment

committees of correspondence

committees in each colony tasked with keeping everyone up to date on whats happening

why was the committees of correspondence established?

it was a way of communicating, and it was crucial for spreading info about the british actions

first continental congress

Delagates from all colonies except georgia met to discuss problems with britain and to promote independence

battle of lexington and concord

british soldiers try to confiscate weapons, they harried on way back, happened on boston countryside

second continental congress

They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the comittee to draft the Declaration of Independence

olive branch petition

colonists loved being british and the king wanted nothing but peace

george washington and the army

an army was created with george washington at the head

When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?

July 4, 1776

Who was the Declaration of Independence written by?

thomas jefferson

the purpose of the declaration of independence

causes for separation declaration, propose government to protect rights, state grievances against the king, get support at home + abroad

tom paine

American Revolutionary leader and pamphleteer (born in England) who supported the American colonist's fight for independence and supported the French Revolution (1737-1809)

crisis

written in the beginning of the war, trying to get people to join the army

common sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

the revolutionary war started poorly for _______

the colonists

battle of saratoga

American victory over British troops in 1777 that was a turning point in the American Revolution.

treaty of paris

agreement signed by British and American leaders that stated the United States of America was a free and independent country

aftermath of the revolutionary war

colonists think of themselves as separate nations, not united like today

1st amendment

· Freedom of Speech
· Freedom of Religion
· Freedom of the Press
· Right to Peaceably Assemble
· Right to Send Grievences to the Government

2nd amendment

Right to Bear Arms

3rd amendment

Freedom from having to house soldiers

4th amendment

Freedom from illegal searches and seizures

5th amendment

· No Double Jeopardy
· Cannot be forced to testify against yourself
· Cannot be jailed without a trial
· Cannot have property taken without compensation (being paid)

6th amendment

· Right to a Speedy Trial
· Right to a Jury Trial
· Right to Confront Witnesses against you
· Right to a lawyer

7th amendment

right to jury trial

8th amendment

· No excessive bail
· No cruel and unusual punishments

9th amendment

There are more rights than are listed here.

10th amendment

States retain the powers they did not give to the Federal Government

legislative branch members

has senate + house of representatives

how many members in the house of representatives?

435

qualifications to house of representatives

25 yrs old, live in the states you represent, live in the nation for 7 years

how many members in the senate?

100

qualifications for the senate

30 yrs old, citizen for 9 years, live in state you represent

legislative powers

make laws, control finances, approve treaties, levy taxes, regulate trade

executive branch members

the president

president requirements

35 yrs old, natural born citizen

executive branch powers

run the military, enforce laws, appoint justices, negotiate treaties

judicial branch requirements

no requirements

judicial branch powers

settles disputes between states and people, judges constitutionality of laws

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

The Judicial Checks the Executive Through

Ruling Against the Executive Branch