POLS 1101 Quiz 1 Study Material

Define government

Formal institutions that guide political decisions.

Define politics

-Making a common decision for a group of people

-Conflict over "who gets what, when, and how?"

General definition of democracy

A system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or indirectly.

Direct Democracy

Citizens CREATE LAWS themselves.

Republic:

Citizens VOTE for representatives to MAKE LAWS on their behalf.

Why did Aristotle classify "Democracy" as a tyrannical form of government?

Feared that both pitted the rich against the poor,

How does the rise of Gaius Julius Caesar in Rome illustrate the danger of executive power tied to public opinion?

A leader's power comes from popularity rather than law, it can easily destroy a democracy.

Philosophy of Thomas Hobbes / Social Contract

Individuals must surrender liberty and rights to a single ruler in exchange for security.

Philosophy of John Locke / Social Contract

Individuals are born free as a state of nature.

Importance of private property rights

More power vested in legislative branch

Ruler's power dependent upon consent of governed

Philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau / Social Contract

People should surrender their individual rights to the "general will" in exchange for having an equal voice in what the general will should be.

Every individual should play a role in government.

Advocated a direct democracy.

What are "Natural Rights?"

inherent freedoms and protections that belong to every person by virtue of being human, rather than being granted by a government or laws

Social Contract Theory.

An agreement between people and their government signifying their consent to be governed.

What is classical liberalism?

Philosophy of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, individualism, individual liberties (press, religion, speech) and free markets.

Partisanship

Attachment to political party. (Democrat / Republican)

Ideology

Philosophy about the role of government that helps people organize the political world (liberal / conservative / libertarian)

What colony abstained from the final vote for independence?

New York

What was the final vote for Independence?

12-0

What happened at the Second Continental Congress?

The Declaration of Independence was written.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first attempt at creating a government for the United States.

What were the problems with the Articles of Confederation?

The government was too weak, non-responsive.

What type of executive was there under the Articles of Confederation?

There were no separate executive branch or independent chief executive.

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where state delegates wrote the United States Constitution

Who is known as the "Father of the Constitution?"

James Madison

What types of legislatures were proposed under the New Jersey plan?

Only minor adjustments to Articles of Confederation.

• Included a "supremacy clause" creating a federalist system.

1 House (unicameral legislature)

• 1 state 1 vote

• Representatives not chosen by voters directly.

What was the 3/5ths Compromise about?

It counted three out of every five enslaved people for congressional representation (voting)

North: 3/5ths Compromise

Wanted slaves to be counted as 0

South: 3/5ths Compromise

Wanted to count all enslaved people

What did the Constitution say about eligibility to vote?

Does not address voting rights. It is left up to the states.

How does the Electoral College work?

There are 538 total electors in the Electoral College, and a candidate needs a majority of 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Electoral College’s purpose.

It is the official system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president

What was Federalist #68?

An essay written by Alexander Hamilton in March 1788 that explains and defends the creation of the Electoral College for electing the U.S. President

How is the president removed from office?

impeachment by the simple majority of the House and

2/3rds Senate vote required to remove from office.

Separation of powers

Divides government responsibilities into distinct branches

Checks and balances

Give each branch the tools to limit the power of the other two and prevent abuse of power.

What types of legislatures were proposed under the Virginia Plan?

"Nationalist" plan. Move toward much stronger federal government

2 house (bicameral) legislature.

-State representation in both houses based on state population

-Lower house chosen directly by voters.

-Upper house not elected by voters.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)

-Compromise on the legislative branch

2 house legislature (bicameral)

-Lower house (House of Rep) seats allocated by state population & chosen by voters to 2 year terms.

-Upper house (senate) seats allocated evenly

-Senators chosen by state legislatures to 6 year terms.

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators