AP Gov: Section 1.1-1.2

liberty

social, political, and economic freedoms

inalienable rights

rights the government cannot take away

Republican Government

a system in which the people elect representatives to carry out their wishes

Limited Government

a system in which the authority of the government is not absolute (power is limited)

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that the government's right to rule comes from the consent of the people

Social Contract

an agreement between the people and their government where the people give up some freedoms and allow their government to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society

Natural Rights

the right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away

Democracy

a system of government where power is held by the people, including free and fair elections and civil rights and liberties

What is American Democracy built on?

It is built on the ideals of natural rights, the social contract, and popular sovereignty

Is America defined by faith?

Yes, America is a nation partly defined by religious faith and expression

True or False: Religion has played a more influential role in America than it has in many modern democratic governments

True

What did Jefferson mean when he talked about the pursuit of happiness?

the belief that individuals should be able to achieve their goals through hard work, sacrifice and their own talents

What can liberty mean?

It may mean freedom from government interference or a freedom to pursue ones dreams.

What led to the complex structure of the American political institutions outlined in the Constitution, which includes checks and balances, separation of powers and federalism?

safeguarding individuals inalienable rights

What are the run of years for House of Reps, Senate and Pres?

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives run for election every two years, and the term of a U.S. senator is six years. Presidential elections are held every four years.

What can citizens do in a representative government?

Citizens can choose representatives to assert their interests in the national policymaking process

Sovereignty

the right of a government to rule. It can derive from many sources, such as a monarchy, a divine right given by a god, or the leadership of an elite group

What became the first formal document establishing the basic principles of American Democracy?

The Declaration o Independence on July 4th 1776

Fourth and Final Part of Declaration

a statement separating the colonies from Great Britain and with a pledge by the signers to eachother to protect "our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred honor

Third Part

List of grievances was the against the king of england, including charges that the colonists were not being represented in government, justice was obstructed, standing armies threatened colonists and unfair taxes were imposed along with a long list of other complaints

Second Part of Declaration

defined citizens rights as Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson deviated from John Locke in this statement of rights, replacing property with the pursuit of happiness

First part of the Declaration

In the Preamble, Jefferson wrote, "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another." This set the stage for the argument that the British government was no longer legitimate

What did Baron de Montesquieu propose? (used by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence)

the power in government should be divided between branches so that no one branch could become to powerful

What three things did John Locke say were the natural rights that kings could not give away or take away?

life, liberty and property

Government

the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking

Politics

the process of influencing the actions and policies of government

What is the difference between politics and government?

Politics describe processes, government describes the institutions that make up the system of policymaking within a country

What is our government composed of?

power is dived between a president, two house legislature and the federal courts.