Principles, Origins, and Structure of Government

Flashcards covering principles and origins of government, government classifications, the three branches of government, qualifications, powers, checks and balances, and the sequence of how a bill becomes a law.

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

Purposes of Government

Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

Force Theory

One person or small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit.

Evolutionary Theory

Government grew naturally out of the early family structure.

Divine Right Theory

God created the state and gave those of royal birth the "divine right" to rule.

Social Contract Theory

People agreed to give up some power to a government in exchange for protection of their natural rights (pioneered by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau).

Natural Rights

Fundamental rights (life, liberty, property/pursuit of happiness) that all humans are born with.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that government gets its power directly from the consent of the governed (the people).

Limited Government

Government power is restricted by law (the Constitution) to protect individual freedoms.

Democracy

Power rests with the majority of the people.

Direct Democracy

Citizens participate directly in policy-making.

Indirect/Representative Democracy (Republic)

Citizens elect representatives to express their popular will.

Dictatorship

Power is held by a single person (Autocracy) or a small elite group (Oligarchy) not accountable to the people.

Autocracy

A dictatorship in which power is held by a single person.

Oligarchy

A dictatorship in which power is held by a small elite group.

Unitary Government

All powers belong to a single, central agency.

Federal Government (Federalism)

Power is divided between a central government and several local/state governments.

Confederate Government

An alliance of independent states with a weak central government.

House Qualifications

25 yrs old, 7 yrs US citizen, live in state.

Senate Qualifications

30 yrs old, 9 yrs US citizen, live in state.

Legislative Powers

Makes and passes laws; levies taxes; declares war.

Legislative Checks & Balances Power

Overrides presidential vetoes (2/3 vote); impeaches officials; approves presidential appointments & treaties (Senate).

Executive Qualifications

Natural-born citizen, 35 yrs old, 14 yrs resident of the US.

Executive Core Job / Primary Power

Enforces and executes federal laws; Commander-in-Chief.

Executive Checks & Balances Power

Vetoes legislation passed by Congress; appoints federal judges; grants pardons.

Judicial Qualifications

No explicit constitutional requirements (appointed for life).

Judicial Core Job / Primary Power

Interprets laws and the Constitution.

Judicial Review

Declares laws passed by Congress or executive actions unconstitutional.

Standing Committee (Bill Process)

The second step in how a bill becomes a law where the bill is studied, held in hearings, revised, or voted down.

Conference Committee

A joint committee formed if the two houses pass different versions of a bill to resolve differences and create a unified draft.

Presidential Action (Bill Process)

The President can sign the bill into law, veto it (sending it back to Congress), or let it sit (becomes law after 10 days if Congress is in session; pocket veto if Congress adjourns).