American Government Unit 1

Legistlative Branch

Makes laws

Congress

house of reps and senate

House of Representatives

435 members and based off of state's population. Members hold office for two years.

Senate

100 members, holds office for 6 years. Each state has equal representation.

Executive Branch

Execute, enforce, and administer laws

Who is the head of the executive brach?

the president

What is the responsibility of the executive branch?

enforce laws, approve and deny laws

Judicial Branch

interpret laws

Judicial Powers

1. determine meaning of laws

2. settle disputes that arise within states

Forced theory

one person or small group claim control and force all to submit to their rule

evolutionary theory

states that developed naturally to the earliest family, most often found in tribes

divine rights of kings theory

in the fifteenth century western world where God gave the royal birth the divine rights to rule

the social contract theory

idea from John Locke that we allow the government to take away rights and rule to provide security and protection to the citizens

Two Types of Democracy

1. direct democracy (pure)

Ex: win elections by majority vote or most popular, works only in small, local governments (snowco)

2. Indirect Democracy (representative)

Ex: a group of people chosen by the people formulates public policies (presidential)

Rebulic

eligible voters hold sovereign power, but is wielded by representatives chosen by the people

Patricians

rich, landowning upperclass

Plebeians

the common folk, craftmen

Roman Senate

300 members, 2 leading counsels

US Senate

100 members and 1 pro tempore

Colonialism

the control of one nation over land abroad, the increase of this lead to the increase of trade with other nations

Mercantilism

an economic and political theory emphasizing money as the chief source of wealth to increase the absolute power of a nation

Enlightenment Movement

a change in scientific and intellectual movement and ideas about modern government, economics, and society

A voice in the government

John Locke

Established the notion of natural rights of human beings, including the right to life, liberty, and property

Francois-Marie Arouet

advocated for reason, freedom of religions, and the importance of scientific observations and the idea of human progress.

Baron de Montesquieu

founded the political theory that branches of the government should be separated so they might check each others powers (checks and balances)

William Blackstone

believed in "common law" the idea of legal decisions should be made on the basis of similar decisions made in the past

Basic Notions of American Democracy

1. recognition of the worth and dignity of every person

2. respect for the equality of all people

3. faith in majority rule and respect for minority rights

4. acceptance of the necessity of compromise

people with different opinions have to be able to bend and meet in the middle on certain issues

5. Insistance upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

people have individual rights as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others

Free Enterprise System (capitalism)

• private ownership of capital goods

• investment made by private decisions

• success or failure determined by competition in the marketplace

Four Fundamental Factors

• private ownership

• individual initiative

• profit

• competition

Citizen Duties

• serving on a jury

• serving as a witness

• attending school

• paying taxes

Citizen Responsibilities

• voting

• volunteering

• participating in civic life

Sovereignty

the utmost authority in decisions making and in maintaining order (you are the government in that area)

Legitamacy

the belief of the people that a government has the right to mke public policy