Civics - Topic 1 Test

Presidential

________: separate legislative and executive branches.

Government

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies Its impossible to have government (the institution) without politics (the process)

Public Policies

everything a government decides to do

Legitimate government

one that is accepted by its people and other governments as the sovereign authority of a nation

Mercantilism

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

Democracy

a form of government where supreme authority rests with the people

Divine Right of Kings

Belief that God grants authority to a government

Social Contract Theory

agreed to make a state with a contract

Dictatorship

a form of government where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people

Sovereign

state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies

Plebeians

common folk in the Roman Republic

Patricians

rich upper-class, landowning aristocrats of the Roman Republic

Representative democracy

citizens choose a small group of people to make laws and policies for them

Constitution

the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structure and processes of a government

Unitary government vs. Federal government (3 basic forms of government

Unitary, Federal, Confederate

Unitary

power is held by a single, central agency

Federal

power is divided between a central government and local governments

Presidential

separate legislative and executive branches

Parliamentary

Prime Minister is a member of both the legislative and executive branches

**Duties

actions a citizen is required to take

**Responsibilities

actions a citizen should take

Voltaire

freedom of religion

Montesquieu

checks and balances/separation of powers

Blackstone

decisions based upon similar, previous decisions

State

a legal entity

Nation

ethnic term referring to races, or other large groups of people

Country

geographic term referring to particular place, region or area of land

*Rule of Law

Concept of Equality → to receive the same treatment under the law

Government

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies; it's impossible to have a government (the institution) without politics (the process)

Public Policies

everything a government decides to do

Legitimate government

one that is accepted by its people and other governments as a sovereign authority of a nation

3 ways the government gains Legitimacy:

Tradition, Charisma and Rule of Law

Mercantilism

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

Democracy

a form of government where supreme authority rests with the people

Divine Right of Kings

Belief that God grants authority to a government

Social Contract Theory

agreed to make a state with a contract. The government was created to exercise powers voluntarily given to the State

Dictatorship

a form of government where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people

Sovereign

state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies

How many states in the United States are sovereign?

1

What are the four characteristics of a state?

population, territory, sovereignty and government

Plebeians

common folk in the Roman Republic

Patricians

rich upper class, landowning aristocrats of the Roman Republic

Representative democracy

citizens choose a small group of people to make laws and policies for them

Constitution

the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structure and processes of a government.

Feudalism

loosely organized system in which powerful lords divided their lands among other, lesser lords

Force Theory

scholars believed the State was born by force - one person/small group claimed control over an area

What are the 4 basic factors of the Free Enterprise System

Private ownership, Profit, Individual initiative and Competition

James Madison, Federalist no. 51

government is necessary because people don't always behave perfectly

Martin Luther King Jr.

"injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" - if even one person is affected by injustice, everyone is affected

What are the 3 basic powers of government?

Executive power (enforcing laws)
Legislative power (makes laws)
Judicial power (interprets laws)

Separation of Powers

ensure no branch has more power over another

Establishing justice

court system, creating a set of laws

Unitary government vs. Federal government (3 basic forms of government

Unitary, Federal and Confederate

Unitary

power is held by a single, central agency

Federal

power is divided between a central government and local governments

Presidential

separate legislative and executive branches

Parliamentary

Prime Minister is a member of both the legislative and executive branches

Democracy and Free Enterprise System -

Government doesn't decide what is produced → does protect the public and preserving private enterprise

Duties

actions a citizen is required to take
- Obeying the law (most basic duty), paying taxes, registering for the draft (men)

Responsibilities

actions a citizen should take
- Voting in elections (simplest way to participate in your Democracy)

John Locke

natural rights - Life, Liberty and Property

Voltaire

freedom of religion

Montesquieu

checks and balances/separation of powers

Blackstone

decisions based upon similar, previous decisions

What are the differences between a nation, state and country

State - a legal entity
Nation - ethnic term referring to races, or other large groups of people
Country - geographic term referring to particular place, region or area of land

Goals of the government are listed in the Preamble (introduction of the Constitution)

Form a more perfect union
Provide for the common defense
Establish justice
Promote the general welfare
Insure domestic tranquility
Secure the blessings of liberty

Rule of Law

Concept of Equality - to receive the same treatment under the law