Civics Units 1 and 2

liberal

loose interpretation of constitution, gov has a social responsibility

economic liberal

extensive gov involvement in economic policymaking and regulation of business

social liberal

limited gov regulation of individual behavior

conservative

strict interpretation of the constitution, individuals should have responsibility for social issues, limited gov involvement

social and political conservatives

extensive gov regulation of individual behavior

6 purposes of government

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

direct democracy

people vote directly on issues

indirect democracy

people elect representatives who vote on issues

dictatorship

gov has absolute power, not accountable for its policies

autocracy

single person dictatorship

oligarchy

small group dictatorship

confederation

alliance of independent states, central gov only has power states give it

unitary governmnet

single gov organization holds all the power, local gov given some power by central gov

federal government

power divided between central and local gov, both act directly on people

presidential government

executive and legislative branches separate but coequal

parliamentary government

executive made up of prime minister and cabinet, members of legislature

main ideas of articles of confederation

combine the 13 states, have some sort of central gov

strengths of articles of confederation

could declare war, sign treaties, borrow money

weaknesses of articles of confederation

no power to enforce treaties, raise taxes to pay borrowed money, couldn’t regulate trade, no power to draft soldiers

general format of the constitution

preamble, articles, bill of rights, amendments (27)

6 principles of the constitution

federalism, popular sovereignty, judicial review, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances

federalism

division of power among central gov and regional govs

popular soverignty

gov can only govern with the consent of people

judicial review

power of courts to decide constitutionality of a gov descision

limited governmnet

gov is not all powerful, can only do what people give it power to

separation of powers

three equal branches: legislative, executive, judicial

checks and balances

each branch subject to constitutional checks by other branches

to form a more perfect union

bring states together

to establish justice

treat people fairly under the law, create laws

to insure domestic tranquility

internal peace, order among people

to provide for the common defense

protecting against other countries, be able to tax

to promote the general welfare

well-being of the people, provide what people need

to secure the blessings of liberty

protect people’s rights/freedoms