US Gov 1st 6 weeks

divine right of kings

belief that monarchs derived their right to rule directly from God

Enlightenment

intellectual movement where many philosophers across Europe began to question divine right of kings, as well as many other political and social realities

John Locke

people were born with certain God-given, natural rights

English Bill of Rights was heavily influenced by ______’s beliefs

human beings were the source of the government's authority, not God

social contract

people sacrificed a small portion of their rights when they decided to create a government, but that this small sacrifice ensured their rights to life, liberty, and property through government protection

Charles de Montesquieu

thought that in order to prevent abuse of power within a government, power must be divided into separate branches

William Blackstone

organized British common law

Thomas Jefferson

drafted the Declaration of Independence

critic of Alexander Hamilton, founding the Democratic-Republican party to oppose the Federalists

believed that the states should retain more power and advocated for a weaker central government

Articles of Confederation

written to govern the newly-formed United States of America

very weak central government without the ability to tax citizens, regulate foreign trade or interstate commerce, or even raise an army.

John Adams

pushed for formal independence and helped Thomas Jefferson author the Declaration of Independence

advocated for a republic ruled by laws, a bicameral (two-house) legislature, and encouraged separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Alexander Hamilton

outspoken critic of a weak central government and authored the Federalist Papers to advocate for a stronger central government

founded the Federalist Party and the First National Bank of the United States.

James Madison

“Father of the Constitution”

While he initially favored a strong central government, during the adoption of the Constitution he changed his views, coming to believe that states should retain greater power.

helped Jefferson found the Democratic-Republican party.

John Jay

helped to champion the Constitution and was instrumental in its eventual ratification

vocal supporter of a strong central government, working frequently with Alexander Hamilton on the Federalist Papers

the first leader of the Federalist Party, the first Chief Justice of the United States, and an outspoken critic of slavery

George Mason

was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but refused to sign the Constitution

instrumental in adding the Bill of Rights to the Virginia Constitution and inspired Madison to propose adding one to the U.S. Constitution

also supported an immediate end to the slave trade.

Roger Sherman

supporter of the Articles, favoring the unicameral (one house) legislature, believing that the large (more populous) states would suffer if the smaller states had equal voting power

helped negotiate the Great Compromise

George Washington

critical of the weak central government created by the Articles

avoided becoming a member of political parties and famously warned against them in his presidential Farewell Address

James Wilson

one of the original six justices Washington appointed to the Supreme Court

argued for the direct election of senators and the president by the general population

proposed the Three-Fifths Compromise

New Jersey Plan

• Unicameral (one house) legislature

• Equal representation

• Small states favored this

Virginia Plan

• Bicameral (two house) legislature

• Representation based on population

• Large states favored this

The Great Compromise

• Bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives)

• Equal representation in the Senate

• Representation based on population in the House of Representatives

States' Rights Supporters

• State legislatures should elect president

• Short terms for president

• Limit on the number of terms served

Federal Power Supporters

• Direct election of president by registered voters

• Longer terms for president

• Unlimited terms served

Electoral College Compromise

• The Electoral College was created to establish indirect election of the president by electors

• Presidential term of service set at four years

• Unlimited presidential terms (this will be changed by the 22^nd Amendment in 1951)

unitary

all the powers are held by a single, central agency

confederation

several regional or state governments are loosely organized together, but they each reserve a great amount of power to determine their own policies

federal

powers are shared equally between the central and regional/state governments

presidential system

voters elect both the members of the legislature and the president through an election

parliamentary system

voters select the members of the legislature through the electoral process. The executive is then chosen from among the legislators elected by the people

Limited Government

that the power of the government is not absolute

Republicanism

people electing representatives to rule on their behalf

Separation of Powers

the national government is split into three branches: legislative, judicial, and executive. Each branch has different duties, roles, and responsibilities to the people. This system prevents the national government from becoming too powerful

Checks and Balances

each one of the branches has methods by which it can limit the power of the other two branches

Popular Sovereignty

The government is based on the will of the people and can only derive its power from the consent of those governed people

Individual Rights

the most fundamental rights of individuals that the government cannot take away

Federalism

the power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the state governments

Article I

The Legislative Branch 

Article II

The Executive Branch

Article III

The Judicial Branch

Article IV

Describes the relationship of the states to the national government and to one another.

Article V

The Amendment Process

Article VI

Explains that the Constitution, treaties, and all laws passed by Congress are the “supreme Law of the Land.”

Article VII

Ratification of the Constitution 

Expressed Powers (Enumerated Powers)

powers that the Constitution explicitly states are to be held by the national government

Implied Powers

Powers that are not stated specifically in the Constitution but have been inferred from those expressed powers in the Constitution

Reserved powers

Powers that were discussed in the tenth amendment

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by the national and the state governments