Civics Honors - Unit 1 & 2 Study Guide

direct democracy

all citizens have the chance to vote for any law or action

representative democracy

citizens elect people to represent them in government decisions

dictatorship

a single ruler completely controls the government and all decision-making, usually came to power by military force (Cuba, China)

constitutional monarchy

system of government in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government

theocracy

government is controlled by religious leaders (Iran, Vatican City, Saudi Arabia)

oligarchy

government of the few; often a small group of wealthy nobles/aristocrats

anarchy

a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority or other controlling systems

duty

an obligation that one has to fulfill

responsibility of a citizen

act of accepting and acting on a task that has been assigned to you

examples of duties of a citizen:

* jury duty
* registering for selective services
* taxes
* sending children to school

examples of responsibilities of a citizen:

* voting
* volunteering
* education

alien

a person that stays in a country temporarily

immigrant

a person who wants to move permanently

refugee

someone who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape something or someone

The Magna Carta

a document that contains important rights regarding the justice system.

what does the Magna Carta contain?

* all accused people are guaranteed a trial with a jury
* all citizens are guaranteed justice
* all citizens, regardless of class, must follow the same laws and will be punished in the same way if they break the law

John Locke

believed people are the source of power, and the government must protect our natural rights

Thomas Hobbs

believed people to be naturally wicked and that a strong government is needed to keep order

Montesquieu

wrote about the importance of a separation of powers, which provides “checks and balances”

Voltaire

wrote about the freedom of speech, religious toleration, and separation of church and the state

causes of the Revolutionary War:

* boston massacre
* tea act
* intolerable acts

weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation:

* No federal power to tax


* No national military
* No federal power to regulate trade
* Legislative confusion
* No federal judicial branch
* Unequal representation

Shay’s Rebellion

accelerated calls to reform the Articles, eventually resulting in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787

federalists

believed in strong central government, approve ratification of the new constitution

anti-federalists

believed in weak central government, oppose constitution