Civics Final Exam Review

Flashcards for Civics Final Exam 24/25 – Review Guide – Honors Directions/Background:Origins of Government, Road to the Constitution, and Federal Government Institutions

Power

The ability to rule in a government.

Authority

The right to rule in a government.

Legitimacy

A government's right to rule that is accepted by its people's population.

Sovereignty

Supreme power and authority to rule within a territory.

Direct Democracy

All citizens participate directly in decision-making without intermediaries or representatives; a form of government in which the people as a whole make direct decisions, rather than having those decisions made by elected representatives

Republic

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Absolute Monarchy

A form of government in which one person possesses unlimited power.

Constitutional Monarchy

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

Dictatorship

Government by a dictator.

Oligarchy

A small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution.

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.

Anarchy

A state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.

Majority Rule

A decision rule that selects alternatives which have a majority, more than half the votes.

Minority Rights

Basic rights and freedoms that should be afforded to all citizens in a democracy, regardless of race, class, gender, religion, or any other status.

Thomas Hobbes

Believed people should give up some rights to an absolute leader in exchange for protection and order; a social contract cannot be broken.

Natural Rights (Locke)

The rights all humans have. (Life, Liberty, and Property).

Social Contract (Locke)

An agreement where the government's power is derived from the consent of the governed; people can break the contract if the government fails to protect their rights.

Consent of the Governed

The principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives - also known as consent of the governed.

Separation of Powers

The assigning of certain specific powers to the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches of government.

Checks & Balances

Principle where branches of government oversee the actions of other to prevent misuse of power.

Majority Rule (Rousseau)

The idea that decisions approved by more than half of the people in a group or society will be accepted and followed by everyone.

Minority Rights (Rousseau)

The political rights and entitlements, of or relating to a discrete group that is disadvantaged or vulnerable.

Four Features of a State

A country must have people, territory, sovereignty, and a government to be considered a state.

Four Roles of Government

Maintaining order, protecting the country, providing services, and making economic decisions

Limited government

The principle that government power is not absolute.

Early American Colonial Politics

Protected Natural Rights, a Social Contract, and a Representative Government.

Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson; Declared independence from Great Britain; Reasons for separation include violations of natural rights.

Confederation

A system in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government.

Shays Rebellion

A rebellion of farmers facing economic hardship; highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Major Constitutional Convention Terms

The New Jersey Plan, Virginia Plan, Great Compromise, 3/5 Compromise, Bicameral/Unicameral.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Federalists supported the Constitution, anti-Federalists opposed.

Federalist Papers

Essays written to persuade states to adopt the Constitution.

Amendment Process for the Constitution

Proposal, ratification.

Bill of Rights

The Antifederalists sought these rights to be included. First 1-10 amendments to Constitution

Preamble

Introduction to the Constitution, stating its goals and purposes.

Interstate Relations

Clauses that require states to recognize the laws and judicial decisions of other states.

Necessary & Proper Clause

Gives Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper to carry out its enumerated powers.

Legislative Branch

Makes laws; Congress; Article 1; Senate and House of Representatives.

Executive Branch

Enforces laws; President; Article 2.

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws; Supreme Court; Article 3; power to declare acts unconstitutional.

1st Amendment

Five rights protected are: speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

Protection against quartering soldiers in your home.

4th Amendment

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Right to due process, protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and eminent domain.

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy and public trial, the right to legal counsel, and the right to confront witnesses.

7th Amendment

Right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

9th Amendment

Rights not specifically listed in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Guaranteed citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Voting rights for all men regardless of race.

19th Amendment

Voting rights for all regardless of sex.

26th Amendment

Voting rights for all Americans 18 years or older.

Rule of Law

Rule of Law Requires fairness in the process of creating Laws.

Separation of Powers

Separation of powers means all are subject to the law; Prevents the use of arbitrary power.

Equal Application

All are subject to the law Prevent the use of arbitrary power.

Due Process

Protects individuals and private entity's interests from arbitrary power.

Article 1

(Legislative Branch)

Number of representatives for the Senate per state

Two per state; State's population.

Term of office for each

Six years vs. Two years

how a bill becomes a law (process)

Starts with a Bill ;Filibuster; Veto

Article II

President, executive branch

Article III

Judiciary branch

Article IV

State and federal relations