Comprehensive GOVT 2305: Government Types, Constitution, Federalism & Civil Rights

Autocracy

rule by a single, nonelected individual (king, dictator).

Oligarchy

rule by a small group not accountable to citizens (military officers, landowners, wealthy merchants).

Democracy

citizens play a significant role, usually through electing public officials.

Constitutional government

limited by law (U.S.).

Authoritarian government

no formal limits but may be checked by other institutions (e.g., Venezuela).

Totalitarian government

no limits, seeks to dominate all institutions (e.g., Stalin's USSR, Mussolini's Italy).

Citizenship

informed and active membership in a political community.

Political knowledge

understanding government institutions, actors, and issues.

Participation

engaging in voting, protesting, advocacy.

Political efficacy

belief that you can influence government and politics (declining in the U.S., which harms democracy).

Popular Sovereignty

people are the ultimate source of authority.

Political Equality

"one person, one vote," equal protection under the law.

Political Liberty

basic freedoms (speech, press, religion, assembly) protected from government interference.

Liberty

freedom from government control, protection of personal rights, economic freedom (capitalism, property rights).

Equality

"all men are created equal," especially equality of opportunity (freedom to use talents to achieve potential).

Democracy (as a value)

people choose rulers, ultimate authority = the citizenry (popular sovereignty). Balances majority rule with minority rights.

Locke's influence

Advocated limits on government to protect freedom. Emphasized natural rights: life, liberty, property.

Government

the system that makes and enforces laws for a society.

Politics

the struggle over who gets power and resources, and how decisions are made.

Equality of Opportunity

everyone has the same chance to succeed.

Equality of Results

everyone ends up with the same outcome (less emphasized in the U.S.).

Limited Government

government is restricted by laws and cannot take away rights.

Laissez-faire Capitalism

economy where businesses operate with little or no government interference.

Philosophical document

States that certain rights are unalienable (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).

Political document

Announced separation from Britain, justified rebellion, and rallied international support.

Articles of Confederation failure reason 1

Weak national government (no executive).

Articles of Confederation failure reason 2

No power to tax or regulate commerce.

Articles of Confederation failure reason 3

No national army: couldn't respond to crises (e.g., Shays' Rebellion).

Articles of Confederation failure reason 4

Difficult amendment process (required unanimous approval).

Framers

Wealthy, educated elites with backgrounds as planters, merchants, lawyers, bankers, or slaveholders.

Framers' motives

Wanted to fix the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and protect property.

Federalists

Favored a stronger national government and wrote the Federalist Papers to defend the Constitution.

Anti-Federalists

Favored strong state governments and feared tyranny, pushing for a Bill of Rights.

Article I

Legislative branch (House elections every 2 years + Senate elections every 6 years); powers: tax, regulate commerce, declare war.

Article II

Executive branch (President: negotiate treaties, receive ambassadors, appoint personnel, veto, commander-in-chief).

Article III

Judicial branch (Supreme Court, lifetime judges, judicial review).

Locke

Argued that people's lives, liberty, and property require protection.

Hobbes

Contract theory, limits on government power.

Montesquieu

Separation of governing powers.

Enumerated powers

Directly listed powers (tax, declare war, regulate commerce).

Delegated powers

Powers given to the federal government.

Implied powers

Stem from the 'necessary and proper clause' (elastic clause).

Checks & Balances - Legislative over Executive

Can override presidential veto.

Checks & Balances - Executive over Legislative

Can veto acts of Congress.

Checks & Balances - Judicial over Legislative

Can declare laws unconstitutional.

Shays' Rebellion

Farmers' revolt that showed the Articles of Confederation were too weak.

Confederation

loose union of states with a weak central government.

Tyranny

unfair or abusive use of power.

New Jersey Plan

small states' plan; Congress with equal votes for each state.

Virginia Plan

large states' plan; Congress based on population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

each enslaved person counted as 3/5 for representation and taxes.

Elastic Clause

lets Congress make laws 'necessary and proper' to carry out its powers.

Supremacy Clause

says federal law is above state law.

Checks and Balances

each branch can limit the others so no one is too powerful.

10th Amendment (Reserved Powers)

powers not given to the federal government go to the states or the people.

Federalism

system where power is divided by a constitution between a national (federal) government and regional (state) governments.

Nationalists

favor stronger central government, supremacy clause, expansive reading of commerce clause.

States' rights

rely on 10th Amendment, reserved powers, police powers, nullification arguments.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Congress does have the power to create a bank (implied power under the necessary and proper clause).

Gibbons v. Ogden

Only Congress can regulate interstate commerce (commerce clause, Art. I, Sec. 8).

Categorical grants

given for specific purposes; must follow federal conditions.

Block grants

broader spending flexibility; part of 'New Federalism' to return power to states.

Dual Federalism

state & federal governments had separate spheres; federal gov small.

Cooperative Federalism

categorical grants used to achieve national goals, national and state governments cooperate on some policies.

Regulated Federalism

national gov sets requirements (often unfunded mandates).

New Federalism

used block grants to return power to the states.

Progressive Federalism

modern blend: states may go beyond federal standards in some areas (e.g., environment, immigration).

Local governments

have no constitutional status; they are subject to control by the states.

Home rule

local power to manage their own affairs.

Unitary system

power centralized in national gov.

Reservation clause (10th Amendment)

powers not given to national gov reserved for states.

Concurrent powers

shared powers (tax, commerce, banking).

Preemption

national gov can override state/local laws.

Interstate compacts

agreements between states approved by Congress.

Necessary and proper clause

allows Congress to pass laws to carry out expressed powers.

Nullification

claim that states can reject federal laws (esp. by John Calhoun, later used to defend segregation).

Equal protection clause

14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law (important in civil rights cases).