Lap 1 Gov Test

What is the purpose of government

What is the purpose of government

• to protect rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• to ensure the well-being of the people

• to ensure fair resources of disputes among people

• to guide society

Define government

a system of institutions and people who control society

Define public policy

a collection of laws and decisions of government related to social issues

Democracy

many rulers; citizens lead/vote

Oligarchy

few rulers

Monarchy

hereditary rule; kings + queens

Aristocracy

nobles rule

Anarchy

no rulers

Autocracy

single ruler

Authoritarian

dictator; lead by force

Theocracy

religious leader

Types of democracy

• Direct: people vote on issues

• Representative: people vote for candidates

Extreme Left (Radicals)

Favor immediate and fundamental change through violence

Left (Liberals)

Favor change through peaceful and legal means; through gov. policy

Center (Moderates)

Favor gradual change through peaceful and legal means; through gov. policy

Right (Conservatives)

Content with the status quo and maintaining traditions; favor return to the “good ole days”

Extreme Right (Radicals)

Content with the status quo and maintaining traditions; favor return to the “good ole days” through violence

Domestic Policies

• Liberal: programs improve society through change, gov. should promote economic equality/equity. gov should not regulate individual behavior unless it achieves broader societal equality

• Conservative: little government interfere, equality of opportunity, importance of self-reliance, importance of religion and morality

Foreign Policies

• Liberal: Protective tariffs, more dove-ish, diplomacy first

• Conservative: Free trade. more hawk-ish, prepared to used military intervention

Magna Carta

the rule of law, proper rights, due process, king is no longer absolute

Social Contract

agreement between the people and the king

Locke’s Social Contract

Locke believed that people had the ability to do good; the purpose of government was to protect the natural rights of the people, people give their power to the government in exchange for protection, life, liberty, and property; separation of powers (executive and legislative); citizens had a right to revolt/overthrow a corrupt government

Mayflower Compact

early example of citizens creating an agreement to rule themselves to ensure protection and stability

Structure of the Colonial Government

• Legislative

• Executive

• Suffrage

Legislative Power

• Unicameral

• Controlled taxes

• Property qualifications

Executive Power

• Council + governor

• Council was “upper house”

Suffrage

• Age, race, gender, religion, and property qualifications

• In VA, only 8% voted

• In NE, only 2% voted

Declaration of Independence

• Thomas Jefferson wrote it to tell Britain why the colonies were revolting

• Purpose was to state reasons why colonies wanted independence

• It gave the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

the states hereby enter into a firm league of friendship with each other for their common defense, security of their liberties; first attempt at government

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

• Hard to change document

• No judicial system

• No way to collect taxes (cannot repay debt)

What powers did the Articles give the government?

Declare war, make treaties, create national army and navy, borrow money and request tax money from the states

What were some issues with the Articles and how did that lead to Shays’ Rebellion?

• Many states had begun taxing one another’s goods to pay off debts

• Farmers and merchants rebelled against high taxes, economic problems, and corruption

What were the views of Federalists?

• National gov. will protect liberties through national security, executive would not be like a king because of checks on his power

• National gov. would protect liberties through better national security, rule of law

• National gov would be less likely to be controlled by “factions” of citizens than individual states would be

What were the views of Anti-Federalists?

• Too easy for national gov. to take + create regulations, no specific individual rights in Constitution

• No specific individual rights were listed in the Constitution

• Executive would be like a king

What were some compromises that were made for the Constitution?

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Others

Great Compromise

• Large vs. Small population

• Created two assemblies

  • Senate: make laws and give executive evidence advice

  • House: make laws and control taxes

  • Both houses needed to agree to pass a law

3/5 Compromise

• Slave v. Free states

• Slaves count as 3/5 of free citizen

Other Compromises

• Tariff Compromise

• Slave Trade Compromise

• Presidency Compromise

Purpose of the Constitution

establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty

What is the structure of the Constitution?

1. preamble

2. legislative

3. executive

4. judicial

5. relation among states

6. amendment process

7. supremacy clause

8. ratification process

Principles of the Constitution

• Federalism- some power given to both states and national gov.

• Checks and balances- each branch has some power over others

• Popular sovereignty- ultimate power resides with the citizens themselves to make decisions

Rights given by the Constitution

• Habeas corpus- requires police to charge people with crimes to hold them in jail

• Bill of Rights- first ten amendments to the US Constitution

• Ex post facto laws- congress cannot punish people for actions that were legal at the time

How are amendments proposed (2 methods)?

1. 2/3 of state legislatures request a national convention

2. 2/3 of Congress passes a proposed amendment

How are amendments ratified (2 methods)?

1. ¾ of state legislature pass the amendment

2. Each state holds its own convention; ¾ of these state conventions pass amendments

What is judicial review? Summarize Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court ruled in Marbury v. Madison that they held the power to resolve national disputes by declaring acts of Congress or the executive to be “unconstitutional”

What is Federalism

some power given to both states and national gov.

What is the full faith and credit clause?

States are required to honor the legal contracts of other states with full faith and credit

What is the privileges and immunities clause?

States are required to grant these to all citizens regardless of their state (no state discrimination, right to travel between states freely)

What are the US states guaranteed?

• each state has a representative democracy

• national gov. will protect the security of states

• each state will always have equal representation

what is the supremacy clause? Summarize McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court ruled against states interfering with federal law

Define progressive tax

more impact on higher-income individuals than lower-income

Define flat tax

affects low, middle, + high income earners equally

Define regressive tax

have greater impact on lower-income individuals than on the wealthy

What are some sources for federal income?

• Individual income- 28%

• Alcohol import- 17%

• Corporate Income- 11%

• Total regular taxes- 56%

• Social security- 23%

• Medicare- 5%

• Total social insurance- 28%

• Borrowing- 16%

How does Congress prioritize spending (discretionary)?

• 29%

• Military + Veterans- 18%

• Everything else- 11%

How does Congress prioritize spending (mandatory)?

• 71%

• Social Security- 24%

• Medicare- 24%

• Military; gov. pensions- 17%

• Interest on debt- 6%

Define debt

accumulated deficits

Define deficit

annual gap between income and spending (opposite is a surplus)

Income Tax

taxes that come out of a person’s income

Sales Tax

a tax imposed on the sale of goods + service

Property tax

a tax on the market value of privately owned property