American Government-Exam 1 Review

What is the definition of government as given by the authors of your textbook?

A social institution that controls the behavior of people, the political and administrative hierarchy of an organized state

How does government provide security for its citizens?

With Army, Navy, Marines, & discrimination

Ex: 1972 Title IX (9)

What is the purpose of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972? 

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally assisted education programs

What is a public good and when a government provides for the public good, is it doing so to benefit society as a whole or a select group of people?

A policy or action that benefits society as a whole rather than a specific individual

identify an example of government action that provides for the public good.

Clean Air Act of 1963

What does the process of politics include?

Comparison and Compromise

What is meant by democracy? 

A system of government in which political power is executed by the people

What is direct democracy and an example

In which the people are able to participate directly in the
decision-making process

Ex: In ancient Greece —> men over the age of 20 voted on major government issues

What is indirect democracy and an example

In which people do not participate directly in decision making and instead elect individuals to represent their interests

Ex: The U.S elect representatives to congress who make decisions on their behalf.

3 Types: Incitive, referendum, and recall

What is meant by a Constitutional democracy?

A government that derives its authority from a constitution

What are some of the principles AND characteristics of constitutional democracies?

– Free elections with free political opposition
– Free press and media that operate independently of the
government
– Regularly held elections; peaceful transitions of power
– Protections for personal and civil rights

What are natural rights?

Rights to which every person is entitled, such as life and
liberty; these rights are not dependent on government

classical republicanism

A theory that rules by the people ought to be indirect through representatives

Civic Virtue

Ex: Favors interest of society over individual interest, concerned with property

inegalitarianism

A tradition of excluding large segments of the American population from participating in the political system despite the language of equality, liberty, and freedom

Included only wealthy white men with property

classical liberalism

A political philosophy that is concerned with the freedom of the individual and the role of government in protecting that freedom

Social Contract

Ex: Favors individual, optimistic, supports free-market, places reason before faith

Which group (s) were excluded from the Founders’ political system due to the value of inegalitarianism?

White Women: Women are and should be less strong, intelligent, and powerful than men

Blacks: Skin color and religion + wanted them as

American Indians: Skin color and religion + their traditions

White Males: Males who did not have property

What is the doctrine of coverture? When were groups included (provide appropriate eras and/or amendments)

Transference of a woman’s civic identity to her husband upon marriage, thus giving him the use and direction of her property

Mid 19th century = Married Women’s Property Acts

Reconstruction Era= 13th-15 Amendment (Abolish Slavery, Given citizenship, ensures that the right to vote cannot be denied to citizens based on their race or skin color)

1920= 19th Amendment (Gave women the right to vote)

What aspects contributed to the justification of the enslavement of Africans?

In the context of the language of freedom, liberty, and equality

What is meant by the social construction of race?

The construction of a group of people of various phenotypes, skin colors, and physical characteristics for political and social purposes

Ex: Enslavement and exclusion

According to the U.S. Congress’ Naturalization Act of 1790, which group was eligible for citizenship?

Only white immigrants could become naturalized citizens

What was the US Population in 1790, what is the current US population

1970: 3.9 million

Current: 331 million

What is meant by a statutory law?

A type of law pertaining to rules made by legislature, especially congress

What is a liberal?

Liberals typically favor government intervention in the economy and society to create a more equitable system and protect individual rights, often viewing it as a tool for social progress.

What is a conservative?

Conservatives argue for a smaller government role in people's lives, emphasizing individual freedom, limited regulation, and fiscal conservatism. However, they often support a strong military and law enforcement presence.

What is meant by a “social contract”?

an implicit or explicit agreement between individuals and their government or society.

rule of law

Fairness

The predominance of law over discretionary authority

Ex: ALL citizens (including Gov) MUST obey the law

Ex 1: The U.S Gov can’t take property without a legal process

natural law

Morals, “Doing the right thing”

Law that comes from nature and is superior

Ex: Humans have the ability to reason and because of that people can determine the proper & correct thing.

natural rights

Rights to which every person is entitled such as life and liberty, these rights are not dependent on the government

What is meant by reparations?

Efforts to make amends for past harm by compensating those who were hurt

Amendments

1-10 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th (levy of income taxes), 17th (elect senate seats),18th (Prohibition), 19th(Womens' right to vote), 23rd (DC gets 3 EC votes) ,24th, 26th (18 to vote)

Articles

1,

enumerated powers allocated to the U.S. Congress in the Constitution, under Article I, Section 8

• Declare War

• Collect Taxes/ Debt

• Armed Forces

• Interstate Commerce

• Coin money

What is meant by an enumerated power?

specific powers granted to Congress (and other branches of government) by the U.S. Constitution.

What is meant by an implied power? Give an example

powers that are not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution but are inferred from the enumerated powers

Necessary and Proper Clause

Ex: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)- implied power to create a national bank to help manage the country’s finances and facilitate economic growth.

reasons as to why the colonists wanted to break away from Great Britain

• American Revenue Act (Sugar Act): 1764
  • Stamp Act: 1765
  – Taxation without representation as a violation of colonists’ rights

• Quartering Act: 1765

• Declaratory Act: 1766

• Townshend Acts: 1767

• Tea Act: 1773

S.Q.D.To.Te

What is Shay’s Rebellion and the significance of it?

an armed uprising in Massachusetts, primarily led by Daniel Shays. The rebellion was fueled by widespread economic distress in farmers and dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies

It exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

As part of the Great Compromise, how are seats in Congress allocated to each state?

It created a bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House= Determined by population (census every 10 years and capped at 435 representatives)

Senate: Each state is allocated two senators (100 senators b/c of 50 states)

What was the position of the Federalists

supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and advocated for a stronger national government

What was the position of the Anti-Federalists

They believed that the proposed Constitution would create a central government that was too powerful and threatened the rights and liberties of individuals and the sovereignty of the states.

Which preferred the ratification of the Bill of Rights? Federalists or Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists

They argued that the absence of explicit protections for individual liberties in the U.S. Constitution was a significant flaw.

What are some of the differences between the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation as it relates to the National Government?

Structure of Government: AOC =unicameral legislature CON=bicameral legislature (Congress, Executive, and Judicial Branch)

Power Distribution: AOC =The national government had very limited powers CON=Granted the federal government greater powers

Legislation and Enforcement: AOC=enforcement relied on the states CON=authority to enforce laws and hold states accountable for noncompliance

unitary form of government

A system where all powers are held by a central authority. Local governments, if they exist, have only the powers that the central government grants them. Decisions are made at the national level, and local administrations implement those decisions.

What is meant by federalism?

A system of governance in which power is divided between a central (national) government and regional (state or provincial) governments. Both levels of government have their own authority, responsibilities, and the ability to legislate.

identify some of the compromises in the U.S. Constitution as it relates to slavery

• 3/5ths Compromise

• Fugitive Slave Clause

• 1808 Importation of Slaves

3/5ths clause

It established that each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person

1808 Importation of Slaves Act

A clause requiring that escaped slaves be returned to their owners.

Fugitive Slave Clause

A provision that allowed the transatlantic slave trade to continue for at least 20 years after the Constitution's ratification, until 1808. After that date, Congress was given the power to regulate or prohibit the importation of slaves.

Which article of the U.S. Constitution makes federal law supreme to state law?

Supremacy Clause (Article VI)

What is meant by gerrymandering? Redistricting?

Gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor a particular political party or group. This is often done by either concentrating or diluting the voting power of certain demographic groups

Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts. This usually occurs every ten years after the U.S. Census, which counts the population and provides data that may necessitate changes to district boundaries to ensure equal representation.

explain why it is difficult for racial and ethnic minorities to win positions such as Governor and United States Senator.

Is rooted in a combination of historical, social, economic, and political factors

what is meant by dual federalism

Describes a clear separation of powers and responsibilities between the national and state governments. In this model, each level of government operates independently within its own sphere of authority, with minimal overlap or interaction.

what is meant by cooperative federalism

National, state, and local governments work collaboratively to address common issues and implement policies. This model of federalism emphasizes intergovernmental relationships and partnerships rather than strict separation of powers between different levels of government.

what is meant by devolution

A view of federalism that advocates partially returning power to state and local government

What is meant by Dillion’s Rule?

Local governments have limited powers that are explicitly granted by the state. They cannot assume additional powers beyond those defined in state law

What is meant by Home Rule?

Local governments have broader powers to govern themselves and can enact ordinances and laws without needing express permission from the state.

Cooperative federalism

A view of federalism in which the national government expands its power and blurs the lines between national and state authority.

Economic regulation

• Categorical grants

• Unfunded mandates

Civil rights policies

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

• Civil Rights Act of 1964

• 1975 Indian Self-Determination and Education Act