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What is the Social Contract Theory?
a population of a given people gives up as much power to a government needed to promote the well-being of everyone living there
Define Unitary Government
all governing power resides in a centralized government
What were the 2 main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Congress was powerless to collect taxes and there was no strong central authority
What was the main purpose of the Connecticut Compromise?
it satisfied the needs of both plans by having Congress being composed of 2 houses
What was the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?
to stop southern states from dominating the population in the House of Representatives
What was Montesquieu’s contribution to America’s system of government?
separation of powers
Whose principles of government and political philosophy influenced Thomas Jefferson the most?
John Locke
What was formed out of the Anti-Federalists objections to the Constitution?
the bill of rights
What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?
commentary on why the Constitution needed to be ratified and why it would be the best form of government for the new country
What are the 6 basic principles of the US Constitution?
popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism
Define federalism.
the dividing up of power to a central government and several regional governments
Why did the Framers include federalism, checks and balances, and separation of powers?
because the people are sovereign in America
What are the Supreme Court cases Obergefell vs Hodges and McCulloch vs Maryland examples of?
the Supreme Court following the supremacy clause
What is gerrymandering and why is it controversial?
re-drawing of boundaries for federal districts; risky because one party can make the field unbalanced
What is the role of the Senate Majority Leader?
they are responsible for the programs of the party in power
Why does the Constitution list all 17 enumerated powers of Congress?
to outline what the Legislative Branch can do
What do the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and the amendment process reveal about government?
the allow for changes in the Constitution according to the needs and wants of the country
What is the House of Representatives’ role if the president is suspected of wrongdoing and violating the Constitutional Oath?
impeachment
What are the 3 main roles of the president?
chief of state, chief diplomat, and commander in chief
What are the 3 main responsibilities of the VP?
serves as head of the senate, casts the tie breaker in Senate, and helps decide the question of the presidential disability
Where do the 2 major political parties make their official selection of their presidential candidate?
the National Convention
Why would the president issue an Executive Order?
because of the failure of Congress to pass certain legislation
Why can the president engage in war and military conflicts when only Congress can officially declare war?
because the president is the head of the armed forces
What is the job of the State Department?
to formulate and carry out foreign policy
What is the difference between the Arizona Legislative Branch and the Federal Legislative Branch?
Arizona has equal representatives in each district regardless of population
What is an initiative?
allows voters to approve or reject proposed laws drafted by the citizens
What is a referendum?
allows voters to approve or reject proposed laws drafted by the State Legislation
Briefly describe the role and duties of the Secretary of State.
first in line to succeed the governor, in charge of issuing business permits, and in charge of voter registration
What are the responsibilities of a city council member?
represent the city approve city legislation, and set all the policies for the city
Why are casinos legal on Native American land in Arizona?
because they are sovereign on their land, so the state cannot interfere
How does a state crime become a federal crime?
if a crime is committed by the same person across several states
How can Presidents directly influence future decisions made by the Supreme Court?
the appointment of Supreme Court Justices
Define Judicial Review?
the power of the courts to determine whether an act of government is constitutional
What do Supreme Court cases usually reflect?
the time period in which they are handed down
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