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What are the three orgins of the state?
Evolutionary Theory, Divine right theory and the Social Contract theory
Define the: Evolutionary Theory
States formed from family and extended family
Define the: Divine right theory
God chose someone to rule
Define the: Social Contract theory
People surrender power to gov. in exchange for protection
What are all the systems of government?
Unitary System, Confederacy, Federal System, Constitutional Gov’t
Define the: Unitary System
System where all power is within the central or national government.
Define the: Confederacy system
Loose union where states are independent and sovereign (states have all power)
Define the: Federal System
System where power is divided between state and national gov.
Define the: Constitutional Gov’t
Gov. where constitution has the authority to place limits on those who govern
What are the Types of Economies?
Capitalisim, Mixed Economies and Command Economies
Explain a Capitalisim type economy
Free choice and incentive and the Government doesnt get involved
Explain a Mixed type economy
When the government Interferes with private enterprise
Explain a Command Economy
Government controls the economy
What are the principles of democracy?
Citizen Participation, Regular Free and Fair Elections, Accepting Results of Elections, Rule of Law, Majority Rule with Minority Rights, Accountability, Transparency, Limited Government and Bill of Rights, Control of Abuse of Power, Economic Freedom, Equality, Individual or Human Rights, Independent Judiciary, and Competing Political Parties
What is Citizen Participation
Citizens being active and informed on government issues, paying taxes, serving on jury, ect.
What is Regular Free and Fair Elections
Votes are counted equally, everyone can vote, and no obstacles should be in place for people to vote. All adults have the right to run for office, elections are free and fair, and no intimidation, corruption, or threats to citizens before an election
What is Accepting Results of Elections
People should accept that they lost and have a peaceful transfer of power
What is Rule of Law
No one is above the law and should follow it and be punished when they break it no matter who it is
What is Majority Rule with Minority Rights
The government is based off of the majority rule but minority rights are still protected such as speaking out
What is Accountability
Elected officials are accountable for their actions. Elected officials have to follow what the people want
What is Transparency
People must be aware about what the government is doing
What is Limited Government and Bill of Rights
Government shouldn't be too controlling of people. Bill of Rights protects the rights of people
What is Control of Abuse of Power
Corruption: when elected officials use public funds for their own benefits or try to take over. The government is structured to limit the powers of elected officials. Independent agencies are hired to punish government officials and employees who abuse power
What is Economic Freedom
People are allowed to own property and businesses. People are allowed to choose their own work and join labor unions. Government shouldnt take total control of economy
What is Equality
Everyone is treated equally under the law and have rights to their own opinions
What is Individual or Human Rights
People have human rights. Universal Declaration of Human Rights spells out most of the rights people have. Government protects human rights
What is Independent Judiciary
Courts and the judicial system should be fair and impartial. Judicial branch should be free to act without control or influence from other branches of government. Judges shouldnt be corrupt or obligated to people, businesses, or political groups
What is Competing Political Parties
More than one political party should compete in elections
Explain the functions of the government
Maintain order
Provide public services
National Security
Make economic decisions
Passing laws
Fire department
military
Regulate natural resources
Authoritarian
controlling all aspects of citizens economic, political, and social lives
Totalitarian
a system of government in which the government has total control
Dictatorship
a system of government in which power is in the hands of one person who has total control
Oligarchy
A system of government in which a small group holds power
Monarcy
A system of government in which a king, queen, or emperor exercises supreme powers of government
Democracy
government in which the people rule
Republic
A government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representives, responsible to the people, exercise that power
Economics
The study of how people and nations use their limited resources to attempt to satisfy wants and needs
Regulation
Rule or procedure that has the force of law
Capitalism
An economic system that emphasizes freedom of choice and individual incentive
Capitalism
An economic system that emphasizes freedom of choice and individual incentive
Free Market
An economic system in which buyers and sellers make free choices in the marketplace
Free enterprise
the opportunity to control one’s own economic decisions
Lassiez-faire
The philosophy that government should keep its hands off the economy
Mixed economy
A system in which the government regulates private enterprise
Socialism
an economic system in which the government owns the basic means of the production, distributes the products and wages, and provides social services such as health care and welfare
Democratic socialist
a socialist who is committed to democracy but wants government involvment in the distribution of wealth
Command economy
an economic system in which the government controls the factors of production
Bourgeoisie
capitalists who own the means of productions
Proletariat
Workers who produce the goods
Communism
An economic system in which the central government directs all major economic decisions
Magna Carta
Written in 1215, recognized the rights of English nobles, seen as the beginning of the idea of limited government
Petition of Right
Passed in 1628 by Parliament, was the first attempt at limiting the power of English monarchs
English Bill of Rights
Passed in 1689 by Parliament, set clear limits on English monarchs
Mayflower Compact
Signed in 1620, established the first of many colonial plans for self-government
Thomas Hobbes believed
Life was "brutish, short"
Who influncened the idea of the social contract?
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke believed
"Natural Rights"
Social Contract
People give up their freedom and power in exchange for protection from the state
Natural Rights
People have the rights to life liberty and property
Declaration of Independence
Document showing independence from britain
Articles of Confederation
Article showing the governmental structure of the U.S after separation from britain
What are the problems with the Articles of Confederation?
National government couldn't tax states directly and can only ask for money
National government couldn't regulate state or international trade
Each state had one vote in congress regardless of population
No executive branch
No judicial branch
Passing laws required 9 of 13 states to agree and all 13 have to agree in order to amend articles
Whats the problem with "National government couldn't tax states directly and can only ask for money"?
States didn't pay most the time and couldn't pay off debts
Whats the problem with "National government couldn't regulate state or international trade"?
National government couldn't stop states from trading with other states or countries
Whats the problem with "National government couldnt assemble an army, can only request for soldiers"?
States couldn't send soldiers making it difficult to defend nation
Whats the problem with "Each state had one vote in congress regardless of population"?
Small states had a disproportionate amount of power compared to big states
Whats the problem with "No executive branch"?
National government had no way of implementing or enforcing laws
Whats the problem with "No judicial branch"?
No effective way to resolve disputes
Whats the problem with "Passing laws required 9 of 13 states to agree and all 13 have to agree in order to amend articles"?
Difficult to fix articles
What is the virgina plan?
Proposal that laid out a plan for a strong national government
What are the key points of the virgina plan?
Strong national legislature with 2 branches
Strong executive chosen by legislature
National jury appointed by legislature
Small states realized larger states would have more power and wanted a less powerful government with more power for the states
What consisted of a Strong national legislature with 2 branches?
Lower one to be chosen by people. Upper one to be chosen by lower one. Number of legislatures would vary from state to state by population.
What was the New Jersey plan?
Proposal for a less strong national government
What are the key points of the New Jersey plan?
Unicameral legislature with one vote for each state
Continue as a confederation of sovereign states
Congress would be strengthened by regulating trade and imposing taxes
Weak executive elected by congress
What was the Connecticut Compromise?
Legislative branch would be a bicameral legislature. House of representatives based on population. Senate 2 people per state. Congress can impose taxes. Laws concerning taxing and spending would originate in house of representatives. Plan of how the government should work
Ratification of Constitution needs approval from
9 out of 13 states
Federalists
A strong central government, necessary for the states to form together. A strong federal government would help put the states that don't cooperate in their place. Wanted 3 branches so no branch is too controlling over the other
Anti-Federalists
Wanted a weaker central government and more power for the states. Opposed parts of the constitution that limited the power of the states
What is the 3/5ths compromise?
Three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxation.
Why did the Northen states not want slaves to be counted for population?
Because that would take representation away from their states
Why did the Southern states want slaves to be counted for population?
Wanted representation apportioned by population
When did the 3/5ths compromise end?
In 1868 when 13 amendment ended slavery and 14th amendment where all of states population counted for representation
What is the organization of Congress?
Bicameral legislature: 2 houses (senate +HOR)
What is reapportionment?
Process of assigning representation districts after census
What is redistricting?
Set up new district lines after reapportionment is completed
What is gerrymandering?
To draw district lines in favor of 1 party to gain advantage in election
Standing committees
Permanent committee that oversees the bills that deal with certain topics
Subcommittees
Group within the standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility
Select committees
Temporary committee to study one specific issue and report findings to house and senate
Conference committees
Panel of house and senate members to settle differences in legislation. Works out the differences in bills
Joint committees
Committee that consists of members from the house and senate. Reports to the house and senate on topics of bills
Rules Committee
Determines rules of when each bill is being debated in house
How long is a house of representives term?
2 years
How long is a senator's term?
6 years
What are the qualifications to be a senator?
30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, lives in the state elected in.
What are the qualifications to be a house of representive?
25 years old, U.S. citizen for 7 years, lives in state elected in.
How many house of representives are in congress?
435
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