US Gov- Exam 1

What is Government?

Institutions and procedures that provide territories and its people rules.

What is Politics?

Conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments. The struggle over "who gets what, when, how."

Why do we have a government?

To provide "public goods" that can benefit everyone but that no individual or group on its own can afford to supply.

What are the different types of governments?

Autocracy, Oligarchy, and Democracy. Constitutional, Authoritarian, and Totalitarian.

What is Autocracy?

Government by a single, nonelected individual (king, queen, or dictator). Includes Great Britain and Saudi Arabia.

What is Oligarchy?

Government by a small group that is not accountable to citizens (military officers, landowners, or wealthy merchants). Includes Russia.

What is Democracy?

A system of rule that lets citizens play a significant role in the government process. Includes the United States.

What is a Constitutional Government?

A government that is limited by law both in the powers it has and in how it can exercise them. Includes the United States.

What is an Authoritarian Government?

A government that recognizes no limits on its authority, but may be constrained by other institutions (religion or business). Includes some places in Africa and Latin America.

What is a Totalitarian Government?

A government that recognizes no limit on its authority and seeks to eliminate other institutions that might challenge it. Included North Korea and Cuba.

What is Political Power?

Influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies. Individuals with money tend to have power.

What is a Representative Democracy (Republic)?

Government where people select representatives, who play a major role in governmental decision-making.

What is a Direct Democracy?

A system that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.

What are the different theories of democracy?

-Elite Model: Elites should make laws that benefit them.

-Majority Theory: Majority of people should make laws.

-Pluralism: All interests are and should be free to compete for influencing the government.

What is a Citizen?

Someone who is informed and actively engaged in our political system.

What is Political Knowledge?

What citizens know about our political system.

What is Political Efficacy?

The belief that you can influence government and politics. Is currently declining.

When did Congress lift the ban on naturalization of nonwhites?

1870

What was the Chinese Exclusion Act?

1882; Outlawed the entry of Chinese laborers to the US.

When did Congress lift many of its strict immigration laws?

1965

What percent of people currently live in Urban Areas?

82%

What is Political Culture?

The values, attituded, traditions, habits, and general behavioral patterns that develop over time and shape the politics and public policy of a particular region.

What are the three Political Values?

-Liberty: Personal freedom (Bill of Rights) and economic freedom (Capitalism).

-Equality: Equality of opportunity and politics ("one person, one vote").

-Democracy: We have the right to choose our leaders (Popular Sovereignty). Majority rule (majority vote wins) and minority rights (rights guaranteed to everyone).

What is Public/Political Trust?

Can we trust the government to do what is right. Currently it is pretty low.

What was the First Continental Congress?

1774; 12/13 colonies came together and decided that if nothing improved, they would come together in one year.

What was the Second Continental Congress?

1775; 13/13 colonies came together and declared independence from Britain. The Articles of Confederation was created.

What was the Declaration of Independance?

1776; A philosophical document (states that certain rights are unalienable) and a political document (explains why colonies rebelled).

What are the Articles of Confederation?

1777-1789; The first constitution of the United States that created a confederate form of government (the central government is weak and the state government is powerful). Was impracticle.

What is a Confederation?

A system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government.

What happened in Annapolis, Maryland?

1786; Virginia legislature called for a conference to revise the government to create a stringer central government. Decided to meet one year later in Philadelphia.

What was Shay's Rebellion?

1787; Highlighted the major issues of the Articles of Confederation (the government could not raise/fund an army).

What was the Constitutional Convention?

1787; Decided to build a new Article of Confederation. Created the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

What was the first major conflict during the draft of the US Constitution?

-Virginia Plan (representation based on population or taxes) vs New Jersey Plan (equal representation).

-The Connecticut (Great) Compromise created a bicameral legislature (two chambers).

-The House of Representatives is represented based on population.

-The Senate has equal representation for all states.

What was the second major conflict during the draft of the US Constitution?

-How should slaves count?

-Resulted in the Three-Fifths Compromise.

-Gave slave states a slight advantage (Southern states).

What was the third major conflict during the draft of the US Constitution?

-What should we do about slavery?

-Would be addressed in 20 years (they hoped it would be solved by then).

What was the fourth major conflict during the draft of the US Constitution?

-Federalists vs. Antifederalists

-Federalists were represented by the elites, favored a stronger central government, and used the Federal Papers to convince others why the constitution was important.

-Antifederalist were not as organized as Federalists and were afraid of a strong centralized government. Led to the creation of the Bill of Rights to protect citizens from a strong government.

What is Bicameral Legislature?

Assembly composed of two chambers: House (upper) and Senate (lower).

What are checks and balances?

Each branch of government is able to participate and influence other branches to ensure one branch is not too powerful.

What are separations of powers?

Divisions of governmental power among several institutions.

What is Federalism?

System of government in which power is divided between central and regional governments.

What are the seven sections of the Constitution?

-Article 1: Deals with Congress (Legislative branch)

-Article 2: President (Executive branch)

-Article 3: Judicial branch (Supreme Court)

-Article 4: Relationship between states (Commodity clause)

-Article 5: Amending processes

-Article 6: Supremacy clause

-Article 7: Ratification

What are the two types of power of Congress?

-Expressed powers: specific powers written in the Constitution to Congress.

-Implied Powers: not written in the Constitution. Proper or elastic clause.

How is the president selected?

Electoral College

What percent of votes is necessary to amend (request) a change to the constitution?

2/3

What percent of votes is necessary to ratify (accept) a change to the constitution?

3/4

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal laws reigns supreme over state laws.

What is a Unitary system?

Strong central government, weak local government. Most popular.

What is a Confederal System?

Weak central government, strong local government. Least popular.

What is a Federal System?

Power is divided/shared between the national and state governments. Tug of war.

What is Centralization?

Power is concentrated at one horizontal level of government.

What is Decentralization?

Power is divided/shared between vertical levels of government.

What does the Tenth Amendment do?

Says that powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people. States have reserved powers not listed in the Constitution.

What is Coercion?

The power to deal with the day to day life of citizens.

What is Police Powers?

Power reserved to the state government to regulate health, safety, welfare and morals of its citizens.

What powers does the Federal Government and the State Governments haves?

-Federal Government: expressed and implied powers.

-State Government: reserve, coercive, and police powers.

What are Concurrent Powers?

Powers shared by the state and national governments. Often implied powers.

What is the Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article 4)?

If one state recognizes something, all states recognize it.

What is the Privileges and Immunities Clause (Article 4)?

Citizens outside state can enjoy privileges of the state. States cannot give privilege to their own citizens.

Dual Federalism?

1787-1930s; Federal government is small and weak. State legislature performed the majority of governing over citizen's lives. Layered cake.

Cooperative Federalism?

1930s-1960s; Federal and state governments work together. 1930s was Great Depression. The New Deal (1930s) marked when federal government started giving money to states. Marble cake.

Regulated Federalism?

1960s-1970s; The Federal government dictated that states follow certain rights.

New Federalism?

1970; States regain power. Supported by Nixon and Reagan.

Federalism Since 2000?

No clear form of federalism.

What is McCulloch v. Maryland?

Dual Federalism; Ruling affirmed that the US Congress had, through its implied powers, the legal right to charter a national bank.

What is Gibbons v. Ogden?

Dual Federalism; Ruling established the supremacy of the national government in all matters affecting interstate (trade between states) commerce.

What is "State's Rights"?

Dual Federalism; The principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government.

What are Grants-in-aid?

Programs where Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for specific purposes.

What are Categorical Grants?

Congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem of group specified by law.

What is Preemption?

Regulated federalism; The principle that allows national governments to override state and local actions in specific policy areas (civil rights and environmental).

What are Unfunded Mandates?

Regulated federalism; Rules forcing states to spend their own money to comply with federal law.

What is Devolution?

The transfer of responsibilities from the federal government to state or local governments.

What is United States v. Lopez?

New Federalism; Struck down a federal law that batted handguns near schools.

What is Printz v. United States?

New Federalism; The federal government violated the Tenth Amendment when Congress required state and local officials to perform background checks on people buying guns.

What are Block Grants?

Federal grant-in-aid that allows states more flexibility on how to spend money.

What is General Revenue Sharing?

The federal government provides money to local governments and counties without strings attached.