Government chapter 1

Monarchy

power is vested in hereditary kings and queens

Totalitarianism

power resides in a leader who rules according to self interest (EX: north Korea)

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

Democracy

A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

Political spectrum

a system of classifying different political positions aligning themselves with one party side/beliefs or another.

Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state due to the abuse from England.

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War- our first form of Government.

The Federalist papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to defend the Constitution and new form of Government.

Thomas Jefferson

an anti-federalist who was in favor of as much state power as possible. Wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Alexander Hamilton

United States statesman and leader of the Federalists.

Shays Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Virginia plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, all states would have representatives based on their states population.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress- favored small states from being over looked.

The Constitution

A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

The Articles of the Constitution

These are the main areas of the US Constitution which lay out the establishment of all three branches of the Government -- the legislative, the executive and the judicial as well as the establishment of states and their relationship to the federal government and how the Constitution can be amended, how National law is supreme and how the Constitution will be ratified.

Amendment

A change/addition to the Constitution

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

5 themes of the American Govt

1- foundation of American Government
2. Interactions between the Branches of Gov.
3. Civil rights/liberties
4. political ideologies and beliefs
5. Political participation.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Indirect Democracy

a system of government that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives who work on their behalf

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

no power to tax, President lacked power, no money to buy ships or pay soldiers

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Parts of the Constitution

Preamble, 7 articles, 27 amendments

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people "we the People"

Limited Government

Government can only do what people have granted. Government is not all powerful.

Seperation of powers

dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Judicial Branch

Interprets the laws

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

Legislative Branch

Makes laws

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws/actions of political leaders.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments- if a power is not granted to the national government it is given to the states.

enumerated powers

Powers given to the national government alone

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution- but would need to be granted to the departments in order for them to do their job.

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments- address the individual rights and liberties to citizens and states.

Living Constitution

A way of interpreting the Constitution that takes into account evolving national attitudes and circumstances rather than the text alone- the document can be changed overtime.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.