2022 Gov exam review

Government

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Public Policies

all the things a government does

Dictatorship

A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.

Democracy

The supreme authority rest with the people

State

a body of people living in a territory who are organized politically

Sovereign

absolute power within its territory and decided foreign and domestic policies

Distinguish between 3 basic types of power many governments have

Judicial interprets laws

Legislative makes laws

Executive enforces laws

What are the four characteristics of a state?

population, territory, sovereignty, government

What are the four theories of state?

force theory, evolutionary theory, divine right theory, social contract theory

Explain how the federal government serves the purposes in the preamble of Constitution.

encouraging perfect union between states and giving the people the power

Autocracy

single person holds unlimited political power

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people (self appointed)

Unitary

All powers held by the government belong to a single, central agency

Confederation

an alliance of independent states

Classifications of Government

1) who can participate in the governing process

2) the geographic distribution of governmental power within the state

3) the relationship between the legislative and executive branches of the government

Direct Democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

Indirect Democracy

Form of democracy in which individuals are represented by appointed representatives.

Feudalism

powerful lords divided land among other lesser lords

Sovereignty

the supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries

Legitimacy

the belief of the people that a government has the right to make public policy

What is a legitimate government?

one that is accepted by its people and other governments as the sovereign authority of a nation.

What ideas came from the Enlightenment thinkers?

NATURAL RIGHTS, improve human condition, valued reason, science, religion

majority rule

government follows majority but protects minority

compromise

a settlement of differences in which each side gives up something

free enterprise system

An economic system in which people are free to operate their businesses as they see fit, with little government interference.

Obligations of Citizens

Obey the law, Pay taxes, Defend the nation,Serve in court; Attend School

Limited Government

a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Representative Government

system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters

Magna Carta

(1215) a charter of liberties that King John "Lackland" of England was forced to sign; it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom

due proccess

a rule that the law must be fairly applied

Petition of Right

Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land

English Bill of Rights

King William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689. It guaranteed certain rights to English citizens and declared that elections for Parliament would happen frequently. By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy, a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people.

Basic Concepts of Government

ordered government, limited government, representative government

Albany Plan of Union

plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; the plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

duty

A tax on imported goods

Delegates

A person who is chosen or elected to represent a person or group

Explain Stamp Act and how it was a turning point

Stamp Act was a tax on printed documents and it was a turning point because colonists had no representation but were still getting taxed

Difference between First and Second Continental Congress

1st: met to work out unified approach with British

2nd: met to declare independence

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Ratification

Formal approval

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Describe debates over Article of Confederation

Representation in Congress, powers of president, how to elect president, slave trade, bill of rights, Federalists vs. Anti Federalist

Why did the weaknesses of the Articles lead to a critical period for the country in the 1790's?

Articles gave too much power to the states and the government didn't have power to tax, regulate trade, no executive branch to enforce laws, no national court system, so states printed their own money and made their own alliances with foreign nations, etc.

Framers

group of delegates who drafted the US Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

3/5 Compromise

-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution and of a strong national government

Anti-Federalists

opposed the ratification of constitution, supported weak central government and individual rights

New Jersey Plan

Unicameral Congress, Each state equally represented

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress.

Great Compromise

1787; This compromise was between the large and small states of the colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of size, would have 2 senators. This compromise combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their problems. (combine 2 plans)

Presidential Election Compromise

Electoral college

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

an agreement during the Constitutional Convention protecting slave holders; denied Congress the power to tax the export of goods from any State, and, for 20 years, the power to act on the slave trade

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

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

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

federalism

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

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

Article 2 of the Constitution

Section of the Constitution laying out powers and responsibilities of the Executive Branch

Article 3 of the Constitution

Section of the Constitution laying out powers and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch

6 basic principles of the constitution

popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, federalism

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution stating individual rights

Amendment

A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law

Purpose of the Bill of Rights

Protect individual liberties against the government

Methods of formal amendment to the Constitution

1.) Proposed by congress with 2/3 vote, ratified by 3/4 legislature or conventions of states

2.) proposed at National Convention 2/3 vote, ratified by 3/4 state legislature or conventions

How does the formal amendment process reflect federalism and popular sovereignty?

both state and national government have to approve and the people get a say

division of powers

basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis

delegated powers

Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

inherent powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

exclusive powers

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone

Enabling Act

A congressional act directing the people of a United States territory to frame a proposed State constitution as a step towards admission to the Union

act of admission

an act creating a new state

interstate compacts

agreements between states to work together on common issues

Trustees

lawmakers who vote based on their conscience and judgment, not the views of their constituents

Partisans

vote according to support of a political party

Politicos

Attempt to combine the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Bills

a draft of a proposed law being considered by a legislature

Term

two-year period of time during which Congress meets

Session

period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business

convene

to call together, to assemble

adjourn

to stop proceedings temporarily; move to another place

Recess

a time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business

Explain why the Constitution provides for the bicameral structure of Congress.

To check against tyranny and to have equal and proportional representation

Identify personal and political backgrounds of members of Congress.

Citizens of U.S., lawyers, advanced degrees, former governor, most around age of 50

Describe the duties performed by those who serve in Congress.

Making laws (legislator)Responding to constituents(agent of constituents), Serve on committees(committee member)Assist constituents in ceremonial tasks (servant of constituents)Balance interest of constituents and political party (politicians)

Apportioned

to be distributed, as in the seats in the House of Representatives

Reapportion

Process by which representative districts are switched according to population shifts, so that each district encompasses approximately the same number of people; redistribution