unit 1 gov exam

Colonial America

Space, Diversity, Dwindling Native pop. & Religion/Slavery

Natural Rights philosophy

People have rights from nature by being human

Ancient purpose of government

Help people discover & perform their civic duties

Aristotle's 3 types of government`

Monarchy, Aristocracy, & Polity

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote individually on laws

Mixed Constitution

A constitution that incorporates more than one type of government

Republican government

Citizens choose representatives to represent their interests in government

Things a constitution does:

Sets up government, codifies govs. powers & limits them, specifies how laws can be created, identifies natural rights and establishes responsibility for those rights

Limited government

Powers are defined and limited by constitution

Human Nature

The fundamental disposition of humans that determines their behavior

Classical Republicanism

The devotion of citizens to the common good

Civic Virtue

the dedication of citizens to the common welfare of their communities

Moral Education

teaching principles of right and wrong, usually through community

Divine Right of Kings

the idea that Monarchs derive their duty to rule from God

State of Nature

thought experiment that imagines a situation where there is no government- man in his natural state

Popular sovereignty

rule by the people

Public morality

emphasized virtues that are important for acting in the community

Private morality

emphasized the virtues of inner faith & obedience to Gods law

The Reformation

16th century movement for religious reform

The Renaissance

"rebirth"; movement that centered on the revival of interest in classical learning

The Enlightenment

a movement that emphasized science and reason as guides to help see the world more clearly

Montesquieu

advocated the separation of executive and legislative and judicial powers (for the people, by the people)

Common Law

system of law that requires judges to publish their rulings & rule in ways that are consistent with past trials

Precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in similar circumstances

stare decisis

"Let the decision stand"; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

The Rule of Law

everyone, including government, is subject to applied laws

Habeas Corpus

A court order to have any person accused of a crime appear before a judge

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

First written constitution, established legislature, governor & courts

Declaration of Independence

Declared independence from British rule, government derives "their just powers from the consent of the governed"

legislative supremacy

a government in which the legislature has the most power

The Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War, limited congress power & left everything up to the States

The Virginia Plan

Proposal of government in which representation of States in the National legislature was to be based on population of each State & bicameral legislature

The New Jersey Plan

Proposal of government in which the representation of States in National legislature is equal and not based on population in the State & only 1 chamber of legislature

The Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house (Bicameral legislature)

3/5ths Compromise/Clause

agreement stating that slaves would count as three-fifths of a person/population in determining representation in Congress