Americna gov

American gov (final)

Government

The governing body of a nation, states, or community

Constitutional government

government with formal and effective limits on its power

Liberal government

Government emphasizing individual liberty and limited government

Democracy

A system of government by the whole population or eligible members, typically through elected representatives

Authoritarian government

Government with no formal limits but restrained by social institutions

Totalitarian Government

Government with no limits that seeks to dominate all aspects of life

Autocracy

Ruled by one individual

Communist Government

System where the state controls the economy and a single party rules

Socialist Government

System where government owns major industries to promote equality

Monarchy

Ruled by a hereditary single ruler

Modern Democratic governments

Norway, Iceland, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, Finland, Australia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, UK, Uruguay, Austria, Mauritius, Malta, Spain, Costa Rica, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Estonia, USA, Portugal, France.

Modern Authoritarian governments

North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia, pre‑war Japan and Italy, Stalin’s USSR, Nazi Germany.

Checks and balances

System where each branch limits the others

Open and free elections

Elections where citizens choose leaders freely

Free media

Independent press that monitors government

Bill of rights

First ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution

John Locke

Argued government needs consent of the governed

Patrick Henry

“Give me liberty or give me death”

George Washington

First U.S. president, served two terms voluntarily

John Adams

Founding father, second president

Benjamin Banneker

Black scientist, mathematician, and surveyor

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence

James Madison

Father of the constitution

Frederick Douglass

Leading abolitionist

James Monroe

5th president; Monroe Doctrine

Benjamin Franklin

Inventor, diplomat, and Founding Father

Plessy V Ferguson (1896(

Established separate but equal

Brown V Board of Education (1954)

Overturned separate but equal

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Law banning Chinese labor immigration

Central conflict of liberty in the U.S.

Enslavement of blacks

Three-fifths compromise

Enslaved people counted as 3/5ths vote for representation

Catholic immigrants came from

Ireland and Germany

Immigrants 1900-1950

Mostly from Europe (60-90%)

Immigrants 1960-today

Mostly from the Americas (50-60%)

Undocumented immigrants

11-15 millions.

When did Native Americans become citizens?

1924

Majority rule, minority rights

majority governs but minority rights protected

Popular sovereignty

Political authority rest with the people

Most diverse continent

Africa

Liberty

Freedom from government control

Laissez Faire capitalism

private ownership with minimal government interference

Political equality

one person, one vote

Equality of opportunity

everyone should have the chance to reach their potential

Political Knowledge

Information about institutions, actors, and issues

American Liberal

Supports government action in economy; protects civil liberties

American Conservative

Supports limited government and traditional values

Political power

Influence over government leadership, organization, or policies

Voter participation pattern

Older > Younger; White > Other races; Wealthier > Poorer; Female > Male; Educated > Less educated.

U.S. population

2018 → 323–330 million. Caucasian Population → 62–65%. Hispanic Population → 17–20%. Black Population → 13–15%. Asian Population → 5–9%.

British Taxes

Sparked colonial resistance

Political strife

Led to radicalization of colonist

Declaration of Independence

Announced separation from Britiain

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government, weak national power

Annapolis Convention

Meeting that led to Constitutional Convention

Shay’s rebellion

Exposed weakness of Articles

Constitutional Convention

Created new constitution

Great compromise

Bicameral congress: house by population, senate equal

Legislative branch

Makes laws

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws

National unity and power

Strengthened national authority

Amending constitution

requires supermajorities

Limits on national government

Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, bill of rights

Federalist

Supported strong national government

Anti- Federalist

Opposed strong national government; wanted bill of rights

27 amendments

Full list from bill of rights to congressional pay limits

Voting rights amendments

15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th

National powers

Expressed, implied, inherent

State powers

reserved powers under the 10th amendment

Full faith and credit

States honor each other’s laws

Privileges and immunities

No discrimination against citizens of other states

Local government

created by states

Dual federalism

Separate powers, cooperative federalism, shared powers

New Deal

Expanded federal power

Preemption

Federal law overrides state law

States rights

Emphasis on state autonomy

Federal spending beneficiaries

Elderly, poor, rural states, defense states

State/ local participation

higher among older, wealthier, educated

Civil liberties

Protections from government

Selective incorporation

applying bill of rights to states

Establishment clause

no official religion

Free exercise clause

Freedom to practice religion

Prior restraint

No censorship before publication

Exclusionary rule

illegally obtained evidence excluded

Miranda rights

Right to remain silent and attorney

Right to privacy

Implied right, lgbtq rights, expanding protections, right to die

Slavery

Central conflict in U.S. liberty

Abolition movement

movement to end slavery

Women’s rights movement

Expanded rights for women

Civil war amendments

13th, 14th, 15th

Separate but equal

Established Plessy. Brown V Board, ended segragation in schools

Civil rights act

Banned discrimination

Voting rights act

protected minority voting