Government EOC Study Guide

4 Main functions of government

maintain order, resolve conflict, provide services, promote values

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect political leaders to make policy decisions on their behalf

Direct democracy

Decisions are made directly from the people

Why does the US government use a republican form of government instead of a direct democracy

There too many people, nothing would get done

Absolute monarchy

All power is held by a king or queen

Constitutional monarchy

Power is shared between the monarch in legislature

Dictatorship

One person has complete control usually inherited

Totalitarian

Dictator has all the power (total power)

Oligarchy

A group of leaders rule for their own benefit

In the presidential system how is the chief executive chosen?

Independently from the legislature

In a presidential system what title was given to the chief executive?

President

In a presidential system who is the head of state?

President

In a parliamentary system how is the chief executive chosen?

Chief executive is chosen by legislative

In a parliamentary system what title is given to the chief executive?

Prime Minister

In the parliamentary system who is the head of state?

Monarch or president

unitary government system

Power held by national government

confederal government system

Independent states unite to accomplish common goals

Federal government system

People elect representatives

Thomas Hobbes

Absolute monarchy - social contract

John Locke

Opposed authoritarian forms of government - natural rights

Baron de Montesquieu

Limited monarch - separation of powers

Jean-Jacque Rousseau

Democracy - strong supporter of the social contract

Capitalism

Often called market economy, private ownership of businesses, limited government interference MERICA!

Communism

everything is owned by government, often called command economy, often fails

Socialism

government owns part of the business, distribute wealth evenly, stepping stone to communism

Magna Carta, 1215

Established "rule of law" and right to a jury trial

Petition of Rights, 1628

Limited the authority of the government

English Bill of Rights, 1689

Monarchs can only rule with the consent of the government

Mayflower Compact, 1620

First attempt at self government in North America

Tyranny

Absolute rule of government that ignores rights of the people

Boycott

A refusal to do business or buy products to change public policy

What did the Declaration of Independence do?

Declared United States' freedom from Britain

Who influenced Thomas Jefferson in writing the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke

What three ideas did Jefferson take from John Locke?

\- unalienable rights - government received its power from the people - If government fails to protect the people the people can overthrow the government

What were the Articles of Confederation?

First national government that loosely tied the states together

What caused the Articles of Confederation to fail?

A weak central government

Describe how the articles limited the national government.

No executive judicial branch, could not tax, could not regulate trade

What event demonstrated the need for a stronger national government?

Shay's rebellion

New Jersey plan

National government with a unicameral legislature, based on equality between the state and in which the states had a stronger rule. Favored by small states

Virginia Plan

Strong national government with the bicameral legislation, based on state population, executive and judicial branch chosen by legislature

The Great Compromise had what type of legislature

Bicameral

How is representation determined in the house (lower house)?

Based on state population

How is representation determined in the Senate (upper house)?

2 per state

Federalist

Agreed with the Constitution

Anti Federalist

Opposed the Constitution

What were the Federalist Papers?

85 newspaper articles supporting the Constitution

What did the Federalists promised the anti-federalists in order to ratify the Constitution?

A Bill of Rights

How many states were needed to ratify the Constitution?

9 of 13

Popular sovereignty

Government authority to rule comes from the people

Representative democracy

People elect representatives to run government for them

Limited government

Idea adopted from England government to prevent executives from getting too much power

Separation of powers

Dividing the power of government into three branches

Checks and balances

To prevent abuse of power each branch can check the power of the other two branches

Federalism

Power is divided among the national, State, and local levels of government

What are the first 10 amendments of the Constitution called?

Bill of Rights

1st Amendment

5 freedoms - speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

Government cannot force citizens to house soldiers in time of war

4th Amendment

Presents unreasonable searches and seizures without warrant

Fifth Amendment

rights of the accused

6th amendment

Right to a speedy trial

7th amendment

Right to a trial by jury

8th amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, excessive bail or fines

9th amendment

Rights of the people

Tenth Amendment

Rights of the state

11th amendment

Citizens cannot sue States; lawsuits against States

12th amendment

Changed election procedure President and Vice President chosen together

13th amendment

Abolish slavery

14th amendment

Granted citizenship to slaves

15th amendment

allowed African American men the right to vote

16th amendment

Congress can levy taxes

17th amendment

Direct election of senators by votes of each state

18th amendment

Prohibition of alcohol

19th amendment

granted women the right to vote; women's suffrage

20th amendment

Change the date the president takes office "lame duck" amendment

21st amendment

Repealed the 18th amendment

22nd amendment

Limited president to two terms

23rd amendment

Washington DC granted the right to vote

24th amendment

abolished poll taxes

25th amendment

Created presidential succession list

26th amendment

Lowered voting age to 18

27th amendment

Congress pay raises go into effect after next election

What are reserved powers?

Powers that are reserved to the States

Which amendment grants the reserved powers?

Tenth Amendment

What is the name of Missouri's legislative body?

General Assembly

What is the title given to the chief executive of Missouri?

Governor

Who currently holds the position of chief executive of Missouri?

Jay Nixon

What is the difference between the state and federal budget process?

state has to balance in federal can overspend

What are the main functions of each branch of government

Executive branch - enforces laws Legislative branch - makes laws Judicial branch - reviews laws

What vocabulary term indicated the order of people set to replace the president?

Line of succession

Who are the first three people in line to replace the president?

Vice president, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore

What is the Wars Powers Act (resolution)?

president can send out troops up to 30 days without Congress approval

What is the main role of the Electoral College?

Elect a new president

Total number of electors in Electoral College =

538

Number of electors needed to win the presidency =

270

Equation for number of state electors =

Senators + House Members

Number of Missouri electors =

10

How does popular vote affect the presidential election?

The popular vote influences the electoral college

What are the three roles of the Vice President?

First in order of succession, president of the Senate, break tie votes

How many executive departments are there within the cabinet? What is the title given to the leader of all but one department?

15 departments, secretary, other is attorney general