Studied by 2 people
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
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Flashcard