Government

Popular sovereignty

Popular sovereignty

________: the government gets its authority from the people, states that people have the right to alter or abolish govt (the government gets its power from the consent of the governed)

executive branch

Checks for ________: checks → veto, nominates justices, suggests + vetoes laws, grants pardons.

Virginia Plan

________: two houses for legislature: both based upon population → one house: chosen by the people and one house: chosen by state legislature.

Antifederalist

________: not in support of the constitution, want weaker central government → fear one person getting too much power, George Mason.

Social contract

________: government can be overthrown if there is a series of abuses

Republicanism

________: citizens elect representatives, representatives vote according to their their judgment, must remain open to opinions of people.

Federalism

________: division of power between federal govt and states, federal govt powers → coin money, declare war, regulate trade, states powers → regulate trade within their own border, makes rules for state elections.

Declaration of Independence

first mention of the United States of America (colonies → states)

Jeffersons main argument

Due to the series of abuses from King George, the colonies have the right to become their own country

Types of  grievances

colonists laying out their issues with the rule of King George III in the Dec of Independence → overly taxed, no representation, too much power for one person (king), citizens have no voice in government

Social contract

government derives their power from the consent of the governed (if violated, people get to overthrow government and replace it with a new one)(only allowed after a series of abuses)

Natural rights

rights from birth/unalienable rights → life, liberty, + pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

"firm league of friendship"

AoC as a reaction to British rule

unfair monarchy → weak central government + one delegate per state + democracy + more state power, heavily taxed → only taxing by state not gov, not part of government and law making decisions → 9/13 states need to agree to pass a law

Weaknesses, Strengths

weaknesses → limited power for congress, no trading or taxing, no court system, diff currencies, cant solve disputes between states, weak central government

Shays Rebellion

Daniel Shays led a rebellion against taxes & debts with other Massachusetts farmers (who had gone to war and were in debt)

Why did it happen

Bank tried to seize farms to get money to pay debts to gov

Benefits of the rebellion

Showed the weaknesses of the AoC

Constitutional Convention, 1787

fifty-five delegates, kept private so only people who were there knew

one house

depended on population → house of representatives

English Law

Includes, Magna Carta → King had to follow law, trial by jury, private property English and Bill of Rights → trial by jury, bear arms, Habeas Corpus

Enlightenment thinking (4.3)

Includes, Charles Montesquieu → philosopher who came up with separation of powers and John Lock → life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, governments get their power from the people, private property

Federalist

in support of the constitution, want a strong federal government, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

Antifederalist

not in support of the constitution, want weaker central government → fear one person getting too much power, George Mason

George Mason & "Objections to the Proposed Constitution"

an antifederalist paper stating the current constitution does not provide any protection or representation for citizens and that it needs to include a declaration of rights (bill of rights) or else government will infringe upon rights

Popular sovereignty

the government gets its authority from the people, states that people have the right to alter or abolish govt (the government gets its power from the consent of the governed)

Republicanism

citizens elect representatives, representatives vote according to their their judgment, must remain open to opinions of people

Federalism

division of power between federal govt and states, federal govt powers → coin money, declare war, regulate trade, states powers → regulate trade within their own border, makes rules for state elections

Checks and balances

dividing powers between branches and having powers over each other so that every branch is equal (check → powers one branch has on others to keep a branch in check , balance → powers on a branch from other branches to keep that branch in check)

checks for judicial branch

checks → judicial review

checks for executive branch

checks → veto, nominates justices, suggests + vetoes laws, grants pardons

checks for legislative branch

checks → can override veto with ⅔ of House + ⅔ of Senate, confirm/reject presidential nominations to appoint justices or heads of federal agencies

Separation of powers

different branches of government Charles Montesquieu

Limited government

a government only has a certain amount of power (given through a constitution)

Individual rights

unalienable rights that cannot and should not be infringed upon by the government or any other entity (protected through the bill of rights)