Missouri Gov EOC

1st Amendment

Freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, press, petition, & assembly

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms; militia is necessary for a free state

3rd Amendment

Housing of soldiers

4th Amendment

No unreasonable search or arrest

5th Amendment

No person tried without grand jury indictment or punished twice for same offense. Due process of law.

6th Amendment

Rights of accused in criminal cases.

7th Amendment

Trial by jury.

8th Amendment

No excessive bail or cruel punishment.

9th Amendment

People retain rights not listed in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

Power not given to the federal government is given to the people or states. (Very important for state governments.)

Bill of Rights

First Ten Amendments

13th Amendment

Abolish Slavery

15th Amendment

Gave African Americans right to vote

17th Amendment

Senators elected by direct population. (In the past, Senators were elected by state legislators.)

18th Amendment

Prohibition--no alcoholic beverages bought or sold in United States

19th Amendment

Women's Right to Vote

21st Amendment

Repealed Prohibition

22nd Amendment

2 term limit on Presidents

24th Amendment

Poll taxes cannot prevent voting rights

26th Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18 from 21

Amendment process

Changing the Constitution--

Proposing Amendment

2/3 vote of each house of Congress or national constitutional convention requested by 2/3 of state legislatures

Ratifying (approving amendment)

ratified by at least 3/4 of the state legislatures or by specially called conventions in at least 3/4 of the states

due process

5th amendment--principle stating the government must follow proper constitutional procedures in trials and in other actions it takes against individuals

Enlightenment

movement during the 1700s that spread the idea that knowledge, reason, and science could improve society; influenced American revolutionaries and founders

Jean Jacques Rouseau

Enlightenment thinker who wrote Social Contract and promoted government in which laws should only be made by the people (general will)

Natural Rights

freedoms people posses relating to life, liberty, and property

John Locke

Enlightenment thinkers--philosopher, natural rights and social contract theory

Second Treaties of Government

John Locke argued government's only purpose was to defend the natural rights of life, liberty, and property and that government were a product of the people (consent of the governed)

Monarchy

A system of government in which as hereditary king or queen is the legislative and executive authority; today, most monarchies are limited

Absolute Monarchy

Form of government where hereditary leader has total power to make and enforce laws. (King/Queen)

Authoritarian

A government that has most of the power over the people and exercises strict control over the people's lives

Montesque

Wrote spirit of laws, influenced constitution, separation of powers, abolition of slavery

Republic

a form of government in which citizens of a nation choose other citizens to rule on their behalf--same as representative democracy--began in Rome

Representative Democracy

a form of government which the citizens of a country elect other citizens to rule on their behalf--same as a republic

Republican ideals

Political value system that stresses liberty and "unalienable" rights as central values, makes the people as a whole sovereign, rejects aristocracy and inherited political power, expects citizens to be independent in their performance of civic duties, and vilifies corruption

Rule of Law

Principle of government that says no person is above the law or entitled to special legal treatment because of their status

Social Contract Theory

An enlightenment theory that says the people in a community will give up freedoms in return for protection and to live in peace with each other. It is the basic rationale for why government exists.

Thomas Hobbes

Enlightenment thinker who wrote Leviathan and believed people were naturally cruel, greedy, and selfish; he also believed only a powerful government could keep an orderly society

The Leviathan

A book written by Thomas Hobbes that a strong central government must maintain order to protect the natural rights of people. When government violates this, people have the right to revolt.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement or contract created by the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower which was a written plan for government

Democracy

Type of government in which people have a direct or indirect say in the making of laws and the selection of leaderhsip

Democratic leadership

Style of management in which the executive listens to and uses advice from others

Direct Democracy

System of government where citizens vote on or have input in all laws that are made

Limited Government

Principle of government that says government should not have too much power because it will become too powerful

Laissez Faire

policy that government should interfere as little as possible in the nation's economy; also a leadership that lets people do their jobs with little oversight or interference

Magna Carta

early English document of democracy that limited the power of the king

English Bill of Rights

Protected the rights of English citizens and became the basis for the American Bill of Rights. Identified topics such as freedom of religion and protection from cruel and unusual punishment.

Popular Sovereignty

Principle of democratic government that the power of government rests in the people and that they should decide public policy.

Declaration of Independence

signed July 4, 1776 by the Second Continental Congress, declaring the American colonies as an independent nation--written mostly by Thomas Jefferson

Articles of Confederation

First constitution in the U.S., only lasted 10 years; had a very weak national government because colonists were afraid of tyranny

Constitution

A plan, often written, that details the rules, functions, and principles of a government

inalienable rights

Rights that we are born with and cannot be taken away by a government without due process; life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness; listed in Declaration of Independence

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Federalists

A group of Americans who supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they believed in the balance of power that would exist between the states and national government

Anti-Federalist

Did not support the ratification of the Constitution because they preferred a weak central government. The Bill of Rights was added to help the Anti-Federalists ratify the Constitution.

Executive Branch

branch of government headed by the President, carries out the nation's laws and policies; at the state level, it is headed by the governor

Cabinet Departments

The 15 executive branch departments and agencies of the federal government responsible for carrying out laws, administering programs, and making regulations in their particular area of responsibility

Legislative Branch

branch of government that makes the laws; made up of 2 houses, senate and house of representatives

Bicameral

A two-body legislature--2 houses of Congress--created due to Great Compromise--each body has some different functions and powers than the other.

Great Compromise

Agreement of the Constitutional Convention between the large and small states that created the Senate and House of Representatives

Senate

Each state elects 2 Senators to Congress. 100 Senators in U.S. Congress. Called the upper house

House of Representatives

Each state elects a different number based on the state's population. Currently 435 members. Sometimes called the lower house.

Coining (money)

physically making money; power of Congress, carried out by Treasury

Missouri General Assembly

The senate and house of representatives of Missouri that are responsible for making laws and checking executive power.

Judicial Branch

Branch that interprets laws and applies laws equally, fairly, and with the goal of achieving justice (the Supreme Court, and all lower courts)

Separation of Powers

A principle of government in which the functions of government, those of law making, law enforcing and law interpreting, are divided so as to prevent abuse of power and to maximize efficiency in job performance

Checks and Balances

a system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

ambassadors

Officials who build relations between countries and act as representatives of a nation's interests in foreign lands.

campaign

An effort by political candidates and their supporters to win the backing of donors, political activists, and voters in their quest for political office

Capitalism/Free Market

an economic system in which the people, not the government, decide what will be produced, how much of it will be produced, and at what price it will be sold

Census

Population count conducted every 10 years used to determine how many representatives each state will receive in the House

Citizenship

membership in a state or community which gives a person civil and political rights and obligations

civic responsibility

is the sense of personal responsibility individuals should feel to uphold their obligations as part of any community

Civil Rights Act of 1964

This act made racial, religious, and sexual discrimination by employers illegal and gave the government the power to enforce all laws governing civil rights, including desegregation of schools and public places

Communism

a political system characterized by a centrally planned economy with all economic and political power resting in the hands of the central government

Constitutional

legal according to the United States Constitution

Consumer Protection

When the government makes laws or regulations with the intention of protecting those in society who use goods

dissenting opinion

The Supreme Court opinion that is written by a justice who disagreed with the majority opinion

double jeopardy

an illegal action of a government in which a person found not guilty is tried again for the crime in which they were acquitted

draft notice

a paper a man 18 or older would get during a time of war that tells him he must report for active service in the military

economy

system by which goods and services are produced and distributed to meet people's needs

election

the process by which citizens vote for people to represent them

electoral college

group of persons chosen in each state and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the president and vice president

evolving

changing over time--the Constitution and civil rights has been evolving

Fair Housing Act

landmark federal law passed in 1965 and amended in 1988 that makes it illegal to deny rent or refuse to sell to anyone based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The 1988 amendment expanded the protections to include family status and disability.

federal budget

a detailed financial document containing estimates of federal income and spending during the coming fiscal year

federal debt

all the money borrowed by the federal government over the years and still outstanding; the money is borrowed to pay for the budget deficits

federal deficit

when the government spends more on programs than it collects in taxes in a fiscal year

federal funding

money for state or federal programs that comes from the federal government

federal laws

legislation that is created in Washington, D.C. that all Americans must follow

filibuster

A tool that the minority voting group in the senate uses to delay or obstruct a vote on a bill by making long speeches

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Longest-serving president in U.S. history; served during the Great Depression and World War II; grew the power of the presidency tremendously through his use of executive orders and actions

habeas corpus

a legal principle that requires authorities to show reasons why a person should be held in custody and to provide a speedy trial

Homeland Security

Last executive department that was created whose primary responsibility is to protect America from terrorism

Impeachment

The Congressional process of charging and trying a government official for unethical, immoral, or illegal activities; impeachment has only been used twice in United States history

industry

hard work; the organized action of making of goods and services for sale

informed voter

a person who reads about candidates and issues before casting a ballot during an election

interest group

a group of people with common goals who organize to influence government

interpreting

the act of reading and explaining what a law means