Civics Chapter 2

Constitution

A set of rules that establishes the frame-work of a government and the powers of that government.

Legislature

The lawmaking body of government.

Taxes

Legal requirements for individuals or businesses to pay funds for the government.

Delegates

Chosen representatives.

Declaration of Independence

The document declaring U.S. independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776

Separation of Powers

Political idea of dividing power among the three branches of government.

Popular sovereignty

Idea that people of a country hold the ultimate power.

Confederation

A voluntary association of independent states.

Articles of Confederation

First Constitution of the U.S. adopted in 1777 were laws that established each state in Union as republic.

Unicameral

Having one legislative house.

Government

The individuals & groups that make society’s rules and also possess the power and authority to guarantee that these rules are followed.

Politics

Activities aimed at resolving conflicts over the distribution of scarce resources within a society.

Sovereignty

A characteristic of a state; having absolute authority to govern itself.

Dictatorship

An authoritarian government formed by an individual or group whose power is not supported by tradition.

Totalitarian

Refers to government in which a dictatorship sets the goals and controls almost every aspect of a country’s social and economic life.

Democracy

Form of government where the supreme political authority rests with the people.

Republic

Representative democracy with an elected head of state rather than a king or queen.

Precedent

An earlier court decision that furnishes an example or authority for deciding later cases.

Political ideology

A system of political ideas that are rooted in religious beliefs about human nature, society, and government.

Conservation

Political ideology which holds that government should play a limited role in helping individuals and in economic affairs and support traditional values and lifestyle .

Liberalism

Political beliefs that advocate government intervention to promote general well-being and protection of civil rights.

Moderates

Individuals who don’t classify themselves as either liberal or conservative but place themselves in or near the center of the political spectrum.

Socialism

Advocates a system of government intervention which welfare of the community, rather than profits, drives the economy.

Communism

Form of government in which all the means of production and transportation are owned by the state.

Libertarianism

Involves opposition to almost all government regulation of the economy.

Five countries with a unitary system?

Britain, Philippines, France, Japan, Israel

Current confederate system of government?

European Union

What war led to slavery being abolished?

Civil War

What type of political structure has leaders that oversee both religion and government?

Theocracy

The Taliban (Afghanistan) are an example of what government (3)?

Oligarchy, Theocracy, Unitary

What was made in 1774 to discuss British occupation of Boston (met in Philadelphia)?

Continental Congress

The 5 men in the D of I committee?

Robert Livingston, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Roger Sherman

How may states approved the Articles of Confederation?

13

What kind of monarch can do anything he/she wants?

Absolute Monarchy

What kind of government did Iraq have under Saddam Hussein since he was an absolute ruler that did not inherit his position?

Dictatorship

What do you call the system that is both a government and a economy where the profits are divided equally?

Communism

An economic system where the investors profit the most or lose the most?

Capitalism

Federalism is usually found in countries what size?

Larger countries

What kind of monarch was Queen Elizabeth II?

Constitutional Monarchy

In democracy, what is the source of power?

People

The two houses of Parliament?

House of Lords/ House of Commons

The three unalienable rights according to Jefferson?

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

No government?

Anarchy

What kind of democracy do people elect their government officials?

Republic

How may countries are in the European Union?

Over 2 dozen

Four types of England government currently

Constitutional Monarchy, Socialism, Aristocracy, Republic

2 countries that have federal system

India, Canada

3 types of government in USA

Republic, Democratic, Federalism

Legislature with two chambers

Bicameral

What war did Britain want the American colonists to help pay for

French-Indian War

What kind of government joins together several nations for defense or economy?

Confederation

What is a charter?

A legal agreement

How long did it take for ships to cross the Atlantic?

2 months

First english settlement in North America

Jamestown

When was Jamestown founded by the Virginia Company?

1607

What was the House of Burgesses?

The first elected legislature in the colonies

What year was the Plymouth Colony founded

1620

What was the other reason the Plymouth Colony came to America?

So they could worship as they wish

What was a Pilgrim?

Group of English protestants who wanted to separate themselves from the Church of England and escape their control.

What wad the goal of the Mayflower Compact?

Combine ourselves into a civil Body Politick

What colony did William Penn create?

Pennsylvania

What was a Quaker?

A member of a group of religious radicals who faced persecution in England

Who was the king at the time of the Declaration of Independence?

King George III

The idea that kings and queens were no longer above the law?

Magna Carta

Three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

No taxing, No executive branch, no judicial branch

What years were the Articles of Confederation active

1781-1789

What group signed the Declaration of Independence?

Founding Fathers