Government Test #1

social contract

you agree to give up some of your natural rights in exchange for govt protection

Locke

• humans are naturally good

• natural rights (Life, liberty, property)

• govt to protect rights

• small govt

Hobbes

• people are inherently cruel/greedy

• monarchy system (ruler must have absolute power)

natural rights

rights given to you simply bc of your existence that make you human

life

right to live however you want as long as you dont infringe on other’s right to life

liberty

you cannot be imprisoned without your consent unless you break a law

you have a right to anything that you produced as a result of physical labor

what makes a govt legitimate?

consent

what does Locke think must happen when a govt becomes illegitimate?

citizens have a moral obligation to rebel

Why should citizens rebel?

Bc the govt is dehumanizing them

Article 1

creation of legislative branch

article 2

creation of executive branch

article 3

creation of the judicial branch

article 6

Supremacy Clause - declares national law supreme over state law

1st Amendment

freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition

2nd Amend.

protects a citizens right to bear arms

9th Amend.

all rights not listed in the Constitution belong to the people not the govt.

10th Amend.

simplifies the division of power between federal and state govt.

14 Amend.

granted citizenship to those born or naturalized in the US

15th Amend.

prohibits the govt. of denying a citizen the right to vote bc of race, color or previous servitude

16th Amend.

allows congress to levy taxes on states without apportionment

19th Amend.

prohibits denying a voter due to sex

elastic clause

allows congress to stretch its powers past what was listed in the constitution

separation of powers

• the separation of power into the 3 branches of govt. 

checks and balances

• lets each branch of govt have control over the other ones

judicial review

• The supreme court checking the constitutionality of a legislative bill 

delegated powers

• a term that is used to clump all inherent and implied powers together

concurrent powers

• powers that both states and the national govt has 

reserved powers

powers given specifically to state govt

3 federal govt. powers

• regulate foreign and interstate commerce 

• declare war 

• foreign treaties

2 reserved powers

• regulate interstate commerce 

• establish local govt 

2 concurrent powers

• establish courts 

• spend for general welfare 

DACA

Differed Action of Childhood Arrivals

What is DACA?

• it provides up to 4 years of deportation relief and work visas

2 reasons people support DACA

• old presidents have passed orders to help immigrants before DACA 

• It is unfair to deport children when they had no choice in coming here in the first place

2 reasons against DACA

• Obama didn’t follow proper procedure when issuing the executive order 

• DACA hurts state govts b/c they have to pay for the immigrants (healthcare, education, law enforcement, etc.)

3 reasons to loosen immigration laws

• economic: immigrants do jobs that Americans don’t want to do for lower pay 

• political: Can’t deport all undocumented immigrants so focus on criminals 

• social: enhance american culture/add to melting pot 

3 reasons to tighten immigration laws

• economic: Job competition 

• political: National security concerns (crime, terrorism, drugs, human trafficking)

• social: immigrants don’t want to assimilate 

two ways that the politics surrounding DACA illustrates the U.S. government’s system of checks and balances

• Obama issued DACA when congress failed to pass the Dream Act (Executive order) \

• States sued fed govt bc they think Obama was abusing his power, goes through Supreme Court to keep him in check