Gov Test Unit 1

Origins of the state theories?

force theory, evolutionary theory, divine right theory, social contract theory

What is the social contract theory?

argues that state arose out of voluntary act of free people

What is a direct democracy?

will of people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves

What is indirect democracy?

A small group of people are chosen by the people to represent them expressing popular will.

What is representative democracy?

Supreme, political authority rests with the people

What is constitutional monarchy?

System of government, in which a monarch shares power with a constitutionally organized government

What is a dictatorship?

Exists, where those who rule cannot be held, responsible to the will of the people

What is a totalitarian dictatorship?

holds absolute power and unchallenging authority over people

What is a autocracy?

Government in which a single person holds, unlimited political power

What is oligarchy?

Government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

What is a theocracy?

Exist where the legal system of a state is based on religious law

What is a unitary government?

Has all powers held by a single central agency

What is a confederate government?

alliance of independent states

What is federal government?

One in which the powers of the government are divided between central government and several local governments. Division of power on geographical basis.

What is the free enterprise system?

economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods investments that are determined by private decision, rather than state control, and determined in a free market

How are the decisions in a free enterprise System determined?

by the law of supply and demand

What is a mixed economy?

in a comedy in which private enterprise exist in combination with considerable amount of government regulation and promotion.

What are the four things a state is defined by

population a state must have people. Territory a state must be comprised of land. sovereignty has supreme and absolute power within its territory, and decides its own foreign and domestic policies. Government every state has a government.

What is limited government?

Government should not be all powerful

What is representative government?

Government government that serves the well of the people

What are royal colonies?

ruled directly by English monarchy

what are preprietary colonies?

The king granted land to people in North America, who then formed proprietary colonies

What are charter colonies?

Mostly self governed, and their charters were granted to the colonist

What was a early attempt

New England Confederation, a confederation is joining several groups for a common purpose

What is the Albany plan?

proposed by Benjamin Franklin, in which an annual Congress of delegates ( representatives ) from each of the 13 colonies would be formed.

What is the stamp act Congress?

Group of colonies sent delegates to the stamp at Congress in New York. These delegates prepared the declaration of rights grievances against the British policies, and sent it to the king.

When was the declaration of independence adopted?

July 4, 1776 by the second continental Congress

What are common features of state constitutions?

popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights, and liberties and separation of powers/checks and balances

What was the articles of confederation?

Powers Congress was given the power to declare war deal with national finance, issues and cell disputes among the states. Obligations states promised to a big Congress and respect the law of the other states. Most other states were , retained by each state.

What were the weaknesses of the articles of confederation?

One vote for each state, regardless of size, Congress, powerless to lay and collect taxes, Congress, powerless to regulate interstate commerce, no executive to enforce acts of Congress, no national court system, amendment only with consent of all states, majority required to pass laws, articles only affirm league of friendship

What was the Virginia plan? (JAMES MADISON)

three separate branches of government, bicameral legislature, lower house, elected by popular vote representation, based on population upper house, chosen by house from state, legislators, national executive, and national judiciary

What was the New Jersey Plan (WILLIAM PATERSON)

change AOC not a complete revision, unicameral Congress, each state will have equal representation in Congress, Congress will have power attacks and regulate trade between states, more than one federal executive, federal judiciary.

What was the Connecticut compromise? (ROGER SHERMAN)

bicameral Congress, upper house with equal representation for states, lower house with representation proportionate to states population.

What was the 3/5 compromise

framers decided to count a slave as 3/5 of a person when determining the population of a state.

What was the commerce and slave trade compromise

Congress was forbidden from taxing exported goods and was not allowed to act on the slave trade for 20 years

What were some of the influences of the new constitution?

John Locke and second continental Congress, the articles of confederation and experiences with their own state governments

Who opposed the constitution?

George Mason

What did the federalist believe?

well, structured constitution, protect liberty and security of individuals, limited government, protection of individual liberties, constitution, offers remedies for weakness and government, federal government, directly deals with citizens, collect states, powerful chief executive.

what did anti-federalist believe?

republican government was the only form of government suited for the US because it requires active support of the people government with constitution is too distant, small republic, because it is more accountable to the people, no checks and balances, executive was too powerful,want a Bill of Rights.

What is a quorum?

Majority

What are the origins of the constitution?

English heritage/John locks influence natural rights, consent of the governed, limited government. The conservative revolution restored rights. The colonist felt they lost..

What was Shays rebellion?

A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by revolutionary war, captain, Daniel Shays to block foreclosure, proceedings.

What was the Philadelphia convention?

REJECT AOC and create constitution

What is the Madisonian model?

limiting majority control, separating powers, checks, and federal system.

What is the Bill of Rights?

first 10 amendments to the US Constitution drafted in response to some of the anti-federalist concerns about the lack of basic liberties.

What were the federalist papers?

Collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John J and James Madison to defend the constitution

What is limited government?

Government is not all powerful

What is separation of powers?

Powers are divided into three different independent branches

What is federalism?

System where power is divided between national and state governments

What is popular sovereignty?

Power is derived from the people

What is judicial review?

Power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of government action

What is article one of the constitution?

Congress

What is article 2 of the constitution?

Executive

What is article 3 of the constitution?

Judicial Branch

What is article 4 of the constitution?

Relations among states

What is article 5

Amendment Process

What is article 6

Debts, Supremacy, Oaths

What is article 7

Ratification of constitution

What principles were taken from the Magna Carta?

property cannot be taken without consent of owner, no taxes, levied, without consent of parliament, no "Freeman in prison without judgment of his peers"

What principles were taken from the English Bill of Rights

Taxes only raised with consent of parliament, right to petition the king, right to raise and army, right to bear arms, excessive bail, free speech

What principles were taken from the Virginia declaration of right?

separation of government, right to demand, cause a nature of accusations, no deprivation of life or liberty, except by judgment of peers, speedy trial, Habeas corpus (no unlawful imprisonment), no unreasonable, search and seizure, no cruel and unusual punishment, no excessive bail or fines, right to petition freedoms of speech, right to bear arms, no double jeopardy, free religion

What did Thomas Hobbs believe?

he was under limited monarchy, he thinks men are gradient selfish, he thinks the necessity of government is to keep order and avoid chaos, authoritarian is best need for need for strong, central government to maintain security, social contract idea, people give up personal rights to be protected by ruler. MAIN CONTRIBUTION IS SOCIAL CONTRACT

What did John Locke believe?

He was under a limited monarchy in England man is made for good or evil by environment. Government is meant to protect natural rights of citizen, life, liberty and property, consent of governed, social contract, give up some freedom for protection of natural rights, major contributor declaration constitution fifth and 14th amendment.

Who was Baron de Montesquieu

Man, influenced by environment, government is meant to protect people, separation of power, three branches, checks and balances main contribution structure of our government

what was the contribution of Jean Jacques Rousseau

Good at birth, corrupted by society government is meant to keep order surrender individual well to general will of the people supreme authority rest with general will government is an agent of people so people can revolt, major contribution, decision-making, revolution, power from people

What are the advantages to having federalism?

Increasing citizen, access to government, local problems can be solved locally, more local input into solving problems

What are the disadvantages to federalism?

Local interest can counteract national interest too many levels of government too much money states have different levels of service

What are the expressed powers of the national government?

Tax coin, money, regulate trade, and declare war and grant patents

What are the implied powers of the national government? These are not written in the constitution, but reasonably suggested

The elastic clause, build dams, highways, and roads determine crimes

What are the inherent powers of the national government?

These are not written in the constitution, but belong to national governments. Regulate immigration, grant, diplomatic, recognition to nations, protect the nation.

What powers are denied to national government

Expressly denied infringe on rights. Silence and constitution only has delegated powers. Denied in federal system can't tax states.

What are the powers reserved for the states?

Not granted to federal, but not denied to states. Legal marriage age, drinking age, professional, license, confiscate property.

What powers are denied to states

Make treaties print money, deny rights to citizens

What powers are concurrent

Collect taxes, defined crimes, condemn, or take private property for public use

What powers are denied to both

Violate rights of citizens

What is the supremacy clause?

The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land

What is dual federalism?

Both states and national government remain supreme within their own spears, each responsible for some policies think of a layered cake

What is cooperative federalism?

intertwined relationship among national state and local governments that moved power from the state government to the national government. (think of marble cake)

What is fiscal federalism?

The pattern of spending taxing and providing grants in the federal system

What are category grants?

Specific purposes, they have strings attached

what are project grants?

Based on merit

What are formula grants

I'm out varies based on formulas may depend on size of program or

What are block grants?

Support broad programs, some strings attached

What are the mandates of the federal government?

Compulsory laws/regulations passed by Congress

What are funded mandates?

Provide money to help defray cost

What are unfunded mandates?

Requirements on state and local governments but no money

What are underfunded mandates?

some money, but not enough to carry out programs so there's a cost to states

How many people are in the Senate

100 (2 per state)

How many people are in the House of Representatives?

435

What was the enlightenment?

European intellectual movement, emphasizing reason, and individualism rather than tradition

What is the first amendment?

freedom of speech

What is the second amendment?

Right to bear arms

What is the fourth amendment?

searches and seizures

What is the fifth amendment?

Right to remain silent

What is the sixth amendment?

Right to a speedy trial

What is the seventh amendment?

Right to trial by jury

What is the eighth amendment?

No cruel or unusual punishment

What is the ninth amendment?

rights of people are not denied

What is policy?

a definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives that provide conditions to guide and determine present and future actions

What is government?

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies