PoliSci Quiz 1

Thomas Hobbes

Government’s purpose is to prevent chaos and provide order/security. He argued for a strong central authority to avoid the brutish nature of humanity.

Hobbes — Leviathan

People need a strong government because without enough authority society can fall into conflict and disorder.He believed that in a state of nature, individuals would act in their self-interest, leading to a "war of all against all."

John Locke

A philosopher who advocated for natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. He believed government should be a social contract protecting these rights, with the people's consent as its base.

Locke’s Natural Rights

Life, liberty, and property. These are fundamental rights that every individual has, which the government must protect. Locke argued that any government failing to uphold these rights loses its legitimacy.

Locke — Purpose of Government

To protect natural rights and maintain social order through the consent of the governed.

Legitimate government requires the consent of the governed.

If government violates people’s rights and becomes tyrannical, the people may replace it.

Montesquieu

A political philosopher known for the theory of separation of powers, which advocates dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one group from gaining too much power.

Power should check power through separation of powers.

Separation of Powers

Government power is divided among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

Each part of government has powers that can limit the other parts.This system ensures that no single branch becomes too powerful, promoting accountability and preventing abuse of power.

Declaration of Independence

A document adopted on July 4, 1776, that announced the thirteen American colonies' intention to separate from British rule, outlining grievances against King George III and the principles of individual liberty.

States principles of natural rights, equality, consent, and the right to alter or abolish destructive government.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, ratified in 1781, which established a weak federal government and was eventually replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

America’s first national governing system; created a very weak national government.

Major weakness of Articles

National government could not effectively tax, regulate commerce, or enforce its decisions.It lacked a strong executive branch and could not maintain a standing army, which limited its ability to perform essential functions.

Strengths of Articles

Established framework for government, handled western land expansion, and negotiated the Treaty of Paris.

Could conduct war, make peace, and establish treaties.

Shays’ Rebellion

A series of protests in 1786-1787 by American farmers against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt, revealing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Abigail Adams

Wife of John Adams and an early advocate for women's rights, known for her letters that emphasized the need for women's inclusion in the new nation's legal and political frameworks.

“Remember the ladies”

John Adams

Did not support the kind of political equality Abigail Adams was requesting and favored the existing system.

Frederick Douglass

Former enslaved African American, renowned abolitionist and orator, advocating for equality and civil rights in the 19th century. Argued that slavery contradicted America’s claims of liberty and equality.

Douglass exposes the hypocrisy of celebrating American freedom while slavery still exists.

Federalists

Political group that advocated for a strong central government and supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, favoring a loose interpretation of its principles.

Anti-Federalists

Political faction that opposed the Federalists, advocating for states' rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. They were concerned about the potential for federal overreach and the lack of a Bill of Rights.

Federalist No. 8

An essay by Alexander Hamilton that argues for the necessity of a strong federal government to maintain national unity and prevent internal conflicts, addressing the concerns of potential civil unrest.

Hamilton argues that disunion could cause conflict between states and encourage standing armies; union provides greater security.

Alexander Hamilton

Federalist who supported a stronger union and national government.

Federalist No. 51

An essay by James Madison that addresses the need for checks and balances in government. It argues that each branch should be independent to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

James Madison

Federalist associated with controlling factions and designing checks and balances.

Double Security

Liberty is protected by dividing power between federal/state governments and among branches of the federal government.

Brutus I

An essay that argues against the Constitution, emphasizing the danger of a large federal government to individual liberties and advocating for state sovereignty.

Brutus

Anti-Federalist writer concerned about centralized federal power.

Federalist No. 10

Madison argues factions are inevitable and a large republic is best able to control their effects.

Faction

A group of citizens united by a shared interest that may conflict with the rights or interests of others.

Madison’s solution to factions

Do not eliminate factions; control their effects through a large republic and representative government.

Large Republic

Madison believed a large republic makes it harder for one faction to dominate because there are more competing interests.

Republic

Citizens choose representatives who govern for them.

Democracy

Political power ultimately comes from the people; your notes contrast this with a republic’s use of representatives.

Cato V

Anti-Federalist reading criticizing the proposed Constitution, especially concerns about executive power and representation.

A powerful, long-lasting executive could become too similar to monarchy.

The proposed legislature had too few representatives and could become disconnected from the people.

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress: House based on population and Senate with equal state representation.This compromise balanced the interests of both populous and smaller states during the Constitutional Convention, ensuring fair representation.

Virginia Plan

Favored larger states because representation would be based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Favored smaller states because states would have equal representation.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the United States Congress, consisting of representatives elected based on each state's population, allowing for more populous states to have greater influence.

Senate

The upper chamber of the United States Congress, composed of two representatives from each state, ensuring equal influence regardless of population.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A constitutional agreement reached in 1787 that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and taxation, thereby benefiting southern states with larger enslaved populations.

Electoral College

A body established by the Constitution that formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States, consisting of electors from each state based on its congressional representation.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its constitutional powers.

Supremacy Clause

The Constitution and valid federal laws take priority over conflicting state laws.

Constitution

The supreme law of the United States that outlines the framework of government, delineating powers, rights, and responsibilities.

Karl Popper

Associated in your notes with the idea that tolerance has limits. Unlimited tolerance can allow intolerant forces to destroy tolerance itself.Popper argued that a society should be tolerant of all beliefs except those that are intolerant, as they can undermine the fabric of a tolerant society.

Jonathan Rauch

Defends broad freedom of expression, including protection for offensive or prejudiced speech.

Harmful or offensive ideas should generally be confronted through debate rather than government censorship.Rauch argues that protecting free speech is essential for a healthy democracy, emphasizing that engaging with offensive ideas fosters resilience and understanding in society.