American Government Exam 1 Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering American Government Exam 1 Review topics based directly on the lecture notes.

Who is the father of the Constitution?

James Madison

What is the definition of limited government?

The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and ability to deprive people of their liberty

What was the first type of government in America?

Monarchy

What were key elements of the Articles of Confederation?

Unicameral legislature; each state got one vote in Congress, all states had to approve amendments, federal government was below the states, no ability to raise an army, no power to tax, no strong central government, no president/independent federal executive

True or False: The Articles of Confederation were easy to amend.

False

What was the Virginia Plan?

Large state plan for electing members of the House and Senate based on population size

What was the New Jersey Plan?

Unicameral, small state plan where each state gets one vote, and provides for Congress to regulate commerce

Describe the Great Compromise.

Bicameral legislature, House based on population, Senate based on equal representation

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise a response to?

Response to conflict over slavery

Who ratified the Constitution?

The states

Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers?

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

What influential book was written by Plato?

The Republic

Which documents explained the ideas of the Constitution and urged its ratification?

The Federalist Papers

Where is the Bill of Rights found in the Constitution?

The first 10 amendments

Which European philosopher is associated with the concept of natural inalienable rights of life, liberty, and property?

John Locke

With whom is the origin of the concept of separation of powers associated?

Montesquieu

Judicial review is the power of the courts to do what?

Declare laws unconstitutional

What are some of the benefits of a federalist system?

Management of conflict, innovation, participation, and efficiency

What are examples of checks and balances?

Senate approval, veto, judicial review, and impeachment

For Plato and Aristotle, what was the great risk of democratic government?

Tyranny of the majority

What does sovereignty refer to?

Supreme political authority

Public education is the responsibility of which level of government?

State and local governments

What is an example of a national-only power?

To declare war

What is an example of a concurrent power?

Taxation

What are the four essential elements of a state?

Sovereignty, territory, permanence, and population

What were examples of arguments in favor of federalism during the time of writing the Constitution?

Provide a stronger national government, protect liberty, limit power of the government, and less likely to produce conflict

The federal government's power to coin money, regulate commerce, and declare war are examples of what type of powers?

Enumerated powers

What is the definition of federalism?

When power is divided between national and state governments

Which clause is closest related to implied powers?

Necessary and proper clause

Which kind of federalism is described by the statement "a precise separation of national and state authority is possible and desirable"?

Dual federalism

What is devolution?

Passing authority from national government to state and local levels

Under the U.S. Constitution, who selects presidents?

Electoral College

Powers not granted to the national government nor denied to the states belong to whom?

Reserved for the states and the people

Which phrase describes our form of government in the U.S.?

Constitutional democracy

Cooperative federalism is represented by which kind of cake?

Marble cake

How many foundational branches of government are described by the Constitution?

Three

What were problems with the Articles of Confederation?

Weak central government, rigid structure, inability to raise an army, inability to tax, single governing body

What is the definition of political culture?

People's shared beliefs and attitudes about politics and government

Which level of government held sovereignty during the Articles of Confederation?

The states

True or False: The Constitution is more dynamic than the Articles of Confederation.

True

What are the four core values of American political culture?

Liberty, individualism, equality, self-government

In the U.S. federal government, which level is supreme?

Federal

Which amendment in the Constitution reserves powers to the states or people if they are not delegated to the U.S. nor prohibited to the states?

10th Amendment

According to John Locke, when is it okay to revolt?

When the government violates your natural rights to life, liberty, and property

Unalienable rights as described in the Declaration are freedoms each person has that cannot be what?

Cannot be taken away by the government

What are the three forms of government described by Aristotle in Politics?

The one, the many, the few

Which branch of government does Article 1 describe?

The legislature

Which two words describe the change from the Articles to the Constitution?

Confederal to federal

What is described by Article 2?

Federal branch

What is the historic trend in federalism?

It has become stronger/continuously expanded