Unit 1 PoliSci History

liberal

liberal

rights of the individual/liberties, limited government intervention in the economy, and a focus on human rights and equality under the law

government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all (ex. richness)

government should be active in supporting social and political change

conservative

promote and to preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. limited government involvement in people’s lives, and a cautious approach to social and economic change

seek to preserve a range of institutions such as religion, parliamentary government, and property rights, with the aim of emphasizing social stability and continuity.

libertarian

seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state's encroachment on and violations of individual liberties (little government control)

statist/authoritarian

highly concentrated and centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force (limited individual freedom)

centrist

political outlook or position involving acceptance or support of a balance of social equality and a degree of social hierarchy while opposing political changes that would result in a significant shift of society strongly to the left or the right

liberals; conservatives

Demeanor:

_____ are considered relaxed. _____ are considered serious or professional.

liberals; conservatives

______ are more likely atheist or don't affiliate with any religion at all. ________ are more likely to have religious beliefs.

abortion: liberals

believes a woman has the right to decide what happens with her body. A fetus is not a human life, so it does not have separate individual rights.

abortion: conservatives

believes human life begins at conception. Abortion is the murder of a human being.

death penalty: liberals

death penalty should be abolished. It is inhumane and is 'cruel and unusual' punishment

death penalty: conservatives

death penalty is a punishment that fits the crime of murder; it is neither 'cruel' nor 'unusual.'

constitution

the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people in it

popular sovereignty

government based on consent of the people

government's source of authority is the people, and its power is not legitimate if it disregards the will of the people

“we the people”

republicanism

one in which citizens choose their representatives and leaders through free elections

emphasizes the participation of citizens for the common good of the community

limited government

government only has those powers delegated to it by law, often through a written constitution

the government is not above the law

federalism

the constitutional division of power between the US state governments and the national government

• national and state

reserved powers

power of the states

• 10th amendment

• creating school systems, overseeing state courts, creating public safety systems, managing business and trade within the state, and managing local government

concurrent powers

powers that are shared by both the federal government and state governments

• setting up courts, levying taxes, and spending and borrowing money, building roads

enumerated powers

The powers specifically listed in the US Constitution that are granted to the national government

• especially the congress

• collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war

separation of powers

division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another

legislative branch

• Who: congress (the Senate and House of Representatives), special agencies, and offices that provide support services to congress

• What: Drafting proposed laws. Confirming or rejecting presidential nominations for heads of federal agencies, federal judges, and the Supreme Court. Having the authority to declare war

• Where: Capitol

• Why: it is the only part of the government that can make new laws or change existing laws

executive branch

• Who: President, Vice President, Cabinet

• What: To enforce laws (veto or sign into)

• Where: White House

• Why: in charge of making sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed

judicial branch

• Who: Supreme Court and other federal courts

• What: Interprets the meaning of laws, applies laws to individual cases, and decides if laws violate the Constitution

• Where: Highest Court (Supreme Court building)

• Why: decides the constitutionality of federal laws and resolves other disputes about federal laws

electoral college

a body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice president; process of indirectly electing the US president and VP

government

system of rules and institutions set up to allow people to function together as a unified society

politics

how power is distributed in a government

political spectrum

system to classify different ideas, going from extreme to moderate (center) to another extreme

anarchism

an ideology that advocates for a society without centralized government or authority, where individuals and communities self govern and make decisions collectively

communism

a system where all resources and means of production are owned and controlled collectively, aiming for a classless society with equal distribution of wealth and resources

socialism

an ideology that promotes government ownership or regulation of key industries and services, with the goal of reducing inequality and ensuring social welfare

monarchism

a system of government where a monarch holds significant power, often as a ceremonial or symbolic head of the state, with authority passed down through hereditary succession

nazism

an extreme far right ideology associated with Hitler and Nazi Germany. Complete government control, extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-Semetism

fascism

a far right ideology emphasizing authoritarian government control, nationalism, and often involving suppression of dissent and opposition, often marked by a charismatic leader

Checks and Balances

no one branch has more power than any other. each branch cannot make a major decision without the consent of at least one other branch

• Legislative: makes laws

  • Executive - President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto

  • Judicial - can declare those laws unconstitutional

• Executive:

  • Legislative - can override veto with enough votes. Also has the power to approve Presidential nominations, control the budget, and can impeach the President and remove him or her from office

  • Judicial - can declare presidential acts as unconstitutional. reviews executive orders

• Judicial:

  • Executive - can nominate new judges

  • Legislative - can impeach judges. senate approves president’s court appointments

impeachment

to bring formal charges against a public official

individual rights

the fundamental rights guaranteed by a government so that every individual citizen can live a free and equitable life

bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the constitution; included to guarantee core individual rights

amendment

a change or addition to the terms of a contract or document

due processing

government must follow procedures established and guarantee equal protection of the law for all people, especially those accused of a crime

gerrymandering

manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class

declaration of independence

announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain

the official breakup letter from britain

natural rights

The rights that everyone has just because they were born: life, liberty, and property

rule of law

all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders

senate

• 100 elected members (2 from each state)

• Requirements: must be 30 years old, lived in the US for 9 years, and must live in the state they will represent

• serves 6 year terms

• 1/3 of senate up for re-election every year

• elected by the people

• can approve presidential appointments and treaties

house of representatives

• 435 elected officials

• each state is given a number of congressmen determined by their total population

• requirements: must be 25, lived in US for 7 years, live in state they will represent

• serves 2 year terms

• up for re-election every 2 years

• elected by the people

• can initiate tax laws, spending bills, impeachment of a president or other gov’t officials

• casts the deciding vote

speaker of the house

leader of the U.S. House of Representatives

• administers the oath of office to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, giving Members permission to speak on the House floor, designating Members to serve as Speaker pro tempore, counting and declaring all votes, appointing Members to committees, sending bills to committees, and signing bills and resolutions that pass in the House

voting

must be 18

packing

putting opposing party into one district in gerrymandering

cracking

separating opposing party into different districts

435

number of officials in the house of representatives