civics final

Key Terms and Definitions

Free Enterprise:

An economic system where private businesses operate in competition and largely free of state control.

Divine Right:

The doctrine that kings and queens have a God-given right to rule and that rebellion against them is a sin.

Evolutionary Theory:

The theory that the state evolved from the family, with clans and tribes organizing over time into larger, more complex forms of government.

John Locke:

An Enlightenment thinker who believed in natural rights (life, liberty, and property) and that governments exist to protect these rights. His ideas influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Types of Government

Anarchy:

The absence of any form of government or political authority.

Dictatorship:

A form of government where one person or a small group wields absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.

Monarchy:

A government ruled by a king or queen, where the position is often inherited.

Oligarchy:

A form of government where a small group of people hold all the power, often based on wealth, family ties, or military control.

Fascism:

A far-right, authoritarian government system that prioritizes the nation or race above individuals and often involves dictatorial power and oppression.

Totalitarianism:

A system where the government controls nearly every aspect of public and private life.

Democracy vs. Republic

Democracy:

A system of government where the people have the power to make decisions directly or through elected representatives.

Republic/Representative Government:

A type of democracy where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, bound by a constitution or legal framework.

Economic Systems

Capitalism:

An economic system where trade, industry, and production are privately owned and operated for profit.

Communism:

A political and economic system where the government owns all property and resources, aiming for a classless society.

Socialism:

An economic system where the government or the community as a whole owns and controls major industries while allowing private ownership in smaller sectors.

Unalienable Rights:

Fundamental rights that cannot be taken away or denied, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Due Process:

The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, ensuring fair treatment in the judicial process.

Plans for Representation

New Jersey Plan:

A proposal for equal representation in Congress regardless of state size, favoring small states.

Virginia Plan:

A proposal for representation based on population, favoring larger states.

Slavery in America:

Slavery arrived in America in 1619 when enslaved Africans were brought to Jamestown. It officially ended with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865.

Key Documents and Events

Magna Carta:

A 1215 document that limited the powers of the king and established the principle of the rule of law.

Intolerable Acts:

A series of punitive laws passed by Britain in 1774 to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party.

Articles of Confederation:

The first constitution of the U.S., which established a weak central government and was replaced by the current Constitution in 1789.

Constitutional Convention (1787):

The meeting in Philadelphia where delegates drafted the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Rule of Law:

The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to the law, which is fairly applied and enforced.

Treaty:

A formal agreement between two or more nations.

Judicial Review:

The power of the courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Congress

House of Representatives:

435 members based on state population; serve 2-year terms.

Senate:

100 members (2 per state); serve 6-year terms.

Impeachment:

The process by which a government official is charged with misconduct.

Perjury:

Lying under oath.

Cerritos Representative:

Currently check for your district representative online using location-based resources.

Powers of Government

Congress’s General Power:

Create laws, regulate commerce, declare war, and control the budget.

President and Vice President’s General Power:

Enforce laws, conduct foreign policy, and act as Commander-in-Chief of the military.

Judicial Branch’s General Power:

Interpret laws and ensure they align with the Constitution.

Bill of Rights (First 10 Amendments)

1. Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

2. Right to bear arms.

3. No forced quartering of soldiers.

4. Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5. Right to due process and protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.

6. Right to a speedy and public trial.

7. Right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8. No cruel or unusual punishment.

9. Rights not listed in the Constitution are retained by the people.

10. Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.

13th Amendment:

Abolished slavery in the U.S.

14th Amendment:

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection under the law.

19th Amendment:

Granted women the right to vote.

# of Supreme Court Justices:

There are 9 justices on the Supreme Court.

Court-Martial:

A military court for trying members of the armed forces.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists:

Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution; Anti-Federalists wanted stronger state governments and opposed the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

Plaintiff:

The person who brings a case to court.

Defendant:

The person or entity being accused or sued in court.