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Civics Unit 1 Study Guide
The Influences and Foundations of Democracy Study Guide
Directions: Please answer the following questions. Use your assignments/resources.
Do not rely on Google Searches.
ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED IN A BOLD, DIFFERENT COLOR
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- Vocabulary. Know all of your vocabulary words for this unit
(you do not need to redefine them for the study guide)
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- Enlightenment Thinkers
- What is political philosophy?
- Study focused on the government and thinking.
- Who was John Locke? Political philosopher that wrote Two Treatises of Government.
- Why was he important? Is the first to mention natural rights.
- Explain Lockes’ beliefs that influenced the Founders. The right to life and property. Religious freedom and freedom of speech. Government should protect rights.
- Who was Thomas Hobbes? Wrote Leviathan
- Why was he important? Unbreakable social contract
- Explain Hobbes’ beliefs that influenced the Founders. Give up some freedoms for protection.
- Who was Charles Montesquieu? Wrote The Spirit of the Law
- Why was he important? Cheeks and balances
- Explain Montesquieus’ beliefs that influenced the Founders. The 3 branches of government, executive, legislative, judicial.
- Who was Jean Rousseau? Wrote The Social Contract
- Why was he important? Power to the people
- Explain Rousseaus’ beliefs that influenced the Founders. Obligation to change government if bad.
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- Types of Government
- Why do we need a government? Without government there would be a constant state of fear and people would fight each other.
- Describe an autocracy. A type of government where one person has all the power.
- Describe a monarchy. An autocratic government where one person is in charge and it is hereditary .
- Describe a dictatorship. A dictator rules and has absolute power.
- Which philosopher's ideas most align with autocracy as a form of government? Why? Thomas Hobbes, because he believes in giving up all rights to one ruler.
- Describe a democracy.
- What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy? In direct everyone votes and brings up issues in indirect there are representatives that the people elect, the reps will then vote and discuss issues.
- Which philosopher's ideas most align with this form of government? Why?
- Describe an oligarchy Country run by a wealthy, influential group of people.
- Describe a junta.
- Describe a theocracy.
- Describe anarchy**.**
- What type of government do we have in the United States? Representative Democracy
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- Structure of US Government
- Where is the structure of government written? U.S constitution
- How did Montesquieu influence the structure of the US government?
- What are the three branches of the US government? Legislative, Executive, Judicial.
- What does the legislative branch do? Make laws.
- What are some powers of the legislative branch that “check” the powers of other branches? (Provide at least one example for each branch).
- How many people are in the House of Representatives? How long is their term? 435
- How many people are in the Senate? 100 How long is their term? 6 years
- What determines the number of representatives each state receives in the House of Representatives and the Senate? States get representatives based on how many people live there, senators are 2 per state.
- What does the executive branch do? The executive branch makes sure the laws are executed.
- What are some powers of the executive branch that “check” the powers of other branches? (Provide at least one example for each branch)
- What is the presidential cabinet? What do they do? Group of executives in the government that advice the president + vice pres
- What does the judicial branch do? Upholds the law.
- What are some powers of the judicial branch that “check” the powers of other branches? (Provide at least one example for each branch)
- How many justices are in the Supreme Court? 9
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- Greek and Roman Influence
- What is the type of the government that the Athenians used? republic
- Why did this system work well in Greece? Democracy
- Describe the government structure of Athens.
- How did the “People Court” if Athens influence the United States?
- What is the type of the government the Romans used?
- Explain the “separation of powers” in Rome.
- What are examples of representative government in Rome?
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- Open Response
Be prepared to write a well developed paragraph (8-10 sentences) citing key
ideas from our class readings, notes, and activities.
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Prompt: Pick one of the political philosophers we studied this unit(Locke, Rousseau, or Montesquieu) and discuss how their philosophy influenced the founding document(s) of the United States.
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