Gov Unit 1 flashcards

Rousseau's Theories

  • Ultimate Decision Maker: Emphasizes popular sovereignty, where the people are the primary authority in governance rather than a select elite.
  • Challenge to Traditional Structures: Advocates for egalitarian and participatory principles in both society and education.
  • Modern Influence: Continues to shape debates on democracy, education, and human nature.

U.S. Government Structure

  • Nation vs. State Governments: The U.S. Constitution serves as the national framework, focusing on issues related to the national government.
    • House of Representatives: Members are elected, directly reflecting popular sovereignty.
    • Senate: Senators historically appointed by state legislatures.

Montesquieu's Contributions

  • Separation of Powers: Divides government authority among three branches to prevent concentration of power.
    • Core Responsibilities: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.
    • Judicial Review: Established in Marbury v. Madison, courts can interpret laws and actions.

Philosophical Perspectives on Government

  • Hobbes vs. Locke:
    • Hobbes: Views the state of nature as chaotic and insecure.
    • Locke: Believes in a peaceful state governed by natural law, emphasizing reason and inherent rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).

Necessity of Revolution According to Jefferson

  • Declaration Context: Revolution is justified when existing governments fail to address people's grievances.
  • Key Date: Declaration of Independence ratified on July 4, 1776.

Elite vs. Pluralist Theories

  • Elite Theory: Power concentrated among a small elite.
  • Pluralist Theory: Power distributed among various groups; the public can influence politics through interest groups.

Constitutional Convention Decisions

  • Voting Qualifications: Left to states reflecting state sovereignty concerns.
  • Interstate Commerce: Regulated by Congress under the Commerce Clause to manage economic activities crossing state lines.

Amendment Process

  1. By Congress: Propose amendments with a 2/3 majority in both houses.
  2. By Constitutional Convention: Convened at the request of 2/3 of state legislatures (never used).
  3. Ratification: Requires 3/4 of state legislatures for adoption.

Powers of Government

  • 10th Amendment: States or the people retain powers not delegated to the federal government.
  • Expressed, Implied, Concurrent Powers: Distinction between what is directly stated in the Constitution vs. powers necessary to implement those expressed.

Foundations of American Democracy

  • Democratic Ideals: Reflected in the Declaration and Constitution promoting limited government and individual rights.
  • Representation Models: Illustrate how different democratic systems function—participatory, pluralist, and elite.

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Perspectives

  • Federalists: Advocated for a strong central government; cited Federalist #10 to advocate for managing diverse interests.
  • Anti-Federalists: Warned against centralization of power, as expressed in Brutus #1.

Compromises of the Constitutional Convention

  • Great (Connecticut) Compromise: Established a bicameral legislature incorporating both population representation and equal state representation.
  • Electoral College: Balances influence between large and small states in presidential elections.
  • Three-Fifths Compromise: Determined how enslaved individuals are counted for representation and taxation purposes.

Constitutional Principles

  • Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has mechanisms to check others to prevent overreach.
  • Separation of Powers: Divides responsibilities to avoid concentration of power.
  • Federalism: Dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments.

Evolution of Federal Power

  • Changes in power dynamics influenced by societal needs, including changes to the interpretation of the 10th and 14th Amendments and the Commerce Clause.

Modern Policy-Making Examples

  • Political Controversies: Addressing issues such as immigration, health care, and elections reflects checks and balances and responses to societal needs.
  • Contemporary Federalism Challenges: Issues like marijuana legalization highlight discrepancies between state and federal laws.

Key Amendments and Their Implications

  • Bill of Rights: Added to address Anti-Federalist concerns about personal liberties and limits on government authority.