Shared Flashcard Set

Details

American Government
Foundations, Principles, Origins, Constitution, and Federalism for PIB American Government
45
Other
9th Grade
10/16/2010

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Government
Definition
Institution through which society makes and enforces its public policies
Term
Public Policies
Definition
All the things a government decides to do
Term
Legislative powers
Definition
Power to make laws and frame public policies
Term
Executive powers
Definition
Power to execute, enforce and administer laws
Term
Judicial power
Definition
Power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes that arise
Term
Dictatorship
Definition
Government where powers of government are held with a person or small group
Term
Democracy
Definition
Where powers of government are held with the people
Term
State
Definition
A body of people living within a defined territory with a government which has the supreme power of the territory
Term
4 Parts of State
Definition
  1. Population
  2. Territory
  3. Sovereignty
  4. Government
Term
Sovereignty
Definition
Supreme power
Term
4 Theories of the State
Definition
  1. Force Theory
  2. Evolutionary Theory
  3. Divine Right Theory
  4. Social Contract Theory
Term
Force Theory
Definition
Theory of a state that says a group of people came and took over the area by force and gained population, territory, sovereignty, and a government
Term
Evolutionary Theory
Definition
Theory of a state where the eldest male in the family becomes ruler and family gets bigger and bigger until it is a big group and they settle down once they find agriculture
Term
Divine Right Theory
Definition
Theory of state where someone gets a "vision" of God to be king and sets up a royal bloodline
Term
Social Contract Theory
Definition
Theory of State that says people voluntarily gave power to a government which is stated in a constitution
Term
Constitution
Definition
Body of fundamental laws setting out prinicples structures and processes of a government
Term
6 Purposes of Government
Definition
  1. Form a more Perfect Union
  2. Establish Justice
  3. Insure Domestic Tranquility
  4. Provide for a Comon Defense
  5. Promote the General Welfare
  6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Term
Form a More Perfect Union
Definition
To improve upon laws as they become obsolete
Term
Establish Justice
Definition
Have the law fair, impartial, and reasonable
Term
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Definition
Protect us from others like during riots with the police
Term
Provide for the Common Defense
Definition
Have a strong militia to protect us from other nations and threats
Term
Promote the General Welfare
Definition
Create a higher standard of living
Term
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Definition
Protect freedom
Term
How Governments are classified
Definition
  1. Who can participate in them
  2. Geographical Distribution of Power
  3. Relationship with Legislative and Executive Branches
Term
Who Can Participate
Definition
Can be split into Dictatorship or Democracy
Term
Geographical Distribution of Power
Definition
Can be Unitary, Federal, Confederate
Term
Unitary Government
Definition
Where all power is held with a single government but smaller governments can be made to ease the work of the central agency
Term
Federal Government
Definition
Where there are two distinct governments where one cannot do the same thing as the other government
Term
Confederate Government
Definition
Where there are many sovereign states that come together to create a bond or alliance with each other. The central government there is usually weak and works on trade between the states.
Term
Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branch
Definition
Can be presidential or parliamentary government
Term
Presidential Government
Definition
Executive Branch is chosen separately from Legislative Branch
Term
Parliamentary Government
Definition
Executive Branch is chosen within Legislative Branch
Term
5 Foundations of Democracy
Definition
  1. Worth of the Individual
  2. Equality of all Persons
  3. Majority Rules, Minority Rights
  4. Individual Freedom
  5. Necessity of Compromise
Term
Worth of the Individual
Definition
Everyones ideas are important, but they are not as important as the ideas of the community
Term
Equality of all Persons
Definition
Equality of Opportunity and Equality in front of the law, not equality of worldly possessions
Term
Majority Rules, Minority Rights
Definition
The vote of the majority is the ruling law, but the minority can criticize
Term
Necessity of Compromise
Definition
To compromise between two conflicting views
Term
Individual Freedom
Definition
Freedom to do anythign unless it takes the freedom from someone else
Term
Basic Concepts of Government
Definition
  1. Ordered Government
  2. Limited Government
  3. Representative Government
Term
Magna Carta
Definition
First document to limit King's power, signed in 1215 by King John at Runnymede
Term
Petition of Rights
Definition
Signed by Charles I when he asked for more money, signed in 1628
Term
The English Bill of Rights
Definition
Signed by William and Mary of Orange before they took the throne in 1688 to limit power for all future monarchs
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
Document before Constitution, had many weaknesses, created "firm league of friendship"
Term
Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Definition
  1. One vote per State
  2. No taxes
  3. No regulation for commerce
  4. No executive branch
  5. No judicial branch
  6. Creates a firm league of friendship
Term
Framers
Definition
Group of delegates that attended the Philadelphia Convention
Supporting users have an ad free experience!