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Government
Semester Exam
70
Other
12th Grade
12/11/2011

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Term
State
Definition
A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.
Term
Origin of the state (4 theories)
Definition
Force, evolved, Divine Right, social contract (Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau)
Term
Legislative Power
Definition
The power to make law and to frame public policies
Term
Executive Power
Definition
Power to execute, enforce and administer law
Term
Judicial Power
Definition
Power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society
Term
Hobbes
Definition
We are naturally bad, survival of the fittest, need order, and have a monarchy (give up liberties to be ruled by a king)
Term
Locke
Definition
We start as a blank slate and are changed by surroundings, citizens should agree with laws but are not negotiable, natural rights, parliamentary government
Term
Rousseau
Definition
Man is naturally good but corrupted by society, each person should remain free but life, liberty, and property should be protected, claims in ownership result in chaos, direct democracy
Term
Six purposes of government
Definition
Form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty
Term
Democracy vs. Dictatorship
Definition
A dictatorship consists of one person or a small group that have total control while in a democracy authority rests with the people
Term
Unitary Government
Definition
Central government is supreme and sate is governed as one single unit
Term
Federal government
Definition
The powers are divided between a central government and several local governments. Power is divided on a geographic basis
Term
Confederate government
Definition
An alliance of independent states where a central organization has the power to handle only those matters that the member states have assigned to it (limited powers)
Term
Presidential vs. Parliamentary
Definition
Presidential features a separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches of the government while parliamentary has an executive branch made up of members of the legislative branch
Term
Five basic notions of democracy
Definition
Worth of the individual, equality of all people, majority rule/minority rights, necessity of compromise, and individual freedom
Term
Politics vs. Government
Definition
Government is the institution that makes laws and politics influence the government
Term
Free enterprise system/Capitalism
Definition
An economic system characterized by private ownership unlike communism (collective state ownership) and socialism (equal distribution of wealth)
Term
Mixed economy
Definition
An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation
Term
Magna Carta
Definition
Protected life, liberty, and property from the king to avoid absolute power
Term
Petition of Right
Definition
Limited powers of the king: can't punish people unless it's by the law of the land and the king can't impose rule by the military in a time of peace (challenged divine rights of king)
Term
English Bill of Rights
Definition
Prohibited a standing army in peacetime, required all parliamentary elections to be free, and guaranteed the right to a fair trial.
Term
First and Second Continental Congress
Definition
Meetings of the delegates to discuss problems with Britain but Britain refused to compromise so the battles of Lexington and Concord broke out
Term
Declaration of Independence
Definition
Announced the independence of the US from Britain making the 13 colonies free and independent states
Term
State constitutions: commonalities
Definition
Popular sovereignty, limited government, civil rights & liberties, and separation of powers & checks and balances
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
Established a firm league of friendship between the states. Each state is sovereign and free but comes together for the common defense
Term
Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
Definition
Congress didn't have the power to tax or regulate trade between states and had limited power to make states obey the Articles or laws made
Term
Important sources of Constitution
Definition
Framers were familiar with government of ancient Rome and Greece, knew the political writings of their time, familiar with the Second Continental Congress and Articles of Confederation
Term
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Definition
Federalists stressed the weaknesses of the Articles and favored ratification while Anti-Federalists attacked almost every aspect of the new document and firmly opposed it
Term
The Six Basic Principles
Definition
Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks & balances, judicial review, and federalism
Term
Methods of amending the Constitution
Definition
1. Proposed by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress and ratified by 3/4 of state legislature.
2. Proposed by congress and ratified by conventions in 3/4 the states.
3. Proposed by a national convention called by congress at request of 2/3 state legislatures.
4. Proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in 3/4 of the states.
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
First ten amendments of the constitution
Term
Political Party
Definition
A group of persons who seek to control government through the winning of elections and the holding of public office
Term
Five functions of political parties
Definition
Nominating candidates, informing & activating supporters, the bonding agent function, governing, and acting as watchdog
Term
Two-party system
Definition
Two major political parties dominate politics
Term
Third parties
Definition
A political party without wide voter support in a country
Term
Reasons for a two-party system
Definition
Historical basis, force of tradition, electoral system, and the American ideological consensus
Term
Four types of minor parties
Definition
Ideological, economic protest, single issue, splinter party
Term
Importance of minor parties
Definition
Major parties take ideas from minor parties and a strong third party candidacy can play a decisive role in an election
Term
Frustrations of minor parties
Definition
Few supporters and overrun by major parties
Term
Factors that shape political ideology
Definition
How much change a person is willing to have within their society and government, how much government involvement in the economy a person desires, and how much government regulation of individual behavior a person desires
Term
Liberal
Definition
Peaceful gradual change, favor broad government involvement in economic policy and limited government regulation of individual behavior
Term
Conservative
Definition
Favor keeping things the way they are, the less government the better, limited government involvement in economic policy, and broad government regulation of individual behavior
Term
Authoritarian/Totalitarian
Definition
Favor broad government regulation of individual behavior and involvement in economic policy making and regulation of business
Term
Libertarian
Definition
Believe that each individual has the right to control his/her own body, action, speech, and property. Limited government in economic policy making and regulation of individual behavior
Term
Suffrage/Franchise
Definition
The right to vote
Term
Expansion of electorate (five stages)
Definition
1. No religious test for voting and elimination of property ownership and tax payment qualifications.
2. 15th amendment- protected the right to vote based on race and color.
3. 19th amendment- prohibited the denial of right to vote because of sex.
4. Voting Rights Act of 1965- racial equality, 23rd amendment- added voters of DC to presidential electorate, 24th amendment- eliminated poll tax.
5. 26th amendment- 18 and over have the right to vote.
Term
Universal voter requirements
Definition
1. Citizenship-must be a legal citizen
2. Residence-must be a legal resident on state in which you're voting for a certain amount of time
3. Age- 18 or older
Term
Historical voter requirements
Definition
literacy tests, poll tax, gerrymandering (drawing electoral district lines in order to limit the voting strength of a party)
Term
Civil Rights Legislation
Definition
Inquire into claims of voter discrimination and report their findings to Congress and the President, and to the public through media.
Term
Injunction
Definition
A court order that either compels (forces) or restrains (limits) the performance of some act by a private individual or by a public official
Term
Preclearance
Definition
Mandated by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the prior approval by the Justice Department of changes to or new election laws by certain states.
Term
Why people don't vote
Definition
Cannot vote due to illness, mental state, or physical disability, feel it makes no difference, don't trust political institutions, long lines, inconvenient registration, time-zone fallout, lack of interest
Term
Ways to address non-voting
Definition
Easier registration, more voting locations, teach younger generations the importance of voting
Term
Sociological factors influencing voting
Definition
Income/occupation, education, gender/age, religious and ethnic background, geography, family influence, mass media, and key events in lifetime
Term
Psychological factors influencing voting
Definition
1. Party identification- most people always vote either Democrat or Republican in every election.
2. Candidates and issues- impression of the candidates and their views of specific issues
Term
*US v. Lopez
Definition
1995- Lopez took a gun to school but won because of the reserved powers in the 10th amendment. Federal Gov't power was held in check.
Term
*Gibbons v. Ogden
Definition
1824- Gibbons won because he had a federal coasting license which reflected commerce more so than Ogden's license. This broadened the definition of commerce and increased power of Federal Gov't
Term
*Heart of Atlanta Motel V. US
Definition
1964- Owner refused to serve African Americans but US won because commerce clause applied to customers in hotel. This increased power of Federal Gov't
Term
*McCulloch V. Maryland
Definition
1819- This was the first time testing the elastic clause. McCulloch won and gained power for the Federal Gov't.
Term
*South Dakota v. Dole
Definition
1987- Dole won because of tax and spending for general welfare which gained federal power.
Term
*Commerce Clause
Definition
Congress has the power to regulate trade with other nations and among the states
Term
*Elastic Clause
Definition
Congress has the power to make laws that are necessary and proper to carryout the powers vested in them by the constitution
Term
*10th Amendment
Definition
Powers not given to the US, nor prohibited to the States are reserved for the States.
Term
*Taxing and Spending for the General Welfare
Definition
Congress has the power to lay and collect taxes as long as they are uniform throughout the US
Term
*Popular Sovereignty
Definition
Constitution requires that all the power resides with the people. EX: The people vote for congress and senate members.
Term
*Limited Government
Definition
No government is all-powerful, it can do only those things that the people have given it the power to do. EX: Denied powers in the constitution.
Term
*Separation of Powers
Definition
The distribution of power between independent branches of the government. EX: Judicial interprets laws, legislative makes laws, and executive carries out laws.
Term
*Checks and Balances
Definition
Each branch has certain powers with which it can check the operations of the other two. EX: Congress makes laws but President can veto legislation, President appoints Supreme Court justices but judges are appointed for life free from executive control
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action.
Term
*Federalism
Definition
The division of power among a central government and several regional governments. EX:Strong, effective National Government but concept of local self-government remains.
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