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Government Unit 1
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Government | The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies |
| Legislative Power | Power to make laws to frame public policies |
| Executive Power | Power to execute, enforce, and administer laws |
| Judicial power | Power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning and to settle disputes that arise within the society |
| Constitution | A plan that provides rules for government and its structure to function. Sets out the goals and purpose of government and Supreme Law for states and citizens |
| The State | A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforces laws without approval from higher authority |
| Nation | Any sizable group of people who are United by common bonds of race, language, custom, and tradition |
| Nation-State | Combination of the State and Nation |
| Population | All the people who live in the state |
| Territory | The area within established boundary |
| Sovereignty | Authority to conduct internal affairs without seeking approval |
| Evolutionary Theory | Evolved from the family group |
| Force Theory | 1 person or a group used force to establish its authority |
| Divine Right Theory | Rulers were chosen by the gods |
| Social Contract Theory | The people gave the government its power to rule exchange for protection of people and rights-Hibbes and Locke |
| Form a More Perfect Union | The belief that in union there is strength |
| Establish Justice | Equal justice for all (work in progress) |
| Insure Domestic Tranquility | Peace and order at home |
| Provide for the Common Defense | Defense against foreign enemies |
| Promote General Welfare | Servant to its citizens |
| Secure the Blessings of Liberty | Liberty with reason |
| Politics | The effort to control or influence the policies and actions of government to seek benefits. Conflicts in society are managed |
| Dictatorship | Exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. The government is not accountable for its policies, nor for how they are carried out |
| Autocracy | Rule by one person. Oldest and most common form of government. Autocrats maintain their power by inheritance or ruthless use of military or police force. Ex. Totalitarian dictatorships |
| Oligarchy | Small group holds power. Derives power from wealth, military power. social position or a combination. ex. Communist nations. Claim they are for the people. Elections only have 1 candidate or control the results |
| Democracy | Any system in which rule is by the people. People hold sovereign power. Two form Direct Democracy or Representative Democracy |
| Direct Democracy | People govern themselves. Only exist in very small societies where citizens can meet regularly and decide issues and problems. Found in some New England town meetings. |
| Representative Government | People elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government. Assembly of representatives is the most efficient to ensure rights of citizens in a large nation |
| Geographic Distribution of Power | In every system of government, the power to govern is located in one or more places geographically |
| Unitary Government | Centralized government were all powers is held by a central agency. Central government creates local governments. Most governments are unitary |
| Confederate Government | Alliance of independent states with most belonging to the local (regional) governments. Ex. European Union |
| Federal Government | Powers of the government are divided between a central and several kicak governments. co-equal partners |
| Parliamentary Systmes | Voters elect the legislature. The chief executive is chosen by the leading party in the legislature with the Prime Minister being a part of it. Only in office as long as they have support of the majority party |
| Presidential Systems | Voters elect the legislative and Chief executive. The two branches are independent and co-equal. President holds office for a fixed number of years. |
| Individual Liberty | All people have an equal opportunity |
| Majority Rule with Minority Rights | Majority rules but the rights of the minority must still be protected |
| Free Elections | Elections that are open, every vote is equal, candidates have the right to express their views freely, citizens are free to help candidates, voting requirements are kept to a minimum secret ballot |
| Competing Political Parties | A political party is a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates win elections, conduct government and determine public policy. Rival parties give voters a choice and act as a loyal opposition |
| Activity Citizen participation | Vote and become involved |
| Favorable Economy | Countries that do not have extremes of wealth and poverty and need a large middle class |
| Strong Civil Society | A complex network of voluntary associations, economic groups, religious organizations and many other kinds of groups that are independent of government |
| A Social Consensus | Where people accept democratic values such as individual Liberty and equality for all |
| Duties of Citizenship | Serving on a jury, serving as a witness when called, attending school, paying taxes, registering for draft, obeying laws, and respecting the rights of others |
| Responsibilities of Citizenship | Voting, volunteering, participating in civic life, and understanding the workings of our government |
| The Preamble | The introduction which stated the general purposes and intentions of the Constitution. |
| Basic Principles of the Constitution | Popular sovereignty - consent of the governed, Limited Government- Government limited by law, Federalism |
| Legislative Branch | Makes the laws. Congress is made of 2 houses of the Senate with 2 members from each state and House of Representatives which is based on population |
| Executive Branch | Enforces the laws. President serves as Chief Executive, Vice President and others are appointed by the President |
| Judicial Branch | Interprets the law. Supreme Court with 9 justices at top and lower courts is 13 courts of appeals and 94 district courts |
| Legislative Checks | Congress can refuse money, reject treaties, reject presidential appointments, and impeach the president. Also abolish lower courts and impeach federal judges |
| Executive Checks | Presidents can veto bills, appoint judges, and pardon criminals |
| Judicial Checks | Can declare acts of Congress and President unconstitutional. Power is called Judicial Review |
| Delegated Powers | For the government. Levy and collect taxes, borrow and coin money, establish post offices, regulate interstate and foreign commerce. Declare war, make treaties, raise an army, establish rules for naturalization of aliens. |
| Reserved Powers | Only for the states by 10th amendment. Provide education, make marriage laws, establish voting qualifications. provide local government, establish schools, punish for crime, regulate business in state, construct local roads, bridges, and parks. |
| Concurrent Powers | Collect taxes, borrow money, establish courts, and build roads |
| Powers denied to the federal government | Levy taxes on exports, favor a state, suspend due process |
| Powers denied to the states | Levy taxes on imports/exports, coin money, Make treaties with foreign nations, engage in war, have an army. |
| Powers denied to both | Grant Titles of nobility, pass an ex post facto law and bill of attainder |
| Flexibility | The Constitution's flexibility allows it to meet changing conditions. The Elastic Clause, Amendment Process, Judicial Interpretation, and Unwritten Constitution |
| States Rights position | Constitution is a compact among the states, states created the Constitution and gave it limited Powers. All Powers of the national government should be narrowly defined because the national government is an agent of the states |
| Nationalist Position | The people, not the states, created the national government, National government Powers should take the lead in solving major social and economic problems. |
| War Powers | National defense = economy and education system |
| Commerce Power | All activities concerned with the production, buying selling and transporting of goods |
| Taxing Power | Raise and spend money to promote the general welfare. Congress has used this to increase its Powers |
| The Nations Obligation to the States | Guarantee to every state a republican (Representative) form of government, protect the states from invasion and internal disorder. |
| Categorical Grants | Made for a specific, closely defined purpose (school lunches or construction of airports). Made with strings attached only use the money for the specific purpose, make its own contribution, provide an agency to administer the grant and set of guidelines |
| Block Grants | Made for the more broadly defined purposes (healthcare, welfare) and have less strings attached so state governments have greater freedom indecinding just how to spend it |
| Project Grants | Made to states, localities or private agencies who apply for them ,(cancer search) |
| Interstate Compacts | Written agreements between 2 or more states (conservation, pollution laws) |
| Lawsuits Between States | State can only use each other in the Supreme Court. (water rights, pollution) |
| Public Policy | A course of action a government takes in response to some issue or problem |
| Sunset Laws (Colardo) | Laws or agencies that expire if no longer needed |
| Sunshine Laws (Florida) | Makes all government meeting public and open |
| Federalism And Political Parties | Rival parties are key elements to democracy. Federalism allows each party the ability to win elections at the national, state or local. Lessens the chance of monopoly at all levels |
| Political Participation | Federalism increases opportunities for citizens to participate. More opportunities to vote at the local, state and national level. The more people vote, the more they get involved. |
| Professional Politicians | Federalism has created a bureaucracy or organization of administrators to carry out the local, state or national programs. Created a need for experts to work in government |
| Federalism creates Choice | Federalism allows each state freedom to set its economic and political agenda. Some focus on industry health, welfare, services, lower taxes, and less services. Citizens can choose where they want to live |
| The Direction of Federalism | The Federalism power balance shifts back and forth. Democrats have supported national power. Republicans have favored states Rights. Citizens participation helps set the agenda and steers the agenda and steers the country. |
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