Unit 1 Exam Study Guide-Goverment FHS – Flashcards
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Constitution
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law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
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Legislative Power
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the power to make a law and to frame public policies
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Federal government
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a form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local governments
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Democracy
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a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them
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Declaration of Independence
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the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain
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Ben Franklin
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An inventor, statesman, diplomat, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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Bill of Rights
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a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)
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Magna Carta
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the royal charter of political rights given to rebellious English barons by King John in 1215
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repeal
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to cancel a law
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Limited Government
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In this type of government everyone, including all authority figures, must obey laws. Constitutions, statements of rights, or other laws define the limits of those in power so they cannot take advantage of the elected, appointed, or inherited positions.
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Judicial Review
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the power of the supreme court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
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Informal constitutional change
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judicial interpretation; changing political practice; technological change; demands on policy makers
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article
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a separate section of a legal document
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expressed powers
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powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution
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foreign policy
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a policy governing international relations
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interest groups
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groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals
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mixed economy
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an economic system that combines private and state enterprises
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socialism
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a political theory advocating state ownership of industry
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democratic systems
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a political system in which the people play a much greater role in deciding who the rulers are and what decisions are made
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unitary government
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a centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single central agency
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judicial power
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the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society
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preamble of the constitution
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This states the purposes of government and is based on the belief that the people are sovereign.
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social contract
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the idea that an entire society agrees to be governed by its general will
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Articles of Confederation
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this document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage
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The Federalist
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Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution, published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison in 1787 and 1788.
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Connecticut compromise
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Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators
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Petition of Right
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Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land
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charter
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a document incorporating an institution and specifying its rights
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separation of powers
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the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
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federalism
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the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-governing units
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amendment
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a statement that is added to or revises or improves a proposal or document (a bill or constitution etc.)
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federalism
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the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-governing units
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reserved powers
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Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people
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bureaucracy
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nonelective government officials
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democratization
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the action of making something democratic
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capitalism
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an economic system based on private ownership of capital
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presidential system
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a system of government in which the legislative and executive branches operate independently of each other
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parliamentary government
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This type of government is where the authority is held by a bicameral legislature called a Parliament. In Great Britain, it includes a House of Commons and a House of Lords.
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confederation
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the act of forming an alliance or confederation
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state
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a politically organized body of people under a single government
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charter colonies
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colony established by a group of settlers who had been given a formal document allowing them to settle
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state constitutions
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the structure of a state gov't - establishes: the branches and outline the powers and method of election; types of local gov't, define their powers and duties, regulate the way state gov'ts can raise and spend money; agencies, boards and commissions that have power in areas that affect how citizens' live directly
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Philadelphia convention
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Beginning on May 25, 1787, the convention recommended by the Annapolis Convention was held in Philadelphia. All of the states except Rhode Island sent delegates, and George Washington served as president of the convention. The convention lasted 16 weeks, and on September 17, 1787, produced the present Constitution of the United States, which was drafted largely by James Madison.
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Virginia Plan
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Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.
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boycott
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a group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies
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Popular Sovereignty
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people hold the final authority in all matters of government
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Checks and Balances
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a system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
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Constitutional Amendments
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Additions and changes to the original Constitution. The first ten amendments make up the Bill of Rights; there are currently twenty-seven amendments.
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Rule of law
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a state of order in which events conform to the law
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McCulloch v. Maryland
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Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law
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Privileges and Immunities Clause
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no State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those persons who happen to live in other States
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diplomacy
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subtly skillful handling of a situation
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Market economy
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an economy that relies chiefly on market forces to allocate goods and resources and to determine prices
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Communism
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a form of socialism that abolishes private ownership
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Authoritarian systems
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A noncompetitive system which seeks to direct society.
