Unit 1 Study Guide- US Government – Flashcards
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 1
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Government
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Institution in which a society makes and enforces its public policies
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Public Policies
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All the goals the gov. pursues in any areas
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Democracy
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Type of gov. where it is run by the people -Direct -Indirect -Representative, US
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State
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Body of people living in a defines territory who have a gov with power to make and enforce laws
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Unitary Government
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Type of government where all power goes to one person or central agency -**Think of waffle**
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Federal Government
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Type of government where powers are divided into two separate governments, federal and state
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Confederation
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Joining of several groups for a common reason -**First type of gov. in US**
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Majority Rule
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In democracy, the more people are for something, then all will be for it
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Linkage Institutions
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Political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda
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Policy Making Institutions
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Branches of gov. that take action on political issues -Group of people
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 2
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Articles of Confederation
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Plan of gov. that was adopted by Continental Congress. -After American Revolution -"friendship between states"
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Unicameral vs. Bicameral
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Unicameral -describes legislative body composed of ONE chamber Bicameral -describes legislative body composed of TWO chambers
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Connecticut Compromise
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Agreement that decided there should be Senate, so states are represented equally, and a House, representation is based on state's population
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Three-fifths Compromise
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Slaves are counted as 3/5 of a person when determining population
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Commerce Clause
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Federal gov. has power to control trade between states -Stretched a lot -Commerce-trade
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Federalists
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Believed in strong central gov. Supported Constitution Need to control fractions Organized, wrote essays on why they should have strong central gov
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Anti-federalists
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Thought strong central gov. would have too much power Did not like the Constitution People did not believe them, not organized
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Chapter 3
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Chapter 3
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Popular Sovereignty
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People are the source of any and all gov power Gov. can only exist with consent of people
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Limited Government
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All states have certain rights and people have rights that limits the gov on what they can and can't change with those rights
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Separation of Power
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All branches have equal power Independent branches
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Check and Balances
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All branches can check each other to make sure not one branch is gaining too much power
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Judicial Review
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Power of the court to determine if an action of the gov is constituional
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Chapter 4
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Chapter 4
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Federalism
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System of gov where a written constitution divides power between national, state, and local govs.
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Grants
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Money given from the gov that the state and local govs. do not need to pay back -Categorical Grant -Federal grants that can be used to specific purposes -Block Grants -Federal grants that can be used to any purpose -*states favorites*
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Supremacy Clause
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Federal gov has supreme power of any state or local gov
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Expressed Powers
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Enumerated or expressed powers written in the Constitution Federal Govs laws
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Implied Powers
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Elastic Clause Stretch power
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Inherent Powers
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Powers exist because of the federal gov
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Reserved Powers
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Powers that are reserved for the state, meaning state has the power to make decision on certain things Anything not stated in constitution are reserved powers
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Exclusive Powers
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Federal gov. only has these powers Powers don't belong to anyone else
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Concurrent Powers
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State and Federal gov make decisions -State and federal gov can tax us
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Questions
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Questions
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What are the 6 functions of American Gov?
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-To form a more perfect union -To establish justice -Insure domestic tranquility -Provide for Common Defense -General Welfare -Blessings of liberty
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Legislative Branch
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Led by Congress -House and Senate Make/pass laws Impeach officials
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Executive
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Led by President Makes new laws and carries out federal laws Commands army Vetos laws
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Judicial
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Led by Supreme Court Interpret the Constitution Review laws Decides cases about state rights'
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Characteristics of state
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-Sovereignty -Territory -Government -Population
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Direct vs. Indirect
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Direct Democracy- People talk directly to the gov about what they feel needs to change or be represented Indirect Democracy- People go to local representatives and they go to the gov to support what we think should change or be in place
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Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and why?
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Thomas Jefferson This showed Great Britain that they were serious about the separation from them and this showed the King the problems americans had with him
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5 Grievances of the King
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Stop trade He made judicial decisions Taxed us without consent Put soldiers in peoples homes Wouln't allow local gov Wouldn't pass laws
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Weakness of the Articles of Confederation
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Lack of power to tax Couldn't control trade Need all 13 states to amend articles No executive/judicial branches
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Federalist papers #10 and #51
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#10 -We need strong central gov to control fractions -Someone can step in and take control (supremacy clause) -People argue it will be too big, but it's still run by people #51 Separation of Power -Branches Not one branch or gov is too powerful because they all have to check each other to make sure that one does not try to take over
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Economic and Political problems with Articles of Confederation
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Too much money was being printed causing inflation Supreme power wasn't given to Federal Gov Debts increased and people couldn't pay back loans
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Shays' Rebellion
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The Articles of Confederation couldn't deal with nations problems War veterans and famers faced debts and loss of land
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Problems with Federalism
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All laws and policies have to be seen by gov to be passed Both the state and national gov have power, hard to determine who is in charge of what
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To be a member of the House...
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-25 years old -US citizen -be inhabitant of the state
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To be a member of the Senate...
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-30 years old -Must be in US for at least 9 years -Inhabitant of the state they want to represent
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To be the President...
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-35 years old -US resident for 14 years or more -natural born citizen
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How many total amendments are there?
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27
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If the President and Vice President can't be President, then who takes over?
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Speaker of the House
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Necessary and Proper Clause
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Congress has power to make laws
