Roots of the US Government
Political Culture and US Democracy
Political Ideology and the Ways in which we've changed.
Pre-Constitution
The US Constitution
100
Define Direct Democracy
A system of government in which members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and then agree to abide by majority rule.
100
Describe political culture:
Commonly shared attitudes, beliefs and core values about how government should operate.
100
US citizens' political values and beliefs fall all over the political spectrum. Some are liberal, conservative, libertarians, and socialists. Describe political ideology:
The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals.
100
Which organization functioned as a pwerful moder of public opinion against the British?
Committees of correspondence
100
What are the three basic principles of the US constitution:
Federalism Separation of powers checks and balances
200
Name four reasons why people emigrated to the colonies:
Commerce Religious toleration Dislike for the governments in their home country Effort to escape
200
Two values that American democracy holds very dear are popular consent and sovereignty. Describe: Popular consent AND popular sovereignty
Popular consent: the principle that governments must draw their powers from the consent of the governed. Popular sovereignty: the notion that the ultimate authority in society restes with the people.
200
As the American population has changed over time, so has the American political process. In order to best understand how, you must first understand the concept of "politics". Describe politics:
The study of who gets what, when, and how--as well as the process by which policy decisions are made.
200
The first major gathering of the colonies was:
The stamp act congress
200
The federalists fought for ratification of the US Constitution, which wasn't exactly a sure thing. Describe the federalists, paying attention to: -who were they -political philosophy -favored government
-They were property owners, landed rich, merchants -They were elitists, felt they were fit to govern -powerful central government, two house legislature
300
Explain the difference between direct and inderect democracy.
In a direct democracy ALL members of the polity meet to discuss all policy decisions and agree to abide by majority rule. In an indirect democracy citizens get the opportunity to vote for representatives who work on their behalf.
300
What are the functions of the American Government?
Establishing Justice Ensuring domestic tranquility Providing for the common defense Promoting the general welfare Securing the blessing of liberty
300
The two major parties currently dominating American politics (whether you like it or not), are Democrats and Republicans. These two parties have liberal and conservative values. What is the major difference between these two political ideologies?
Conservatives favor limited government intervention in economic affairs, but favor some govt. intervention in personal affairs. Liberals favor greater government intervnetion in economic affairs, but favor limited government intervention in personal affairs.
300
The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at a government for the United States. What were at least three things that the Articles of Confederation proposed:
1. A national governement with a congress 2. Each state retained its independence and sovereignty 3. One vote in the congress for each state 4. The vote of 9 states to pass any laws, 13 for amendements 5. the selection and payment of delegates to the congress by the states.
300
What is one formal and one informal way the constitution can be changed:
Formal: 2/3 of congress proposes and either 3/4 of state legislatures or 3/4 of state conventions ratify the amendment. Informal: Through judicial interpretation and or changes in social/cultural/technological changes
400
The text describes multiple types of government. Identify AND describe four types.
Monarchy Oligarchy Aristocracy democracy (direct, indirect) totalitarianism
400
American political culture emphasizes certain tenets, or beliefs and values such as: 1. Popular consent, Majority rule, and popular sovereignty. What are at least three other values that our political culture emphasizes?
Individualism religious faith and religious freedom liberty and equality
400
The US has changed dramatically since our founders' time. Identify and describe the five ways in which the demographics of the US has changed over the last 200 years.
Racial and ethnic composition Aging Religious beliefs Regional growth and expansion Family and family size
400
Two plans that were put forth at the Constitutional Convention were the New Jersey plan and the Virginia Plan. What are two aspects of each plan:
NJ Plan: strengthening the articles of confederation, creating a one house legislature with one vote per state, giving congess power to raise revenue from taxes on imports and postal service fees, and the creation of a supreme court. VA Plan: creation of a pwerful central government with three branches, a two house legislature (one proportioned and one equal), and a legislature wit hthe power to selct the exevutive and the judiciary.
400
Implied powers are the powers of the national government derived from the enumerated powers and the necessary and proper clause. Describe the enumerated powers as stated in the constitution as well as the necessary and proper clause:
The enumerated powers are the powers of the national government specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the US Constitution. The necessary and proper clause is the final paragrpah of Article 1, section 8, of the Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers specified in the Constitution; also called the elastic clause.
500
Describe the origins of the American Government. Include the following in your response: 1. Indigenous population 2. Reasons for emigration to the colonies. 3. The diverse people and communities that developed in the colonies.
American govt. is rooted i nthe cultures and experiences of early European colonists as well as interactions with the indigenous populations of the New World. The first colonists sought wealth. Later pilgrims cam for religious freedom. The colonies set up communities and systems of government that differed widely in terms of form, role, and function. As they developed, they sought more independence from the British Monarchy.
500
American political culture emphasizes certain tenets, or beliefs and values such as: 1. Popular consent, Majority rule, and popular sovereignty. What are at least three other values that our political culture emphasizes?
Individualism religious faith and religious freedom liberty and equality
500
In roughly the first 150 years the federal governement had few responsibilites, and citizens had few expectations of it. Teh state governments were generally more powerful than the federal governemnt in matters affecting the everyday lives of Americans. Things have changed. Characterize changes in Americans' attidudes toward and expectations of government:
Shifts in population have created controversy in the American electorate throughout America's history. Americans have high and often unrealistic expectations of government, yet often fail to appreciate how much their government actually does for them. American's failing trust in institutions also explains some of the apathy among the American electorate.
500
Constitutional compromises had to take place in order to form a more perfect union. Describe the compromises that happened concerning: -state representation in congress -The issue of slavery -and if they would count slaves as citizens
Great compromise: they would create a two house legislature, one connected to population size, the other would have equal representation from each state. Slavery issue: slave trade would continue for twenty years and exports would not be taxed for twenty years. 3/5 compromise: slaves would count as three firths as person when figuring out population size as it connects to representation in congress.
500
Describe the 7 articles of the US Constitution.
1. Legislative 2. Executive 3. Judicial 4. Full faith and credit clause 5. Amendment process 6. Supremacy Clause 7. Ratification process
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