Principles of Government
What is one main purpose of government?
To protect citizens' rights and freedoms.
What is a political party ?
A group of people who share similar ides about how the government should be run.
How old do you have to be to vote in the US
18
Who is the head of the executive branch?
The president
What does the Judical branch do?
Interpret laws
What is the difference between a democracy and authoritarian government ?
Democractic - system where power is held by the people
Authoritarian - Power is concentrated in one people (single leader)
What are the two most popular political parties in America?
Democratic & Republican
What is an election?
An election is when people vote to choose their leader/representative.
What are the two main purposes of the Executive branch ?
To enforce and carry out laws.
What is the highest court in the United States?
The supreme court
what is rule of law concept?
Everyone including those in power is subject to and accountable under the law.
Why do people join certain parties?
People typically join certain groups because they want to be represented in a certain way and they most likely agree with the parties views, values and goals.
Why do people vote?
People vote to have a say in who makes decisions for their community + country.
What is the role of the cabinet ?
The cabinet consists of the heads of the executive branch, they advise the president on matters.
What is Judicial review?
Judicial review is the power of the courts to review laws and actions taken by the legislative and executive branch to determine if they're constitutional.
How does having different parts of government stop one person from having too much power?
Using checks and balances makes sure not one singular person is in too much control of anything.
How do political parties influence the laws and decisions made by the government?
The recruit and support candidates to run for office, when members win elections they work to pass laws that align with their party's goals and block laws that don't.
What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy during elections?
Direct democracy - Citizens vote for the cause directly.
Representative democracy - Citizens vote for a representative to make those decisions on their behalf.
How can congress check the power of the president?
How are federal judges and supreme court justices appointed?
They're nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate.
What is separation of powers?
Separation of power is when the government splits the work into different jobs. In America we have different branches like the Legislative (making laws), Executive (executing laws), Judicial (interpreting laws).
What are some issues that can make it hard for a multi-party government to stay strong?
When there are many parties, it can be tough for them to agree and work together. No single party is strong enough on their own, so they often have to team up.
What is a swing state?
A swing state is a state where the outcome of an election is uncertain; you can't predict which party their vote will lie with because its evenly divided within the major parties.
How is an executive order different from a law?
An executive order is a directive issued by the president that has the force of law, but does not require congressional approval and can be overturned by a future president.
What is the difference between criminal cases and civil cases?
Criminal case - involves an action that is considered an offense against society.
Civil case - involves a dispute between organizations of individuals.