Foundations of American Government 1
Foundations of American Government 2
Foundational Documents
Types of Government
The Constitution
100
This agreement, reached during the Constitutional Convention, solved the disagreement between large states and small states.
The Great Compromise
100
Plan proposed by James Madison for a bicameral legislature and representative based on population
What is the Virginia Plan?
100
This philosopher created the idea natural rights
Who was John Locke?
100
Defined by people electing others to make laws and decisions
What is a representative democracy?
100
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
200
People should do this if the government is not upholding the Social Contract
What is alter or abolish it?
200
The natural right that states you can do what you want to do
What is the pursuit of happiness?
200
This philosopher created the idea of separation of powers
Who was Montesquieu?
200
Defined by one leader with ultimate power
What is autocracy (dictatorship or absolute monarchy)?
200
Constitutional Plan that argued for equal representation in all states
What is the New Jersey Plan?
300
Natural rights according to John Locke
What are life, liberty, and property?
300
Natural rights according to Thomas Jefferson
What are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
300
The foundational document John Locke inspired
What was the Declaration of Independence?
300
Defined by a group of people who make the decisions
What is a oligarchy?
300
What did the Three-Fifths Compromise solve?
How to count enslaved people for the purposes of taxation and representation.
400
The Articles of Confederation created only one central branch of government while the Constitution created ______________.
three branches of government
400
What is the purpose of checks and balances?
To prevent one branch from becoming too powerful
400
List two of the four sections of the DOI
Preamble, Grievances/Charges Against the King, Separation, Signatures
400
Defined by a religious leader(s) that have all the power
What is a theocracy?
400
List two issues with the Articles of Confederation that were solved with the Constitution
What is a weak central government, no real executive branch, variety of currencies, not able to call a military, unable to tax, unbalanced/inability to trade between states, contradictory laws in each state
500
Under this principle, powers are divided between national and state governments.
Federalism
500
Name the two of the key principles of the US Constitution.
popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, consent of the governed, natural rights
500
List two phrases found in the DOI
Consent of the governed, all men are created equal, unalienable rights, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, etc.
500
Defined by a collection of states/countries that come together under a weak central government
What is a confederation?
500
The debate over this role/branch was caused by the fear of a monarch
What is the executive branch?