Types of government
What is a democracy?
Rule by the people
Did Columbus really discover America? *bonus what did he really do?
No. When Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas in 1492, he did not "discover" a new land. The continent was already inhabited by millions of Indigenous people with rich and complex societies.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer funded by Spain who was trying to find a western sea route to Asia (the "Indies"). When he landed on the island of San Salvador in the Caribbean, he mistakenly believed he had reached the East Indies, which is why he incorrectly called the native Taino people "Indians."
What is legislative branch mainly known as?
The lawmaking branch
Why was the declaration of independence necessary?
In many ways, that's what the Declaration of Independence was. It was a formal "breakup letter" from the 13 American colonies to the most powerful empire in the world: Great Britain.
But it was so much more than that. It wasn't just a letter of complaints; it was a powerful statement of ideals that would change the world.
What is limited government?
This is the most important concept. A limited government is one that only has the power "We the People" give it.
What it is: The Constitution is like a permission slip from the people to the government. It lists the things the government is allowed to do (like create an army, print money, and deliver the mail). If a power isn't on that list, the government isn't supposed to do it.
Why it matters: This is the exact opposite of a king, who can do anything he wants. This principle establishes that the government is not the boss; the people are.
What is a monarchy
Rule by a king or queen over people
Who were the puritans?
The Puritans were a devout group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. They weren't a separate religion; they were members of the Church of England (the Anglican Church). Their core problem was that they felt the English Reformation—which King Henry VIII started when he broke from the Catholic Pope—hadn't gone far enough.
The house of representatives and senate
Finally, they came up with a genius solution that we still use today. It's called the Great Compromise.
The solution was simple: "Why not do both?"
They decided to split Congress into two different houses (or chambers), creating a bicameral legislature:
One house for the "people" (proportional).
One house for the "states" (equal
What does the declaration of independence grant people Bonus if you know the exact wording
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
This was a revolutionary idea. "Unalienable" means rights that cannot be taken away by anyone, not even a king.
The Preamble also states that governments get their power from the "consent of the governed"—in other words, from the people. If a government fails to protect the people's rights, the people have the right to change or even replace it
What is federalism?
What it is: Federalism is the idea of splitting power between the national government (in Washington, D.C.) and the state governments (like your government in your state capital).
A Simple Analogy: Think of it like your house. Your parents (the national government) set the big, house-wide rules (like "Be home by 10 PM," "No setting the kitchen on fire"). But you (the state) get to decide the rules for your own room (like where to put your posters, how to organize your desk).
Why it matters: Federalism lets states act as "laboratories" for new ideas and create laws that fit their own citizens, while the national government focuses on issues that affect everyone, like national defense and trade with other countries.
What is an oligarchy?
An oligarchy is a form of government where power rests with a small, elite group of people.
What were the major issues they had with the king?
In their eyes, the Church of England still looked and felt too "Catholic." They despised:
Hierarchy: They believed bishops and archbishops were a human invention, not from the Bible.
Rituals: They hated the elaborate vestments (robes), the incense, the stained-glass windows, and the kneeling for communion.
Theology: They wanted to "purify" the church, returning it to the simpler, text-based faith they read about in the Bible. They believed in a direct, personal relationship with God, without the need for an intermediary priest or bishop.
True or false- something has to pass through the house of representatives and the senate for it to become a law?
True
What is the constitution? Bonus: why was it needed?
It became clear: they needed a do-over. They needed a real, official "rulebook." That rulebook is the U.S. Constitution. The constitution was the rules to create an effective government that wasn't too weak or too powerful
What is the separation of powers? What are the three powers?
To prevent this, they split the national government's power into three equal parts. This is the Separation of Powers.
The Legislative Branch (Congress): Their job is to MAKE the laws. (This is the House of Representatives and the Senate).
The Executive Branch (The President): Their job is to ENFORCE (or carry out) the laws.
The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court): Their job is to INTERPRET the laws (to judge what they mean and if they are fair).
What is a theocracy?
In a theocracy, the government is ruled by religious leaders who claim to be divinely guided or who interpret and enforce religious law.
What was the difference between a puritan and a pilgrim?
The Separatists (Pilgrims): This was a small, radical faction of Puritans. They believed the Church of England was so corrupt it could not be saved. Their only choice was to "separate" from it completely. This group first fled to Holland, but fearing their children were becoming too "Dutch," they secured passage on the Mayflower in 1620, landing far north of their intended Virginia patent in what became Plymouth Colony.
The "Great Migration" (Puritans): This was the main event. This much larger group were "non-separatists." They didn't want to leave the Church of England, but to reform it. By 1629, it was clear that reform from within was impossible. Led by the lawyer John Winthrop, they obtained a royal charter for a new colony: the Massachusetts Bay Colony. *
Tell me about the house of representatives (Three things)
The House of Representatives is designed to be the part of Congress that is closest to the people.
Representation: Proportional (based on population).
What this means: States with a lot of people get a lot of representatives. States with very few people get only one.
Example: California, with its 39 million people, has 52 representatives. Wyoming, with its 600,000 people, has only 1.
Total Members: There are 435 voting members in the House. This number is fixed by law.
How do we know the population? Every 10 years, the government conducts the Census (a giant headcount) to see where people live. The 435 seats are then divided up among the states based on those new numbers.
The "People's" House: Terms & Qualifications
The rules for the House show that it's meant to change fast and reflect exactly what the people want right now.
Term Length: 2 Years
Why so short? This is the key feature. With elections every two years, a representative is always thinking about their home district. If they make a vote that their local community hates, they can be fired (voted out) very quickly. It keeps them connected and accountable.
Qualifications (Who can run?):
Must be at least 25 years old.
Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.
Must live in the state they represent. (By tradition, they also live in their specific district).
What are some reasons why the constitution is still important today? Bonus if you get all three
1. It's a "Living Document." The smartest thing the writers did was include a way to amend (change) the Constitution. They knew they couldn't predict the future. This "edit" button is why our country could eventually...
End slavery (13th Amendment).
Guarantee citizenship and equal protection to all people (14th Amendment).
Give women the right to vote (19th Amendment).
Lower the voting age to 18 (26th Amendment).
2. It's the "Umpire" for Modern Arguments. Today, our biggest debates are still "constitutional" questions.
Does the 1st Amendment's "freedom of speech" protect what you post on TikTok or Instagram?
Does the 4th Amendment's "privacy" right prevent the government from looking at your text messages?
When the Supreme Court makes big decisions about technology, privacy, or equality, they aren't just making up new rules. They are reading the words written in 1787 and trying to apply them to the world of today.
3. It Is Your Rulebook. The Constitution isn't just a rulebook for the government; it's a "shield" for you. It's the final authority that says you have the right to believe what you want, to question your leaders, and to be treated fairly under the law.
Why is checks and balances important?
This is the most genius part of the plan. "Separation of Powers" creates the three branches, but Checks and Balances is the system that forces them to share power. It gives each branch a special "check" (or block) it can use against the other two.
It’s like a permanent, three-way game of rock-paper-scissors.
What is authoritarianism?
Authoritarianism is a political system where a single leader or a small group exercises power without constitutional accountability to the public. There's usually some level of social and economic freedom, but political freedom is severely restricted.
What were the ways the king punishes the puritans?
The situation became unbearable under King Charles I and his powerful Archbishop, William Laud.
Persecution: Laud enforced strict adherence to Anglican rituals. He fired Puritan ministers from their pulpits, censored their writings, and had outspoken Puritans tried in secret courts.
Punishment: Those who dissented were fined, imprisoned, or even publicly mutilated (such as having their ears cut off or being branded on the cheek).
No Political Voice: Charles I eventually dismissed Parliament—the one place where Puritans had a strong voice—and ruled by himself for 11 years (the "Eleven Years' Tyranny").
Tell me about the senate (three things)
The Senate was designed to be the opposite: calm, stable, and long-term. It's the "cooling saucer," as George Washington supposedly called it, for the "hot coffee" of the House.
Representation: Equal (every state is the same).
What this means: Every single state, no matter how big or small, gets 2 senators.
Example: California (39 million people) = 2 Senators.
Example: Wyoming (600,000 people) = 2 Senators.
Total Members: 100 (50 states x 2 senators).
The "States'" House: Terms & Qualifications
The rules for the Senate show that it's meant to be a more experienced, "big picture" body that can make tough decisions without worrying about public opinion every single day.
Term Length: 6 Years
Why so long? A 6-year term allows senators to focus on difficult, long-term problems (like foreign policy or the economy) without being in a constant panic about re-election.
Clever feature: To keep it stable, Senate elections are "staggered." Only one-third of the Senate is up for re-election every two years. This means the Senate never has a 100% "rookie" class.
Qualifications (Who can run?):
Must be at least 30 years old (a little older).
Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years (a little longer).
Must live in the state they represent.
list as many of the major rights the constitution gives us and whoever gets more gets 500 points
list as many of the major rights the constitution gives us and whoever gets more gets 500 points
A-This list is the Bill of Rights—the first 10 amendments (or changes) to the Constitution. This is the part that protects you directly. It includes:
The 1st Amendment: Freedom of speech, religion, and the press (journalists). This gives you the right to say what you believe and protest peacefully.
The 4th Amendment: Protects you from "unreasonable searches and seizures." This is why police generally need a warrant to search your home.
The 5th Amendment: Gives you the right to "remain silent" so you don't accidentally say something that gets you in trouble.
The 8th Amendment: Protects against "cruel and unusual punishment."
What is the job of each of the three branches?
The Legislative Branch (Congress): Their job is to MAKE the laws. (This is the House of Representatives and the Senate).
The Executive Branch (The President): Their job is to ENFORCE (or carry out) the laws.
The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court): Their job is to INTERPRET the laws (to judge what they mean and if they are fair).