Government and Its Origins
This is the institution through which a society creates and enforces its public policies.
What is government?
This philosopher identified life, liberty, and property as natural rights.
Who is John Locke?
This plan favored large states by basing representation in Congress on population.
What is the Virginia Plan?
Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are called these.
What are enumerated/delegated powers?
Dividing government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches demonstrates this principle.
What is separation of powers?
According to this theory, government began when one person or group took control of others through violence or conquest.
What is the force theory?
This philosopher wrote Leviathan and believed a strong government was necessary to prevent chaos.
Who is Thomas Hobbes?
This plan favored small states by giving every state equal representation in Congress.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
Conducting elections and establishing public schools are examples of these powers.
What are reserved powers?
Congress overriding a presidential veto demonstrates this principle.
What are checks and balances?
According to this theory, government developed naturally as families grew into clans, tribes, and larger communities.
What is the evolutionary theory?
This philosopher supported freedom of speech, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state.
Who is Voltaire?
This compromise created a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
Collecting taxes and building roads are examples of these shared powers.
What are concurrent powers?
The Constitution restricts what the government may do and prevents it from exercising unlimited power.
What is limited government?
According to this theory, a ruler’s authority to govern comes directly from God.
What is the divine right theory?
This philosopher advocated dividing government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Who is Montesquieu?
These opponents of ratification feared a powerful national government and demanded a Bill of Rights.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This clause states that the Constitution and valid federal laws take priority over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
The government receives its authority from people who agree to be governed.
What is consent of the governed?
According to this theory, people voluntarily agreed to create a government to maintain order and protect their rights.
What is the social contract theory?
This philosopher argued that legitimate government should represent the collective interests of the community, known as the “general will.”
Who is Jean-Jacques Rousseau?
These three men wrote a series of essays defending the Constitution and encouraging its ratification.
Who were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay?
The federal government declares war, while a state government establishes public schools. These examples illustrate this constitutional system of dividing power between two levels of government.
What is federalism?
A government official breaks the law and receives the same legal consequences as an ordinary citizen.
What is rule of law?