US Government and Politics: A Comprehensive Guide
Government
Foundation made up of the formal institutions and processes through which decisions are made for a group of people.
Power
The authority and ability to get things done
Policy
Any decision made by the government in order to pursuit a goal
State
A political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory.
Politics
The process by which govt. Makes and carries out decisions.
Legitimacy
A government which carries out laws in a responsible matter and is reasonable and good to the people is said to have
Divine right of kings theory
States were founded by a god and the ruler has a divine right to lead
Social contract theory:
states where people have to reach a contract where they surrender some power to an authority in return for security
3 main components of government
People power and polices
Monarchy
A government ruled by a king or queen
Dictatorship
A government controlled by one person. Absolute sovereignty
Oligarchy:
ruled by a few small groups of people. Usually military or the economic elite
Direct democracy
Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Unitary system
System of government in which all power is invested in a central government and where regional governments attain their power
Federal system
A government that divides the powers of government between the national government and state governments
Confederal system
A system consisting of a league of independent states, each having essentially sovereign powers. The central government created by such a league has only limited powers over the states.
Presidential system
A form of government headed by a president who is elected by the people for a limited term of office and whose powers are balanced by an elected legislature
Parliamentary system:
a govt. In which members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch and are subject to the legislative’s direct control
Bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
Magna Carta: One of the earliest English efforts toward limited government dates to the year 1215, when English nobles forced King John to sign
Petition of rights
1628. Signed by Charles I. No imprisonment without due cause; no taxes levied without Parliament’s consent; soldiers not housed in private homes; no martial law during peace time.
English bill of rights
Monarchs could not pass laws, keep an army or levy taxes without parliament consent
gave parliament freedom of speech 
protected people from cruel punishment
Fundamental orders of Connecticut
First constitution of colonial america; from connecticut; put limits on govt and gave people the right to choose judges
Proprietary colony: colony that England gave a grant of land to a proprietor or group of people that funded the colony
Royal colony: colony ruled by a governor who was appointed by the king or queen
charter colony: colony established by a group of settlers who had been given a formal document allowing them to settle
New
England
Confederation:
New England colonists formed this Confederation in 1643 as a defense against local Native American tribes and encroaching Dutch. The colonists formed the alliance without the English crown’s authorization.
England
Confederation:
New England colonists formed this Confederation in 1643 as a defense against local Native American tribes and encroaching Dutch. The colonists formed the alliance without the English crown’s authorization.
Iroquois
Confederation
The league of Indian tribes in the Northeast that fought with the English in the French-Indian War and supported the Loyalists in the America Revolution.
Albany plan of union:
plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; a president was to be appointed by the crown and representatives by the colonial alliance. The plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown
plan proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite the 13 colonies for trade, military, and other purposes; a president was to be appointed by the crown and representatives by the colonial alliance. The plan was turned down by the colonies and the Crown
The
Stamp
Act
British’s first tax on the colonies. It put a tax on paper goods and all legal documents
First continental Congress
September 5, 1774, to protest the Intolerable Acts. The congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, voted for a boycott of British imports, and sent a petition to King George III, conceding to Parliament the power of regulation of commerce but stringently objecting to its arbitrary taxation and unfair judicial system. Georgia did not send a delegate
Second Continental Congress
They organized the continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army. It would declare the colonies independent from England
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Declaration of the citizens’ rights issued by the Virginia Convention
Impel: to force, drive forward
Usurpations
Wrongful uses of authority
Evinces
Reveals; shows
Despotism:
system of government where the ruler has unlimited power
Tyranny
Cruel and oppressive government or rule
Candid
Completely honest, straightforward
Articles of confederation
First governing document of US – created a WEAK central government; issues with trade – different currencies in each state, tariffs on goods traded between states
Shays’s rebellion
A small band of Massachusetts farmers rebelled` at the prospect of losing their land
Virginia Plan
Also known as the Big State Plan. Wanted proportional representation in Congress (based on population).
New Jersey Plan
A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new, unicameral congress.
Great
Compromise
Combined elements from the New Jersey and Virginia Plans. Had Bicameral legislature, but with a House of representatives(popular vote, lower house) and a senate(electoral vote, upper house)
Three-Fifths Compromise
A slave would be counted as “three-fifths of a person”.
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Antifederalists
A term used to describe apposed of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Bill of rights:
A formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution as Amendments 1-10, and in all state constitutions.
A formal statement of the fundamental rights of the people of the United States, incorporated in the Constitution as Amendments 1-10, and in all state constitutions.
Popular sovereignty
The concept that government power is derived from the people. Ultimate political power remains with the people.
Limited government
Government powers are restricted to protect individual rights.
Rule of law
The concept that eery member of society, including the ruler or government, must obey the law and is never above it.
Separation of powers
The power to govern is divided among executive, legislative and judicial branches to prevent the concentration and abuse of power by any one branch.
Checks and balances
Each branch of government has the power to check or restrain some powers of the other 2 branches.
Veto
To reject
Judicial review
The judicial branch has the power to strike down laws and other government actions as invalid or unconstitutional.
Unconstitutional
Any law or action that is found to violate a part of the constitution.
Federalism
The rights of the states are protected by dividing powers between the national government and the state governments.
Supremacy clause
Declares that the constitution together with US laws passed under the constitution and treaties made by the national government is the supreme law of the land.