End of Course Exam Review

The purpose of a government is to create and enforce the public policies of a society. Every government has 3 types of power: legislative power executive power judicial power.

Population Territory Sovereignty Government

Ancient Greece (Athens): Democracy Ancient Rome: Republic English Traditions and Common Law American government is not a direct democracy, it is a democratic republic.

To protect from foreign powers To promote the general welfare To keep order & peace To establish justice Promote liberty

Democracy Dictatorship Monarchy

Unitary : Strong Central Government Federal: Power is shared between a central government and state or local governments Confederal: Strong state governments

Document sent to Great Britain listing our reasons for separation. Stated that all men had certain unalienable rights, and that all men were created equal.

After the Revolutionary War, (War that made us independent from Great Britain/England), the 13 colonies became states and formed a confederal government. The Articles of Confederation was the first document that bound the states together. The document did not give the federal government the power to tax, so the new nation could not pay back its debts to other countries. It could not regulate trade between states, did not provide for and executive or judicial branch. Nothing could be changed without unanimous consent.

Because of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, Congress needed a new Constitution. The Framers wrote the US Constitution to lay out the fundamental laws, principles, structures & powers of the federal government. It divided power between three branches. Established a bicameral legislature (Congress), with a Senate where each state was equal, and a House of Representatives, where each state was represented based on population.

After Congress wrote the Constitution, it did not immediately take effect. First, it had to be ratified by the states. Two groups, or factions, formed during this process: The Federalists The Antifederalists

The Federalists supported the idea of a strong central government and they wanted the states to ratify the new constitution. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison & John Jay wrote a series of letters and essays that were published in local newspapers. These were known as the Federalist Papers and they made arguments in favor of the new constitution.

Antifederalists feared a strong central government because they worried the new government would be too controlling of the states. They favor stronger state control. The only way they agreed to the ratification of the new constitution was if Congress added a list of guarantees, that promised to limit the powers of the federal government. This list is made up of the first ten amendments to the constitution, and is known as the Bill of Rights.

To form a more perfect union (strive to improve) Establish justice (provide a fair system of laws) Ensure domestic tranquility (provide order) Provide for the common defense (military) Promote the general welfare (the public good) Promote liberty for future generations. (freedom)

Popular Sovereignty- the people rule Limited government-government is not all powerful- it can only do what the people allow it to do. Separation of Powers- 3 Branches so that none become too powerful Checks and Balances- Each branch can “check the other” (veto, overriding a veto, judicial review, are all checks) Judicial Review- the courts can determine if a law violates the Constitution Federalism- Power is shared between the state and federal governments.

Amendments are proposed by 2/3 of the Congress and ratified by ¾ of the states legislatures or state conventions. Or amendments can be proposed at a national convention requested by 2/3 of the state legislatures and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures or state conventions.

Is the Supreme Court’s power to decide if a law is constitutional or unconstitutional. It is not covered by the Constitution The power was assumed by the court after the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v Madison. Marbury v. Madison established the power of judicial review.

Is the system of government practiced by the U.S. Powers are shared between the state and federal governments. Reserved Powers are for the State (education, election laws, morality laws…) Delegated Powers are for the Federal Government (power to declare war, coin money, post office…) Concurrent Powers are powers shared by both the states and the federal government. (power to tax, borrow money,…)

The collection of the views of many different people Public Opinion Polls try to measure how the majority of Americans feel about a particular issue.

A political party is a group of persons who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office. The 2 major political parties in the Unites States are Democrats & Republicans Federalists were the first American political party, although they no longer exist today. Abraham Lincoln was the first Republican president. Andrew Jackson was the first Democratic president.