Gov Test 1

What problem did the Connecticut Compromise seek to fix?

- Compromise between Virginia and NJ plans - has aspects of both plans in Compromise - broke deadlock at convention and allowed delegates to return attention to other matters

How was judicial review established?

- Marbury vs. Madison -court claimed power: led by Chief Justice John Marshall - John Marshall said that it is a judiciary's responsibility to always uphold the constitution

why was the new deal created?

- because of great depression created to help with new jobs and more money -help rehabilitate the economy

What did the anti-federalists want added to the constitution? Why?

- bill of rights - fear of centralized power and concern about the absence of a bill of rights -protect rights and liberties of the people

What were the problems with the articles of confederation

- centeal govt had few responsibilities & virtually no power - no power to levy taxes - could not regulate interstate commerce - no independent chief executive to ensure that laws passed by congress were enforced - no national court system to settle disputes between states - no national money system - law making almost impossible bc 9/13 must approve - couldn't finance activities - poor foreign affairs w/o central govt

What did shays rebellion show about the articles of confederation

- dangers of ineffective state governments - popular democracy spinning out of control - states unchecked by strong national govt - weak -America was weak and could be easily overtaken - federal govt couldn't stop rebellion by sending in troops

What are some problems with polling?

- disinterest or neutrality in politics: have to find people who care about politics - surveyor may consciously or subconsciously word things in a way that influences the subjects response - bias easily gets in way - under-coverage by not getting a representative sample - timing of interview is important - intensity of questions matter: people may not answer correctly or at all if they feel uncomfortable - finding a way to include all types of people (old, young, single, married) - may not be effective if you sample through cell phones or landlines

How was supremacy clause interpreted by the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall?

- interpreted that congress had broad powers under the "necessary and proper" clause -Justice John Marshall's statement justified excessive national authority -McCulloch vs. Maryland: Maryland wanted to impose tax on the US bank bc it was made unconstitutionally. Marshall said it was constitutional -gave fed govt more strength

Shays rebellion

- led by Daniel Shay - The uprising of Massachusetts farmers to protest high taxes and heavy debt -stopped judges from ordering seizure of farms

popular sovereignty violation

- minority rules - elections are not free to participate or run in - policies made are not effective and they do not represent the people's wants - Rogunda: only one person on voting ballot

political liberty violation

- no freedom of speech, religion, etc. - violation of first amendment rights - North Korea: no freedom of speech or peaceful protest

How are leaders elected in a representative democracy

- selected in competitive elections - elections are free and fair - politicians periodically face judgement

political equality violation

- some votes are counted for more than others - treatment by government is not equal - certain groups are prohibited from voting - rogunda: only citizens could vote, and citizens were only those of asian descent

How did the new deal affect federalism?

- the new deal expanded national power by creating new national regulatory agencies to supervise various aspects of business (bureaucracies?) -move from dual to cooperative federalism as states and federal govt worked together to solve problems -increased federal govt power

Individualism

-Americans have undeniable rights which are considered more important than the rights of a government or society - it is the government's job to protect these rights -the fate of a person is in their own hands - those who work will succeed, and in the end everyone will get what they deserve - competition is normality: most trying to become wealthy, famous, reaching dreams, etc.

Examples of new deal affecting federalism

-Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped with unemployment: was nationally funded and run through states - Social Security Act helped widespread poverty amongst senior citizens: nationally funded but involved states -brought national govt spending to welfare and economic relief which was previously reserved almost entirely to states

What is the Connecticut Compromise

-aka great compromise -compromise between New Jersey & Virginia Plans - called for lower legislative house based on population size (virginia) and upper house based on equal representation of states (NJ)

Distrust of government

-americans are hesitant to trust government and have been since the creation of the republic -while they distrust govt, they support many of its programs - many worry govt is growing too big and controlling

Why did the framers choose a govt with a separation of powers?

-americans scared of misrule of executives and legislative tyranny - turned to balanced govt idea by Montesquieu: concentrated power of any kind is dangerous - way to prevent tyranny: fragment govt power into constituent parts (executive, legislative, judicial) and place each into a separate branch -framers designed separate spheres of responsibility and enumerate powers for each branch -branches can keep each other in check

Supremacy Clause

-constitution and the laws and treaties of the US are the "supreme laws of the land" - take precedence over state laws and constitutions when they are in conflict

Belief in democracy and freedom

-democracy has become an honored term for Americans even though democratic beliefs have not always been regarded highly in this country - freedom is the focus on individual rights, and is highly honored in America - many foreigners have come to/admired this country for a reason

How did Madison suggest the government be created to stop majority tyranny?

-feared it would undermine freedom and threaten the rights of the individual -created a constitutional system designed to protect certain liberties against unwelcome intrusions by the majority -Bill of rights -checks and balances within three branches of govt

Populist

-hatred of concentrated power especially reflected in economic power - this is the basis for the current government system -corporations are often a target for hostility - this ideal celebrates the ordinary person

Dual federalism

-layer cake federalism - power is divided between federal and state governments in clearly defined terms -no interference of powers

Religion

-most americans believe in some sort if religion are free to do so

Did the constitution condemn slavery?

-no - benjamin franklin wanted to insert a provision but was talked out of it for fear of splintering the convention - was condoned, but the word "slavery" never made it into the constitution

How do the people communicate with their representatives

-participating in political surveys - protesting - representing public opinion in some way

How do nationalists feel about the necessary and proper clause

-support it -in federal govt power (congress) to make laws that are necessary and proper to carry out responsibilities

What do grants have to do with federalism?

-tool that the federal government uses to persuade state governments in a certain way - federal government money given to states for certain purposes -fiscal federalism involves grants to the states - grants-in-aid: funds that help states pay for govt programs -categorical grants: clearly specify what money is used for -block grants: general activity funds - conditional grants: state govts must follow certain policies to receive money

Cooperative federalism

-where national, state, and local governments interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems -Mix of both national and states responsibilities without a defined stopping point -sometimes positive cooperation, sometimes negative/reluctant cooperation -marble cake federalism

direct democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives - requires that citizens meet together in assemblies to decide issues and debate - used in smaller groups

Federalism

A system in which some powers are left to the states, some powers are shared by the states and central govt, and some are granted to the central govt only -neither completely controls other/each have room for independent action

Political liberty

Basic freedoms essential to the formation and expression of majority opinion and its translation into public policies - freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly - government is the result of the people agreeing to have one, people can create new government if current one violates the wishes of the majority

3/5 compromise

For population count (census) and property taxes. - every 5 slaves represented 3 people - helped southern states with representatives in the house due to population

How does the supremacy clause affect the power balance between state and federal govt

Gives federal govt more power bc it states that their law is the ultimate & supreme law over state laws -confuses citizens on which laws to follow strictly

What are the core beliefs of Americans?

Individualism, distrust of government, belief in democracy and freedom, populist, religion

What is the secret to success in polling

Making sure the sample of people interviewed is representative of the whole population

Marbury v. Madison

Marbury petitioned a Supreme Court case to force James Madison to deliver the necessary documents so that Marbury could become Justice of Peace in Washington, DC. - Marbury lost

What are the benchmarks of democracy?

Popular sovereignty, political equality, political liberty

Majority Tyranny

Suppression of the rights and liberties of a minority by the majority

Commerce Clause

The commerce clause says that the federal govt can regulate interstate and international commerce -cases such as Wickard v Filburn allowed the federal govt to regulate just about anything -Gonzales v Raich: medical marijuana users argued that the Controlled Substances Act exceeded power under commerce clause. Ruled against CSA as unconstitutional to regulate intrastate commerce

Judicial Review

The power of the supreme court to declare actions of other branches and levels of government unconstitutional

What is the nationalist position?

View of American federalism that holds that the constitution created a system in which the national govt is supreme, relative to the states, and that it granted the govt a broad range of powers and responsibilities - constitution created a single national community of people and their govt -national govt is supreme

Representative Democracy

a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf Three benchmarks of democracy to be healthy -better for larger populations

Mandate

an official order or commission to do something. - funded or unfunded -states must follow mandate from federal govt

Political Equality

each person is equal, caries the same weight in voting and other political decision making equal treatment

Popular Sovereignty

the idea that the government's authority comes from the people - leaders are selected in competitive elections - elections are free and fair - people participate in the political process - high quality information is available - the majority rules - government policies reflect the wishes of the people