Ch. 2: The U.S. System of Constitutional Government Review
The development stage extends from the early years of the republic to the ________.
Progressive Era
The rule of law in America is considered to be an ______.
"American Creed"
What is the hierarchy of laws in the United States?
1) Constitutional 2) Statutory (or Legislative) Law 3) Administrative (or Regulatory) Law
What are the three functions of the U.S. Constitution?
1) It establishes the basic framework of the government 2) it allocates government powers 3) t declares or guarantees individual rights.
What are the factors that fostered spirit of independence in the colonies?
1) character 2) geography 3) ideas 4) economics
What are two distinct differences between civil rights and civil liberties?
1) civil rights are statutory rights 2) civil rights protect individuals against discrimination.
What are some of the major political developments not mentioned in the constitution?
1) political parties 2) corporations 3) the fed 4) the fourth branch 5) presidential government 6) presidential legislation 7) judicial review 8) the congressional committee system 9) the sole organ doctrine 10) a national-centered system
The modern era of American government is usually traced to the _____.
1930s
What is a constitution?
A constitution is a governing document that sets forth a country's basic rules of government and politics
What odds does the constitution require for its amendments to be proposed or ratified?
A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote to propose an amendment and a three-quarters vote to ratify it.
What are the two purposes that the separation of power serves?
First, it is part of the Madisonian system of checks and balances designed to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of one individual or one institution. Second, it contributes to good governance.
The first ten commandments is also known as _______.
The Bill of Rights
What document protects individual rights from majority rule?
The Bill of Rights
What is the basic framework of the government?
The Constitution creates a republican form of government, a federal system of government, and a system of government with the separation of powers.
What is the main objective of the Constitution?
The Constitution is a practical, working document that was written to create a more effective form of government.
What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration is a philosophical defense of a people's right to overthrow an unjust government
Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
The Declaration of Independence was written to justify the colonists' taking up arms to overthrow an existing political system.
What was the intention of each branch?
The Founders intended the legislative branch to make laws, the executive to carry them out, and the judicial branch to interpret the laws.
What is the rule of law?
The rule of law is defined as the principle that governmental authority is exercised only in accordance with public laws that are adopted and enforced according to established procedures
What does the rule of law support?
The rule of law supports government legitimacy by requiring that government action be authorized by law, thereby making it possible to hold government officials legally accountable for their actions.
Who was the main author of the Declaration of independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What is political power considered when based on the rule of law?
When political power is exercised appropriately, based on the rule of law, it is considered authority.
What is federalism?
a geographic division of power between the national government and the state governments.
The founding era includes the ______ experience
colonial
The U.S. is commonly called a democracy or republic but it is actually a ____.
constitutional democracy
The 8th Amendment prohibits ________.
cruel and unusual punishment
The 5th Amendment prohibits government from denying any person ________.
due process of law
Article II provides the powers of the _________.
executive branch
The Bill of Rights provide for _______.
individual rights
Article III provides the powers of the __________
judicial branch
Article I provides the powers of the _________.
legislative branch.
What was responsible for the triangle trade?
mercantilism
What was the triangle trade?
slaves were brought to America from Africa; sugar, cotton, and tobacco were exported to England.
What does the constitution require in order for it's laws to be changed?
super majority votes
What were the five major defects that the articles had?
taxing power, an executive official, commerce, amendment, and the power to maintain domestic order.
What was the first form of government?
the Articles of Confederation
The main limits on the power of the national government are provided where?
the bill of rights
What are civil liberties?
the constitutional rights that limit the government's power to restrict individual freedom.
What can three eras of political development American government be divided into?
the founding era; the development of the system of government; and the emergence of the modern system of government.
What law is the government based on?
the rule of law
The American Creed consists of the country's basic governing principles: __________.
the rule of law, popular sovereignty, checks and balances (principally the separation of powers and federalism), individual rights, and judicial review.
Why did anti-federalists not support ratification of the constitution?
they believed that it gave the national government too much power
Why did federalists support ratification of the constitution?
they believed that the country needed a stronger national government.
What is the checks and balances purpose?
to limit government power
Constitutional government is government according _______________.
to the rule of a basic or fundamental law
The 4th Amendment prohibits ____________.
unreasonable searches and seizures.