government

the governing body of a nation, state, or community; an institution

politics

the process by which a society decides how power and resources will be distributed within a society

institution

established law, practice, and a custom for a people

3 government powers

legislative (law), executive (enforce), judicial (interpret/settle disputes)

territory

state with land and known/recognized borders (vatican city)

sovereignty

state with supreme and absolute power within their own territory and can decide their own policies (US colonies)

the force theory

an individual or a group claims control over a territory and forces the population to submit

divine right theory

God created the state, making it sovereign- therefore God chooses a sovereign to rule

evolutionary theory

primitive families claimed a territory and the heads of families became the government

social contract theory

a population in a given territory gave up as much power to govern as needed to create a sovereign state

monarchy

f of g in which the monarch holds sovereign authority until death or retirement

constitutional monarchy

f of g in which non-elected monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state

theocracy

f of g in which God is recognized as the Supreme civil ruler. His laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities. takes form of kingdom.

anarchy

f of g referes to the state of a society being without authorities or a governing body (results in violence, confusion, chaos) *no gov is a gov*

democracy

f of g where the citizens exercise power by voting

direct democracy

is when the people vote directly on the laws or other issues that are proposed

indirect democracy

is when the people elect representatives who vote on laws on the behalf of the people

republic

f of g which individuals represent the citizen body, and exercise power according to the rule of law under a constitution

*a republic must have a constitution*

confederation

a union of sovereign states, united for purposes of common action often in relation to other states

- established for dealing with critical issues, defense, foreign relations, international trade or currency

oligarchy and aristocracy

f of power structure in which power rests with a small number of people

oligarchy

power held by weath

aristocracy

power held by privileged or hereditary

totalitarianism: dictatorships

f of g and political system that prohibits all opposition parties

dictatorship

an authoritarian f of g, where a single leader has full control

the magna carta

a medieval document signed in 1215, limiting a british absolute monarch

our government is the way it is bc

we originated from british colonies (French and Indian War/7 year war)

first continental congress came together

spring of 1774 to october

second continental congress

1774-1775, by force come together bc the nations first national gov only public opinion.

the "3" W's

wealthy, white, well-educated (no women)

the first written constitution of the US

the articles of confederation and perpetual union (ratifies 1781)

confederation of states, each state remains sovereign

1) limitations placed upon the central government rendered it ineffective at governing the continually growing american states

2) unicameral legislature, each state one vote

3) no president, no judiciary

4) could not force taxation, no standing army

constitutional convention in Philly

met 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the articles of confederation

quorum

the minimum number of members of an assembly that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid

major debates at the constitutional convention

1) representation --> large and small states fought

2) state vs federal powers --> should fed or states have more power

3) executive power

4) commerce

5) SLAVERY

once the farmers resolved to replace the articles of fed

2 major plans with the new gov: virginia plan, new jersey plan

the federalist papers

is a collection of 85 articles and essays written under the pseudonym "publius" to promote the ratification of the US constitution

consitution

body of fundamental laws which say how a government is to operate

- supreme law of the land, how gov works, protects YOUR civil rights

America's concept of democracy

1) worth of the individual

2) equality of all persons

3) majority rule, minority rights

4) necessity of compromise

5) insistence upon individual freedom

America's concept of republicanism

1) popular sovereignty

2) limited government

3) separation of power

4) checks and balances

5) judicial review

6) federalism