Politics and government mid term 2013 fall

  1. Article I section 8 clause 18 is
    elastic clause - gives congress the power to do whatever they want
  2. Politics is?
    the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups that can grant or withhold benefits or priveleges.

    (you can have politics anywhere where someone can give you something
  3. Government is?
    Preeminent institution within society it has ultimate authority to decide how conflicts will be resolved and how benefits and priveleges will be allocated
  4. Order?
    peace and security - the state of
  5. Liberty?
    greatest freedom of an individual consistent with the fredom of other individuals in society.  NOt absolute don't live on earth by yourself
  6. Why government necessary?
    revolve around core values of liberty order equality and progress.

    To secure the rights of the people that are governed
  7. Where can liberty be limited?
    HARM can be used as a legitimate limiting principle.  I'm free to do what ever I wish to do unless it involves cause harm to you
  8. Aristotle true forms of government are
    • Monarchy (royalty)
    • aristocracy (few best)
    • constitutional polis (many)
    • the focus is outward towards the people; focus on community
  9. Aristotles perverted forms of government?
    • Tyranny
    • Oligarchy (govt by the few)
    • Democracy (majority is least perverted form)

    focus is inward
  10. What is and what does a Republic do?
    takes care of business through representation (bring together a bunch of aristocrats who listened to the voice of the people and serve as filter of this voice)

    We limit these people with a constitution that has separte of powers and checks and balances
  11. Democracy in U.S.?
    what we have is not a true democracy (ruled by the people)  hard to have everyone participate
  12. What government do we have in the U.S.?
    Constitutional republic
  13. Notion that all power rests with the people being governed is?
    • Popular Sovereignty
    • Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed
  14. Independent and supreme political power rests within a defined territory?
    • Sovereignty
    • e.g. state
  15. What is a state?
    need a population and a defined territory and be soverign
  16. What are the systems of structuring relationships between state governments and national governments?
    Unitary (go from the top down; decisions made from the top)

    Confederal - go from the bottom up

    Federalism - power that rests in both the national government and state government
  17. What is the constitutional basis for federalism; how do we get federalism out of the constitution?
    Enumerated powers: article I section 8 = congress

    Implied powers: clause 18 (elastic clause) powers excercised by congress which are not explicitly given by the constitution but are necessary and proper to execute the powers which are.
  18. What unalienable rights does constitution give us (according to Jefferson)
    life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
  19. Why is government instituted among men? (according to jefferson)
    to protect and secure the unalienable rights we have
  20. What can we do if government does not secure the rights we have?
    • our right to alter or abolish it
    • "the tree of liberty should be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots
  21. Which branch of government does Article I establish?
    Legislative (congress)
  22. The president is established by which article?
    Article II (commander and chief of military)
  23. Which article establishes the judiciary branch?
    Article III (courts)
  24. What are the three branches of government?
    • Executive
    • legislative
    • judicial
  25. What does the executive branch do?
    enforce law; implements the laws made this is the office of the president
  26. What does the legislative branch do?
    power to make laws - rules must be obeyed (congress: house, senate)
  27. What does the judicial branch do?
    interprets the law - supreme court and any other court congress needs to create. Congress cannot add to the courts jurisdiction
  28. what are enumerated powers?
    article I section 8 list of powers of congress
  29. What are implied powers?
    powers that congress has that are not specifically listed in the constitution but that they need to use to uphold the other powers that are listed. Elastic clause (18)
  30. Unitary government works how?
    decisions are made from the top down
  31. how does confederal government work?
    decisions made from the bottom up.
  32. How is federalism structured and work?
    Power that rests in both the national and state governments
Author
anatomy2012
ID
238968
Card Set
Politics and government mid term 2013 fall
Description
flash cards for politics and government
Updated