WGU American Politics and the US Constitution C963/ Social Studies Boards

WGU American Politics and the US Constitution C963/ Social Studies Boards Leave the first rating Students also studied Terms in this set (408) Save American Government Study Guide...177 terms whodi15Preview

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POLS 11

50 terms ana Thomas HobbesEnglish materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings (1588-1679) one of the 1sts to contribute to the idea of a social contract- he claimed society is not something natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us....Instead of being passive members of society, we are its creator, and the society we create has the purpose of serving our needs. Therefore, we are in control of society, rather than its being in control of us.Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book Leviathan, in which he expounds an influential formulation of social contract theory.State of Naturetheory, idea. A time period in history before any government, rulers, and kings.During this time period, people lived in "nature" and had NATURAL RIGHTS.natural rightsin nature, people had freedom of speech/press/vote, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom to protect themselves (with weapons), property rights, ect. John Locke- life, liberty and property *Natural Rights define out

INDIVIDUAL IDENITY= Human nature. *Locke: yet it is hard and inconvenient to

Live in Nature

John Locke17th century English philosopher who opposed the Divine Right of Kings and who asserted that people have a natural right to life, liberty, and property.English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.Social Contract TheoryThe belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence.social = society is created by the people. People come out of nature to create a society or nation.Contract= people create/vote for the laws, Governments, & Leaders......an agreement between people and government where citizens consent to the government as long as the government protects their natural rights.SovereigntyThe Power & Authority to Rule or Govern.We believe that Government's power comes from the consent, power and rights of the people. (Popular Sovernty) Consensual political ruleMajority Rule. People Vote (political equality) & whoever gets the most votes wins in our elections & laws what were the the primary goals of the Articles of Confederation?to create a confederation of states whereby each state retained "its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right...not...expressly delegated to the United States in Congress assembled." -to secure the blessings of liberty. no basic rights will ever be taken away.-to promote the general welfare. maintain order, regulate commerce, grant patents, protect individual liberties.-to provide for the common defense. ...-to insure domestic tranquility. ...-to establish justice. ...-to form a more perfect union.What was the structure of government under the Articles of Confederation?

• house (I chamber) in a legislative branch.

NO president, NO courts (no judiciary or executive branches) ONLY the legislative branch to pass laws....(Supposed to take care of Indian affairs, foreign relations, letting new states be formed, settle disputes, have a post office, deal with other countries, declare war)

What were some weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?This congress in the legislative branch could pass laws, but could not enforce them. It was up to the states to enforce laws...because it could not enforce it's own laws; it could not tax the people, could not set up an army. There was no president, or courts. Kept falling deeper into debt.Too much power for the STATE government with a WEAK national, Confederation Government.We were basically acting like the Divided States of America...Every state government acted like it was it's own country. Every state printed it's own $$..Every state was making it's own treaties with other countries (Supposed to be the confederate government's job...,but again, they could not enforce their own laws, and the states often opted not to follow their laws) ...after 5 years, it was a complete mess....led to the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787.Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 they ended up deciding they couldn't fix the confederation government; and they needed to write a new government. (only 12 states came to this meeting...not 13.Rhode island did not come) Meeting took 100 Days!What was the Virginia Plan?It was written by James Madison.-Proposed a new government with 3 branches of government- legislative, executive, and Judicial -Proposed having TWO elected groups in the Legislative Branch (Or 2 chambers - bicameral- means 2 groups or chambers) 2 different groups that have to agree for a new law to be written.-The House of Representatives should be elected by the people, and the Senate would be elected by the state legislatures.-The number of elected representatives and senators would be based on population size of the states.

• Other Powers- The legislature could tax, regulate interstate trade, strike down

unconstitutional state laws, and use armed forces to enforce.Large states with higher population loved this plan...small states did not like the Virginia plan, and especially did not like the population size part of this plan.What was the New Jersey Plan?written by William Paterson "Father"

• also wanted 3 branches of gov. (leg, exec, and Judicial,
• Proposed 1 chamber (or house- unicameral.)
• All states should be represented equally, so- all states have the SAME vote

and the SAME power.What was the Great Compromise?▪ Compromise (brought both Virginia and New Jersey plans together) proposed by Robert Sherman from Connecticut (Sometimes called the Connecticut Plan) • The Legislative Branch would be based on Both population size and equal representation.• TWO groups or chambers = Bicameralism

• The House of Representatives would be elected directly by the people & be

based on the POPULATION SIZE in each state (VA PLAN)

• The Senate is where every state would be equally represented. (Two senators

per State (NJ Plan)

What is the Three-Fifths compromise?Came about during/because of the Great Compromise.Now each state wanted as much population as possible for the proposed House of Representatives...-The 3/5ths compromise allowed states to count slaves as part of each of their populations size. 5 slaves = 3 votes.At this time 10 out of the 13 states allowed slavery. (northern & southern states had slavery....after the constitution was written, it didn't take the northern states long to outlaw slavery.) 3/5ths compromised continued for a while later as the southern states continued to allow slavery.What were the Anti-Federalist's views on the scope and powers of the government?-Thought the new Federal Government was TOO big and too powerful, and would TAKE AWAY the rights of the people.-Wanted a Bill of Rights to Protect their liberties (their STRONGEST argument)

• Thought the new president would turn into a king.

What was the purpose and main arguments made in Federalist #10 -Pure democracies are short lived, full of conflict, volatility, and excessiveness.

- Factions:

o-How can we keep our FREEDOMS and Prevent FACTIONS from taking over??▪ The principle tasks of modern legislation is "the regulation of these various and interfering interests" ▪ Also, Majority factions/groups could tyrannize minorities- called The "Tyranny of the Majority" **Madison explained that a "strong, extended Republic (Meaning the new, Strong Federal Government in the 2nd US Constitution)—splint into 3 branches with checks and Balances—will STOP extreme factions from taking over & PROTCT our liberties better than the Articles of Confederation.FactionsGroups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and had the potential to cause instability in government."a number of citizens whether...a majority or minority who 1) are united and actuated by the same common impulse or passions or of interests, and 2) adverse to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.What was the purpose and main arguments made in Federalist #51.James Maddison explains the 3 branches of government, their separate powers; why they needed to be separated, as well as explains all the checks and balances that they would have over each other to stop each other / prevent one branch from taking over.What is the purpose of having separations of powers? Prevents monopoly of power or tyranny in one leader, one branch, or group.