Exam Review

(1)

Exam Review

(2)

(3)

• Power is concentrated in the national, or

central government.

• The national government can create

regional governments:

– Have powers given to them by national government

• Advantage: promotes national unity

because all parts of the country must

follow the same laws.

(4)

(5)

• Power is divided between the national

government and the regional governments.

• The regional governments laws cannot go

against the national governments laws.

• Advantage: gives flexibility to regional

governments to meet its citizens needs

• Disadvantage: regions may have varying

laws, conflict could arise between the

(6)

(7)

• The regional governments hold most of the

power.

• The regional governments give the national

government only as much power as it needs

to maintain security and coordinate activity

among the regions.

• Advantage: allows regional governments to

unite while meeting local needs, limited the

national government-no authoritarian regime

• Disadvantage: weak national government

(8)

Monarchy: Rule by one hereditary

ruler

• Oldest form of government • Advantages:

– Efficient: the monarch makes decisions that are carried out-no political fighting

– Clear line of succession: people know who the next ruler will be – Loyalty to a ruling family can be a strong bond holding a nation

together • Disadvantages:

– Varying quality from generation to generation

(9)

Dictatorships: Rule by the One

powerful leader

• Dictators take and hold power by force,

sometimes in a coup d’etat

– The sudden overthrow of a government during a time of political unrest or national emergency

• Advantages:

– One leader can efficiently get things done

– Maintain peace and order

• Disadvantage:

(10)

Theocracy: Rule by the few

religious leaders

• Religious leaders form the government

• Ancient city-states were commonly ruled by

theocracies

• Advantages:

– Political and social unity

– Political decisions are in line with the people’s moral values and beliefs

• Disadvantages:

(11)

Single-Party State: Rule by the

political elite

• One political party governs

• Leading members of the party have the power

– Usually those who have more power, wealth, or talent than the others

• Advantage:

– Easy to pass laws because there is no opposition

• Disadvantage:

(12)

Democracies

• Direct Democracy: rule by all citizens

• Parliamentary Democracy: voters elect

lawmakers to represent them in the

nation’s parliament

(13)

Thomas Hobbes

(1588-1679)

• English Philosopher

• Established idea of Social Contract Theory

–

Give up freedom for Security

• People were too selfish to govern

themselves, needed a strong leader

• Laid the groundwork for the idea that

(14)

John Locke

(1632-1704)

• English Philosopher

• Published Second Treatise on

Government

• All people are equal and enjoy certain

rights (natural rights) based on being

human

(15)

Baron De Montesqieu

(1689-1755)

• French Philosopher

• Governments should be organized to keep

power from one group or person

• Proposed 3 Branch system of Government

(Separation of Powers)

(16)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

(1712-1778)

• Swiss born French Philosopher

• Published The Social Contract

• Expanded idea of Social Contract Theory

– In order for government to have legitimacy it must be based on popular sovereignty (will of the

people)

• Government has the right to secure freedom for the people, if they do no they have no reason to exist

• Tremendous influence on Thomas Paine, Common

(17)

Constitutional Convention

Articles of Confederation

• Confederal system with Uni-cameral legislature

• No Chief Executive or Executive Branch

• No Federal Court System

• No law could be passed unless 9/13 states ratified

• No Article could be amended unless all 13 states ratified

Constitution

• Federal System with Bi-Cameral legislature

• House of Reps-population

• Senate-Equal representation

• Laws passed with

Congressional majority

• Constitution can be

(18)

Constitutional Convention

Anti-Federalists

• Jefferson, Henry

• Concerned

– National Govt. too powerful

– No Bill of Rights in Constitution

– National Govt. maintaining army in peacetime

– Congress granted too much power bc of elastic clause

– President too powerful (King George)

Federalists

• Madison, Hamilton, Jay

• 85 essays called Federalist Papers

– Essays answered questions of Anti-Federalists

– Washington calls for B of R in inaugural address

– Checks and Balances would protect against tyranny

(19)

Constitutional Convention

Virginia Plan

• Favored by Large States

• Bi-cameral Legislature

• All based on Population

New Jersey Plan

• Favored by Small States

• Uni-Cameral Legislature

• Equal Representation

Connecticut Compromise/Great Compromise/Sherman’s Plan

• Bi-Cameral Legislature

• Senate-Equal Rep

• House of Reps-Population

3/5th Compromise

(20)

Powers

• Expressed Powers –

National Government Powers (coin money, post office, declare war, etc.)

• Concurrent Powers –

Shared between National and State Governments (collect taxes, establish

courts, borrow money, etc.)

(21)

More Power

• Enumerated Powers – powers specifically

listed in the Constitution (taxes, money, war)

• Implied Powers – not listed, legislature claims

as part of lawmaking responsibility

– Necessary and Proper/Elastic Clause – power of

Congress can be stretched to cover a variety of issues and circumstances

– Supremacy Clause – National law will always

(22)

Important Cases

• Marbury v Madison – Judicial Review

• McCullough v Maryland – Supremacy Clause

• US v Nixon – Rule of Law, no one is above the law

• Goss v Lopez – Student Due Process

• Dred Scott v Sanford – African Americans were

not citizens, reversed with 14

th

Amendment

• Plessy v Ferguson – Separate facilities were equal

under the law, upheld segregation

• Brown v Bd. of Ed. – Separate facilities were

(23)

Structure of the Constitution

• Preamble

• Article I: Legislative Branch

• Article II: Executive Branch

• Article III: Judicial Branch

• Article IV: Relations Among States

th