We the People Ginsberg 1-5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8fhlp2
1. Trust in Government: has declined over the past few decades
2. Government: institutions and procedures through which its land and its people
are ruled
3. Political Efficacy: to influence that government is; the belief in the ability to
influence what government does (declining).
4. Citizenship: - begins with the Greeks
- debate and discussion
- improve the public welfare
- informed and active
5. Politics: conflict over leadership, structure, policy of any organization which peo-
ple belong to
6. Authoritarian Government: - government power is held by a single individual or
small group
- recognize no limits on their power
-> but are constrained by other social institutions (business church).
7. Totalitarian Government: - government power is held by a single individual or
small group
- recognize no limits on their powers
-> seek to destroy opposition
8. Democracy Government: - citizens rule themselves
9. Representative Democracy (Republic): - the government is run by elected
officials who represent the needs of their constituents (who you elect into office).
10. Direct Democracy: people who vote directly on the issues; the citizens them-
selves vote on laws and policies
11. Political Culture: broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the
government should function
- American values: liberty, equality, democracy
12. Liberty: freedom from government control
13. Economic Freedom: capitalism and free markets
14. Personal Freedom: Bill of Rights
15. Equality: The Declaration of Independence declares that "all men are created
equal"
16. Equality of Opportunity: the ideal that all people should have the freedom to
use their talents to reach their fullest potential
17. Political Equality: the right for all people to participate in politics equally, based
on the principle of "one person, one vote".
18. Democracy: - people who choose their rulers and have some say over what
those rulers do
- what ultimate power rests with the citizenry, this is called popular sovereignty
, We the People Ginsberg 1-5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8fhlp2
- the government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the
rights of the minority as well
19. Thomas Hobbes: The Leviathan (1651)
20. John Locke: Second Treatise of Government (1689)
21. The Declaration of Independence: what it addressed:
- legitimate government can only be established by the people
- government must have the consent of the people or risk being overthrown
- belief in alienable rights
what it did NOT address:
- the contradictory nature of slavery
- the political rights of women
- the millions of Native Americans already living on the continent
22. Shay's Rebellion (1787): showed the first government's weakness
23. The Preamble: The Constitution begins with the Preamble which describes the
purpose of government:
- to promote justice
- to maintain peace at home
- to defend the nation from foreign foes
- to provide for the welfare of the country
- to secure "the blessings of liberty"
24. The Virginia Plan: - calls for a system of representation based on state popula-
tion
- opponents claimed the plan was biased in favor of the large states
25. The New Jersey Plan: - each state was to have equal representation
26. The Great Compromise: created a bicameral legislature "two homes":
- The House of Representatives: representatives apportioned by the population in
the state
- The Senate: the states have equal representation, regardless of population
27. Three-Fifths Compromise: seats in the House would be apportioned by "pop-
ulation", in which five slaves would count as three free persons
- Slave states gained more representation, but slaves were not represented
28. Separation of Powers: three different branches of government with checks and
balances
29. Divided Constituencies: officeholders are accountable to different elements of
the public ("mixed regime")
30. Federalism: the national government shares power with the states
31. Bill of Rights: citizens are guaranteed a list of Rights.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8fhlp2
1. Trust in Government: has declined over the past few decades
2. Government: institutions and procedures through which its land and its people
are ruled
3. Political Efficacy: to influence that government is; the belief in the ability to
influence what government does (declining).
4. Citizenship: - begins with the Greeks
- debate and discussion
- improve the public welfare
- informed and active
5. Politics: conflict over leadership, structure, policy of any organization which peo-
ple belong to
6. Authoritarian Government: - government power is held by a single individual or
small group
- recognize no limits on their power
-> but are constrained by other social institutions (business church).
7. Totalitarian Government: - government power is held by a single individual or
small group
- recognize no limits on their powers
-> seek to destroy opposition
8. Democracy Government: - citizens rule themselves
9. Representative Democracy (Republic): - the government is run by elected
officials who represent the needs of their constituents (who you elect into office).
10. Direct Democracy: people who vote directly on the issues; the citizens them-
selves vote on laws and policies
11. Political Culture: broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the
government should function
- American values: liberty, equality, democracy
12. Liberty: freedom from government control
13. Economic Freedom: capitalism and free markets
14. Personal Freedom: Bill of Rights
15. Equality: The Declaration of Independence declares that "all men are created
equal"
16. Equality of Opportunity: the ideal that all people should have the freedom to
use their talents to reach their fullest potential
17. Political Equality: the right for all people to participate in politics equally, based
on the principle of "one person, one vote".
18. Democracy: - people who choose their rulers and have some say over what
those rulers do
- what ultimate power rests with the citizenry, this is called popular sovereignty
, We the People Ginsberg 1-5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8fhlp2
- the government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the
rights of the minority as well
19. Thomas Hobbes: The Leviathan (1651)
20. John Locke: Second Treatise of Government (1689)
21. The Declaration of Independence: what it addressed:
- legitimate government can only be established by the people
- government must have the consent of the people or risk being overthrown
- belief in alienable rights
what it did NOT address:
- the contradictory nature of slavery
- the political rights of women
- the millions of Native Americans already living on the continent
22. Shay's Rebellion (1787): showed the first government's weakness
23. The Preamble: The Constitution begins with the Preamble which describes the
purpose of government:
- to promote justice
- to maintain peace at home
- to defend the nation from foreign foes
- to provide for the welfare of the country
- to secure "the blessings of liberty"
24. The Virginia Plan: - calls for a system of representation based on state popula-
tion
- opponents claimed the plan was biased in favor of the large states
25. The New Jersey Plan: - each state was to have equal representation
26. The Great Compromise: created a bicameral legislature "two homes":
- The House of Representatives: representatives apportioned by the population in
the state
- The Senate: the states have equal representation, regardless of population
27. Three-Fifths Compromise: seats in the House would be apportioned by "pop-
ulation", in which five slaves would count as three free persons
- Slave states gained more representation, but slaves were not represented
28. Separation of Powers: three different branches of government with checks and
balances
29. Divided Constituencies: officeholders are accountable to different elements of
the public ("mixed regime")
30. Federalism: the national government shares power with the states
31. Bill of Rights: citizens are guaranteed a list of Rights.
