political party
A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy
platform
stance on issues
fractions
another name for a political party
importance of a political party
embrace different opinions on certain topics
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution that explains the citizens basic rights and freedoms
1 amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
2 amendment
Right to bear arms
3 amendment
Quartering of soldiers
4 amendment
No unreasonable search and seizure
5 Amendment
double jeopardy, self incrimination, due process
6 Amendment
Right to a speedy and public trial
7 amendment
Right to trial by jury
8 Amendment
No excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment
9 amendment
Protects people's rights that are not listed in the Constitution.
10 Amendment
gives rights to the state
Why is it important to make changes to the constitution?
allows the society and country to adopt, change, and grow to further embrace the future.
What is needed to change the constitution? (adding or removing a law)
Both houses propose an amendment with a two-thirds vote, and three-fourths of the state legislatures approve. ps it is hard to change, add, or remove a law
process of a law
A bill starts off by being introduced in either chamber of Congress, a senator, or representative who sponsors it.
The bill is then voted on.
If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, d
Commission hearings
do work within the goverment like:
study issues
hold public hearings to listen to testimonies
consult experts
make recommendations to law makers
legislations
laws
what makes a country unique
different history
different culture
different forms of gov
bc the gov a country has reflect it's cultural values and traditions
what government has no leader
anarchy
what government has one leader
monarchy and dictatorship
what government has few leaders
oligarchy and junta
what government has the people giving them power
democracy (rep and direct)
what happens at a committee hearing
legislatures determine the fate of a bill of law
Federal Government
power separated into the three branches:
executive
legislative
judicial
Operate on three different levels:
federal (national)
state
local
Executive Branch
enforces the laws (President, Vice President, Cabinet)
Legislative Branch
makes the laws, Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives)
Judicial Branch
interprets the laws and decides whether or not they are constitutional (Supreme Court)
Pros of federal government
separates power amongst branches, so no branch gets too much power
Cons of federal government
can take a long time for a legislation to move through the system
federal system
people give the state gov and the national gov power
unitary system
national government gives the state gov power
confederation
state government gives the national government power
colonial rule
when a more powerful/wealthily country rules over a smaller/weaker country
parliament
a form of government, laws, and rules that are inherited when a smaller country become part of a larger
presidential vs parliamentary
The major difference between these two systems is that in a Presidential system, the executive leader, the President, is directly voted upon by the people (Or via a body elected specifically for the purpose of electing the president, and no other purpose)
Popular Sovereignty
power of the people
the people are the source of the government power
the people give the government permission to do things through voting
consent of the governed
people's permission
foments
instigate or foster; promote growth or developement
faction
a party or a group within the gov that is often self serving
rankness
growing with excessive luxuriance; vigorous and tall of growth
majority rule
a party most people rep
john loche
he believed in the natural rights which influenced the bill of rights
Natural Rights
Life, Liberty, and Property
incumbent
An officeholder who is seeking reelection.
executive agreements
can be made by the president without approval from congress
Treaties
formal and binding agreement that has to be approved by 2/3 of the congress (treaties end war)
referendum
when people vote directly on a issue
public policy
a rule that a community has to follow to fix a problem in their society
democracy
government by the people
Oligarchy
A government ruled by a few powerful people
junta
a military or political group that rules a country after taking power by force
Monarchy
A government ruled by a king or queen
Dictatorship
A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.
anarchy
a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.
the divine theory
God has chosen certain people to rule
Force Theory
Theory that people were forced to submit to an individual's rule; state born of force
Social Contract Theory
A voluntary agreement between the government and the governed
Evolutionary Theory
ruler runs in bloodline