American Political Thought and Democracy

In a representative democracy, people elect representatives to make political decisions, while in a direct democracy, people make all political decisions themselves.

Government affects various aspects of life, including education, taxation, and public services.

People can vote, attend rallies, contribute money to campaigns, and write to their politicians.

<p>The belief that all people possess rights to life, liberty, and property and that government power should be limited.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The imposition of direct taxes and violent responses to colonial dissent triggered the need for independence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It demonstrated the inability of the national government to fund an army and maintain order.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It refers to the division of government into different branches, each with distinct responsibilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Opponents feared excessive national power and taxation; compromise and assurance of a Bill of Rights overcame some opposition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It granted citizenship to African Americans and ensured equal protection under the law for all citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Article I, Section 8; the supremacy clause of Article VI; and the Tenth Amendment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Federal government manages national issues like tax collection and defense, while state governments handle local matters like laws and education.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In cooperative federalism, both levels of government work together in policy-making; in dual federalism, they operate independently.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It established implied powers for the federal government and reinforced national supremacy over state laws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It refers to using incentives (grants) or penalties (mandates) to influence behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Federalism fosters state loyalty, encourages pragmatism, promotes pluralism, and ensures separation of powers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Federalism can lead to a race to the bottom in regulations, obstruct federal initiatives, and exacerbate disparities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>In federal systems, citizens vote for representatives; in confederation systems, power is more decentralized; in unitary systems, authority rests with central government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>There have been shifts from dual federalism to cooperative federalism, with increased federal involvement in state policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Through federal grants and regulations, the federal government influences state and local policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The ability to tax citizens, which provided funds for infrastructure and defense, strengthened the federal government's role.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Municipal governments provide services like water, waste disposal, infrastructure maintenance, and law enforcement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>This is subjective; some argue representatives should act as delegates to represent constituents' views more directly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Civil liberties limit government power to protect personal freedoms, while civil rights ensure equal treatment by authorities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Selective incorporation extends the Bill of Rights protections to the states to ensure equality in civil liberties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The establishment clause prevents an official religion, while the free exercise clause allows individuals to practice their religion freely.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Plea bargains offer a clearer resolution with typically lighter punishments compared to the uncertainty of a trial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Criminal cases involve potential jail time; civil cases generally involve monetary damages or injunctions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A right in the Bill of Rights has clear constitutional protection, while common-law rights develop through court precedents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Email interception and social media tracking infringe on privacy by allowing unauthorized access to personal information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows closely held for-profit corporations to be exempt from laws if the owners have religious objections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Civil rights ensure equal treatment by the government; civil liberties limit government power to protect freedoms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It outlawed discrimination in employment and public accommodations based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Both groups lost ancestral lands and face poverty, but Native Americans generally govern themselves while Native Hawaiians do not.</p> Signup and view all the answers