Government Forms Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

On what three bases do we classify governments?

Classification based on who can participate, 2) The geographical distribution of government power, 3) The relationship between legislative and executive branches of government.

Which government classification do we place democracies and dictatorships?

These are classified based on who can participate.

Explain what a democracy is. From where does the term 'democracy' come?

In democracy, the government is conducted with consent of the people. The term comes from the Greek word 'demos' meaning people and 'kratia' meaning rule.

Where does power/authority reside in a democracy according to Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address?

'Government of the people, by the people, for the people.' Signup and view all the answers

Describe 'direct democracy.'

Direct democracy is where the will of the people is translated into law by the people themselves, in mass meetings. It works best in small communities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Landsgemeinde?

A form of direct democracy used in small Swiss towns since the Middle Ages. Signup and view all the answers

Describe 'indirect democracy.'

A small chosen group of people act as representatives for the rest. People can express approval or disapproval at elections. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a dictatorship. How do dictators maintain control?

A dictatorship is a form of government where the ruling person does not care for the will of the people. They maintain control through power and authority. Signup and view all the answers

Name and describe the three forms of government based on the geographic distribution of power.

<ol> <li>Unitary - centralized government with all powers held by a single government, 2) Federal - powers divided between central and local government, 3) Confederate - alliance of independent states with limited confederate powers.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

Name and describe the two forms of government based on the relationship between legislative and executive branches.

<ol> <li>Presidential - separation of powers between legislative and executive branches, 2) Parliamentary - combined legislative and executive branches.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Supremacy Clause mean?

It joins the federal and state government to form a single federal government unit. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how divided government works.

Divided government assigns powers to the National Government, while the rest are reserved for States. Neither level can change their powers given by law. Signup and view all the answers

What are federalism's major strengths?

Allows local action in local concerns and national action in national matters. It enables collective action in emergencies. Signup and view all the answers

Define delegated power.

Power granted from the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

Define expressed power.

Spelled out specifically in the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

Define implied power.

Reasonably suggested in the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

Name 3 powers delegated to the National Government.

Maintain military & declare war, make money, regulate interstate trade. Signup and view all the answers

Name 3 powers reserved for State Government.

Establish public schools, regulate trade within the states, provide public safety. Signup and view all the answers

Name 2 powers not granted to either the state or federal government.

Cannot take private property without paying, cannot conduct illegal searches. Signup and view all the answers

Name 2 powers not granted to the federal government.

Cannot create a national public school system, cannot create marriage or divorce laws. Signup and view all the answers

Name 2 powers not granted to state governments.

Cannot tax the federal government, cannot join another country. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term 'reserved' powers.

Power the Constitution doesn't grant to the federal government but not specifically denied to the states. Signup and view all the answers

In which Amendment are all powers that are not granted to the federal government reserved to the states?

10th. Signup and view all the answers

What are 'concurrent powers'?

Both the federal and the state governments can do this. Signup and view all the answers

Name 2 concurrent powers.

Collect taxes, crime and punishment (laws and consequences). Signup and view all the answers

What are exclusive powers?

Granted only to the federal government and not to the states. Signup and view all the answers

Define federalism.

A system of government in which a written constitution divides government power between a national government and several smaller regional governments (states). Signup and view all the answers

McCulloch v Maryland (Case): Who were the parties?

Legislative - Maryland and Judicial - McCulloch bank. Signup and view all the answers

McCulloch v Maryland (case): Maryland created a state tax that was not illegal, but what did it do to the bank?

It crippled the bank by placing a tax on every loan the bank made. Signup and view all the answers

McCulloch v Maryland (case): What was significant about the case?

It was the first time 'implied power' had been tested, and it upheld that the national government cannot be taxed by the state. Signup and view all the answers

McCulloch v Maryland (Case): Which party won in Maryland state courts?

Maryland won the case (the legislative branch won). Signup and view all the answers

McCulloch v Maryland (appeal): Who presided in Supreme Court and how did he rule?

John Marshall presided and he ruled to overturn the decision based on what supremacy law says. Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Government Classification

Governments are classified on three bases: who can participate, geographical power distribution, and legislative-executive relationships.
Democracies and dictatorships are categorized primarily based on participation.

Democracy

In a democracy, the government operates with the consent of the people.
The term "democracy" originates from Greek, combining "demos" (people) and "kratia" (rule).
According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy means a "government of the people, by the people, for the people".

Types of Democracy

Direct democracy (pure democracy) allows people to directly influence laws in small communities; not feasible at the national level.
The Landsgemeinde represents a historic form of direct democracy in Swiss towns.
Indirect democracy involves elected representatives making decisions on behalf of the populace, allowing for voter approval or disapproval at elections.

Dictatorship

A dictatorship features a ruler who is not accountable to the public, representing the most common and oldest government form worldwide.
Dictators maintain control through power and authority over the citizens.

Geographic Distribution of Power

Three government forms based on geographic power distribution:
- Unitary: Centralized governance with all powers held by one government.
- Federal: Dual government structure, sharing powers between central and local governments.
- Confederate: Alliance of independent states with limited central government powers.

Legislative and Executive Relationships

Two forms of government classification exist in terms of legislative-executive relationships:
- Presidential: Clear separation of powers between legislative and executive branches.
- Parliamentary: Combined executive and legislative branches, featuring an executive and cabinet.

Powers in Federalism

Supremacy Clause integrates federal and state governments into a unified federal system.
Divided government theory allocates powers to the national government while reserving others for the states.
Federalism promotes local action in local matters and national action in larger issues, especially during crises.

Types of Powers

Delegated power: Authority granted by the Constitution.
Expressed power: Specifically outlined in the Constitution (also known as numbered powers).
Implied power: Reasonably suggested by the Constitution, termed as practical or useful.

Governmental Powers

Exclusive powers of the national government include maintaining the military, declaring war, and regulating interstate trade.
Reserved powers of the states involve establishing public schools, regulating intrastate trade, and ensuring public safety.
Concurrent powers shared by both levels of government include collecting taxes and law enforcement.

Limitations on Powers

Neither level may take property without compensation, conduct illegal searches, or deny trial rights.
The federal government cannot establish a national education system or govern marriage and divorce laws.
State governments cannot tax federal entities or enter into alliances with other states.

Reserved Powers and Concurrent Powers

Reserved powers are those not granted to the federal government but are not explicitly denied to states, outlined in the 10th Amendment.
Concurrent powers can be exercised by both levels of government.

McCulloch v. Maryland Case

Parties involved: Maryland (legislative) vs. McCulloch Bank (judicial).
Maryland's state tax was deemed crippling for the bank, impeding its operations.
The case was significant as it was the first to test "implied power," confirming states cannot tax the national government.
Maryland initially won in state courts, but the Supreme Court ruling by John Marshall reversed this, reinforcing supremacy of federal law.

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