Explain:
How did Socrates and Aristotle contribute to political philosophy?
- Each contributed to modern-day discussions about justice, the organization of society, and what the best form of government is.
- Socrates discussed the concept of a philosopher king, an enlightened man that rules a society with the best intentions of the people in mind.
- Aristotle created the concept of deductive reasoning, which is using basic premises to build up to larger truths - an important tool for both logic and science.
Explain:
How did Augustine and Aquinas contribute to political philosophy?
- Saw humans as innately political beings
- Sought to define the relationship between human and divine law.
- Central focus was preservation of peace.
- Concept of the just war, or the morally acceptable use of state violence.
Augustine recognized that an imperfect world sometimes demanded imperfect solutions, while Aquinas defined the conditions that made a war just.
Define:
social contract
The unspoken agreement between individuals to give up certain natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of society.
Example: Citizens of a new colony agree to form a democratic government that enacts laws to protect their rights and property. If the government becomes tyrannical, they believe they have the right to revolt and establish a new government.
Explain:
What is the Enlightenment Philosophy of social contract?
- It holds that human beings in a state of nature, or before they are part of a society, will voluntarily give up some of their rights in order to join a society.
- Society then provides them with safety, prosperity, and more material goods than they would have had otherwise.
Explain:
How does Locke see the social contract?
- Humans are born neutral (neither good nor bad).
- Humans will agree to give up some of their natural rights in order to enjoy the benefits of a society, as long as government protects the rights that individuals give up.
Identify:
Types of government.
- Monarchy
- Aristocracy
- Oligarchy
- Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Representative Democracy
- Theocracy
- Autocracy
- Constitutional Monarchy
- Democratic Republic
Describe:
federalism
A system in which the power is constitutionally divided between the national government and the constituent units (in the U.S. called states).
The United States was the first country with a modern federal constitution, adopted in 1789.
Explain:
How does federalism operate?
- Clearly define national and states’ powers.
- Empower courts to solve disputes between the federal and state governments.
- Introduce supremacy of federal law over state law.
Explain:
How did the principles of dual federalism influence the balance of power between state and federal governments in the United States during the 19th century?
- Established a division of powers, with the state and federal governments operating independently within their own spheres of authority.
- Led to significant autonomy for state governments and limiting federal intervention in state matters.
- Reinforced by key Supreme Court decisions, such as McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden.
Both cases delineated the boundaries of federal and state powers and emphasized the sovereignty of each within their respective domains.
Explain:
How does the concept of popular sovereignty differ from legal or territorial sovereignty?
- Popular sovereignty: principle that the authority of a government is derived from the consent of the governed.
- Legal or territorial sovereignty: recognized authority of a state over a defined geographic area and its legal framework regardless of the people’s consent.
Explain:
How does the principle of popular sovereignty underpin the framework of the U.S. Constitution, and in what ways is it reflected in the structure of American government and the rights of citizens?
- Establishes that the government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, reflected in the preamble’s affirmation of “We the People.”
- Seen through democratic processes such as elections, the protection of individual rights, and the system of checks and balances, ensuring that government power remains accountable to the citizens it serves.
Identify:
4 examples of federal powers.
- The authority to declare war.
- Raise and maintain an army and navy.
- Regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
- Coin money.
Identify:
4 examples of state powers.
- Education
- Transportation
- Law Enforcement
- Health and Safety Regulations
The powers delegated to state governments are referred to as reserve powers. These powers are granted to the states by the Tenth Amendment.
Define:
devolution
The transfer of power from higher to lower levels of government.
Describe:
Role of local governments.
To run the local city, town, or county. This includes managing the following:
- Police departments
- Fire departments
- Libraries
- Local schools
- Utilities
Explain:
Legislative Branch and its powers.
- The main power of it is to pass laws.
- The powers of it are listed in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. These include the power to declare war, borrow money, establish post offices and regulate commerce.
Explain:
Judicial Branch and its powers.
- Interprets the U.S. Constitution.
- Includes criminal and civil courts.
- Supreme Court is the highest court, final say on constitutional matters.
- Uses judicial review, where it determines which laws and policies are constitutional and which are not.
Explain:
Executive Branch and its powers.
- Responsible for implementing and enforcing federal laws passed by Congress, ensuring that they are carried out effectively.
- Oversees various government agencies and departments, managing the day-to-day operations of the federal government and ensuring that services are delivered to the public.
- Manages foreign relations, negotiates treaties (with Senate approval), and directs national defense and military operations, serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Explain:
What are the most significant challenges and responsibilities faced by a U.S. President in the modern era?
- Address complex domestic issues such as healthcare, economic inequality, education, and infrastructure.
- Navigate an increasingly interconnected and volatile global landscape.
- Manage relationships with allies and adversaries.
- Address global threats like terrorism and climate change.
- Maintain U.S. leadership in international organizations.
Explain:
What are civil liberties and why are they important?
- Fundamental rights and freedoms that are protected by law from governmental interference.
- Safeguard personal freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy.
Explain:
What are civil rights and why are they significant?
- Rights of individuals to receive equal treatment and be free from discrimination in various spheres of life, including education, employment, housing, and access to public facilities.
- Designed to ensure that all individuals have equal protection under the law and are often enforced through legislation and court decisions.
Explain:
Difference between direct and indirect elections.
- A direct election means that the popular vote directly determines the outcome of an election. The popular vote refers to the actual votes of the people. The U.S. uses this for electing representatives.
- An indirect election, on the other hand, is one in which an intermediary body, elected by the people, is responsible for the outcome of an election. The Electoral College that determines the president is an example of a process in an indirect election. The U.S. uses this for the presidency.
Explain:
runoff election
- Many elections require the winner to receive a majority or other percentage of the votes cast. If no candidate receives enough votes to be declared the winner in the original election, a runoff election will be held.
- Runoff is an election held when no single candidate receives enough votes to reach the threshold required by law. This circumstance is accomplished by eliminating candidates that received the fewest votes.
Define:
government
- System or group of individuals with the authority to make and enforce laws and policies for a specific political entity, such as a state or nation.
- Encompasses various institutions and structures that manage public affairs, maintain order, provide services, and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens.
