American Government Laws and Institutions PSCI 1040 Section 010 Blackstone Fall 2014 Unit 1 Exam Review Sheet Politics in the United States and Texas Law system of rules that a community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties Political institutions organization that manages potential conflicts between political rivals helps them find mutually acceptable solutions and makes and enforces society s collective agreements Politics the process by which competing interests determine who gets what when and how Policy intentional action by government to achieve some goal Government an institution authorized to exercise force to control human behavior striking balance between liberty and order the institutions and processes through which public policies are made for society Governmental functions protect from unlawful activity regulate social and economic relationships provision of services and defense against foreign aggression Types of democracy democracy is a system of government in which power is vested in the people and exercised by them either directly or indirectly through elected representatives Direct democracy is ordinary people are the government and make all laws Representative democracy is indirect people choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf Political Ideology set of concrete political beliefs that offers a philosophy for thinking about the scope of government Ex Liberals and conservatives Party identification psychological attachment to a political party People can have political ideology and not have a party identification Liberalism liberal political philosophy placing primary importance on individual liberty Not the same as political ideology Individualism political philosophy that stresses independence and self reliance Capitalism economic system in which businesses and key industries are privately owned and in which individuals acting on their own with others are free to create businesses U S and Texas Constitutions Constitution definition document set of documents that establish the basic rules and procedures for how a society shall be governed Declaration of Independence purpose and content 1776 Articles of Confederation especially problems with 1781 No authority to impose taxes no provision for a central leader couldn t regulate interstate activity amendment required unanimous consent congress had to rely on states 9 13 had to approve laws to go into effect Virginia Plan nationalist central government stronger bicameral New Jersey Plan unicameral legislature equal modified small parts of constitution The Great Connecticut Compromise senate and house of representatives are congress representatives direct tax appointed among states according to their numbers senate composed equal The Constitution and Slavery 3 5 Compromise is each slave is 3 5 a person for representatives in house and taxes The slave trade clause said congress cant ban import of slaves until 1808 The Electoral College how the president would be chosen Constitutional amendment process Indirect Election senate is voted by states president is voted by states to Electoral College Supreme Court is through president U S Senate Republicanism form of government in which power resides in people and is exercised through elected representatives Separation of powers assignment of different components of governmental power to different institutions Checks and balances constitutional division of powers into separate institutions that gives each institution the power to block the actions of the others Federalists favored a constitution establishing a strong central government limiting state power didn t think a bill of rights was necessary mostly large farmers merchants Anti Federalists opposed a strong central government supported power and influence of the states wanted bill of rights thought the articles of confederation needed to be amended not abandoned Organization of the Constitution by Article preamble statement of purpose stronger national government Article 1 legislative power bicameral congress congressional selection enumerated powers Article 2 executive power presidential selection electoral college Article 3 judicial power selection Supreme Court Article 4 state s powers and limits full faith and credit clause Article 5 amendments Article 7 ratification and process of adoption Bill of Rights know what each of the first 10 amendments to the U S Constitution does I speech press assembly religion petition II bear arms originally for militia III no quartering IV no unreasonable search and seizure V due process rights of criminally accused VI speedy trial impartial jury VII right to jury in civil cases 20 VIII no cruel and unusual punishment IX we have other rights not listed X default to states reserved powers State of Texas Constitution 1876 present adopted at the end of reconstruction period Its goal was to undo radical republican agenda decentralize government reduces taxes and state salaries restricts expenditures taxes and state debt It had a bill of rights bicameral legislature head of executive is governor 6 different courts we elect multiple executives Similarities and differences between the United States and Texas Constitutions Texas is long detailed 485 amendments 7 constitutions U S has had 2 constitutions not specific short and 27 amendments Federalism Dual sovereignty a doctrine holding that more than one sovereign as a state Sovereignty posses power government and the federal government Federalism definition a system of government in which sovereignty is constitutionally divided between national and state governments Confederalism subnational is more powerful articles of confederation Unitary government national is more powerful like Great Britian Requirements of federalism grants power to national and states limits on power national state relationships and state state relationships Relationship between state and local governments states can alter the boundaries of a local government expand narrow its power or even abolish it State to local is unitary Dillon s Rule local governments have no inherent sovereignty Constitutional powers of the national government regulate interstate commerce national defense currency tariffs trade treaties Constitutional powers of the state government intrastate commerce family law criminal law Police powers establish laws protecting welfare safety and health of public states Powers