American Politics and the US Constitution with Correct
answers
What was the Age of Enlightenment period (late 1600s-early 1800s) - ✔✔It was a time that
redefined human existence in such a way that it transitioned the political and religious absolutism
of the Middle Ages to an existence more compatible with human individuality and liberty. From
it come our beliefs about individualism, equality, liberty, rights of property, and freedom of
religion. The Enlightenment also gives us government by consent, representative democracy, and
constitutionalism. Indeed, these ideas became central to the formation of an American political
identity.
How did thinking about the purpose and role of government change during the Age of
Enlightenment? - ✔✔
What are natural rights? - ✔✔The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by
God; no government may take away
What did John Locke mean when he argued that individuals each have a 'natural right" to life,
liberty, and private property - ✔✔"Natural" refers to the fact that these are inherent to our
existence and, therefore, a part of us. "Rights" means that we are free to exercise them without
needing the permission of others
What was Locke's view on human existence in an imagined "state of nature" - ✔✔its
inconvenient
What did Montesquieu recommend in 'Spirit of the Laws' (1748) regarding the division of
political power in society - ✔✔He argues for a separation of powers: legislative, executive, and
judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the harm each might do.
State of Nature - ✔✔A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence
Due Process - ✔✔The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a
fair procedure which it applies equally to all
What does "social contract theory" generally assert about the relationship between government
and the people in a society - ✔✔A powerful, foundational agreement between people and their
government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their
natural rights.
According to the social contract, government is based on the consent of the ... - ✔✔both parties
,What does the phrase government is based on the consent of both parties mean - ✔✔in order for
s a social contract to work every party involved has to agree
Social Contract - ✔✔A powerful, foundational agreement between people and their government
in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Direct Democracy - ✔✔A form of democracy where people participate personally in making
government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
what fundamental natural rights do people have according to Thomas Hobbs - ✔✔right to life
What fundamental natural rights do people have according to John Locke - ✔✔liberty and
property
What fundamental natural rights do people have according to J.J. Rousseau - ✔✔
How does democracy permit an on-going renegotiation of the social contract? - ✔✔it is
controlled bottom up by an general agreement/consensus of the people involved
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by who? - ✔✔Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence is largely an expression of the focus on liberty/freedom of the
people discussed by which Enlightenment-era philosopher - ✔✔John Locke
How does the constitution embody Montesquieu's ideas and principles about proper government
- ✔✔by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power, placing each into the different
hands of political actors
According to the Declaration of Independence , government should protect which natural rights?
- ✔✔Liberty and property
Does the Constitution emphasize the protection of natural right, Yes or No, Why or Why not? -
✔✔no, The Constitution is more interested in the practicalities of government than in the
protection of natural rights. Thus, it follows those ideas of the Enlightenment, which advocated
for a more arm's length approach to democracy.
How does the Bill of Rights protect natural rights - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative
branch that consists of two separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such
as Senators and Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning
"chamber," are from Latin.
Declaration of Independence - ✔✔The original document, authored principally by Thomas
Jefferson, that "birthed" the United States and started the Revolutionary War. It lists important
natural rights and grievances against the King of England, as well as declaring independence
, Bill of Rights - ✔✔Collectively, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in
1791; they list citizens' civil liberties and civil rights
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative branch that consists of two
separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and
Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning "chamber," are
from Latin.
political ideologies - ✔✔A coherent philosophy about the structure, power, and purpose of
government. American political ideologies include progressive, liberal, moderate, independent,
conservative, and libertarian
What were the Articles of Confederation - ✔✔First attempt at structing the government of the
United States
Describe the structure of the U.S. national government under the Articles of Confederation -
✔✔Under the Articles of Confederation, there was a unicameral congress, or one chamber
known as the Confederation Congress. There were no executive or judicial branches as we know
them today. This one-chamber congress had very specific functions in order to make sure that the
national government did not have too much power and that the power of the states remained
protected
How was power divided between the state and national governments under the Articles of
Confederation? - ✔✔The Confederation Congress, formerly the Continental Congress, had the
authority to exchange ambassadors and make treaties with foreign governments and Indian
tribes, declare war, coin currency and borrow money, and settle disputes between states. Each
state legislature appointed delegates to the Congress; these men could be recalled at any time.
Regardless of its size or the number of delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one
vote. Delegates could serve for no more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite
professional politicians develop. The nation would have no independent chief executive or
judiciary. Nine votes were required before the central government could act, and the Articles of
Confederation could be changed only by unanimous approval of all 13 states.
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔The first attempt at organizing the government of the United
States, consisting of a unicameral (one-chamber) Congress. Did not permit Congress to tax,
regulate foreign or interstate commerce, or enforce its laws. The Articles of Confederation failed
as it formed an alliance of sovereign state governments with too weak a national government.
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative branch that consists of two
separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and
Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning "chamber," are
from Latin.
answers
What was the Age of Enlightenment period (late 1600s-early 1800s) - ✔✔It was a time that
redefined human existence in such a way that it transitioned the political and religious absolutism
of the Middle Ages to an existence more compatible with human individuality and liberty. From
it come our beliefs about individualism, equality, liberty, rights of property, and freedom of
religion. The Enlightenment also gives us government by consent, representative democracy, and
constitutionalism. Indeed, these ideas became central to the formation of an American political
identity.
How did thinking about the purpose and role of government change during the Age of
Enlightenment? - ✔✔
What are natural rights? - ✔✔The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by
God; no government may take away
What did John Locke mean when he argued that individuals each have a 'natural right" to life,
liberty, and private property - ✔✔"Natural" refers to the fact that these are inherent to our
existence and, therefore, a part of us. "Rights" means that we are free to exercise them without
needing the permission of others
What was Locke's view on human existence in an imagined "state of nature" - ✔✔its
inconvenient
What did Montesquieu recommend in 'Spirit of the Laws' (1748) regarding the division of
political power in society - ✔✔He argues for a separation of powers: legislative, executive, and
judicial. Each will serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the harm each might do.
State of Nature - ✔✔A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into
existence
Due Process - ✔✔The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a
fair procedure which it applies equally to all
What does "social contract theory" generally assert about the relationship between government
and the people in a society - ✔✔A powerful, foundational agreement between people and their
government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their
natural rights.
According to the social contract, government is based on the consent of the ... - ✔✔both parties
,What does the phrase government is based on the consent of both parties mean - ✔✔in order for
s a social contract to work every party involved has to agree
Social Contract - ✔✔A powerful, foundational agreement between people and their government
in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Direct Democracy - ✔✔A form of democracy where people participate personally in making
government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them
what fundamental natural rights do people have according to Thomas Hobbs - ✔✔right to life
What fundamental natural rights do people have according to John Locke - ✔✔liberty and
property
What fundamental natural rights do people have according to J.J. Rousseau - ✔✔
How does democracy permit an on-going renegotiation of the social contract? - ✔✔it is
controlled bottom up by an general agreement/consensus of the people involved
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 by who? - ✔✔Thomas Jefferson
The Declaration of Independence is largely an expression of the focus on liberty/freedom of the
people discussed by which Enlightenment-era philosopher - ✔✔John Locke
How does the constitution embody Montesquieu's ideas and principles about proper government
- ✔✔by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power, placing each into the different
hands of political actors
According to the Declaration of Independence , government should protect which natural rights?
- ✔✔Liberty and property
Does the Constitution emphasize the protection of natural right, Yes or No, Why or Why not? -
✔✔no, The Constitution is more interested in the practicalities of government than in the
protection of natural rights. Thus, it follows those ideas of the Enlightenment, which advocated
for a more arm's length approach to democracy.
How does the Bill of Rights protect natural rights - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative
branch that consists of two separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such
as Senators and Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning
"chamber," are from Latin.
Declaration of Independence - ✔✔The original document, authored principally by Thomas
Jefferson, that "birthed" the United States and started the Revolutionary War. It lists important
natural rights and grievances against the King of England, as well as declaring independence
, Bill of Rights - ✔✔Collectively, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in
1791; they list citizens' civil liberties and civil rights
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative branch that consists of two
separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and
Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning "chamber," are
from Latin.
political ideologies - ✔✔A coherent philosophy about the structure, power, and purpose of
government. American political ideologies include progressive, liberal, moderate, independent,
conservative, and libertarian
What were the Articles of Confederation - ✔✔First attempt at structing the government of the
United States
Describe the structure of the U.S. national government under the Articles of Confederation -
✔✔Under the Articles of Confederation, there was a unicameral congress, or one chamber
known as the Confederation Congress. There were no executive or judicial branches as we know
them today. This one-chamber congress had very specific functions in order to make sure that the
national government did not have too much power and that the power of the states remained
protected
How was power divided between the state and national governments under the Articles of
Confederation? - ✔✔The Confederation Congress, formerly the Continental Congress, had the
authority to exchange ambassadors and make treaties with foreign governments and Indian
tribes, declare war, coin currency and borrow money, and settle disputes between states. Each
state legislature appointed delegates to the Congress; these men could be recalled at any time.
Regardless of its size or the number of delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one
vote. Delegates could serve for no more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite
professional politicians develop. The nation would have no independent chief executive or
judiciary. Nine votes were required before the central government could act, and the Articles of
Confederation could be changed only by unanimous approval of all 13 states.
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔The first attempt at organizing the government of the United
States, consisting of a unicameral (one-chamber) Congress. Did not permit Congress to tax,
regulate foreign or interstate commerce, or enforce its laws. The Articles of Confederation failed
as it formed an alliance of sovereign state governments with too weak a national government.
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A lawmaking body in the legislative branch that consists of two
separate chambers or two separately elected groups of officials, such as Senators and
Representatives, like the Virginia Plan. Bi, meaning "two," and camera, meaning "chamber," are
from Latin.
