POSC 1010 Final Assessment Questions and
Answers
What is the Declaration of Independence? - ANS-A document written in 1776 in
which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and
listed their grievances against the British King
What does the Declaration of Independence say about the source of rights and the
purpose of government? - ANS-The declaration of independence makes it clear that
the government has one purpose of protecting the human rights of life, liberty, and
property (pursuit of happiness).
Democracy - ANS-A form of govt where political power rests in the hands of the
people
Direct Democracy - ANS--All eligible citizens can participate directly
-Individuals represent their own interests
Representative democracy - ANS--All eligible voters can choose individuals to
represent them
-Represent the interests of constituents
-Few features of direct democracy
republic - ANS-A form of government in which the people select representatives to
govern them and make laws.
-popular consent
-natural elites should rule
-limits on masses
monarchy - ANS-A government in which power is in the hands of a single person.
Oligarchy - ANS-a small group of people having control of a country, organization,
or institution.
Tolitarianism - ANS-government control over every aspect of public and private life
What is a social contract? - ANS-an implicit agreement among the members of a
society to cooperate for social benefits
elite theory - ANS-claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of
people
majority rule - ANS-a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should
, have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
minority rights - ANS-protections for those who are not part of the majority
pluralist theory - ANS-claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
politics - ANS-the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and
which policies government will pursue
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - ANS--articles could not be changes
without an unanmious amount to do so.
***problems could not be easily fixed
-there was no national judicial system
**** bc judiciaries are important enforces of national govt power
Articles of Confederation features and flaws - ANS--no executive branch
-Judicial
-Unicameral legislator
-equal rep. (1 vote per state)
-9/13 to pass
-unamity to amend/abolish
Federalists - ANS-supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists - ANS-people who opposed the Constitution
Items of consensus at Constitutional Convention - ANS--replace articles of
confederation
-belief in republican form of govt
-need stronger national govt
-dangers of factions
Items of disagreement at the constitutional convention - ANS--representation in
congress
-giving power to the president
-stopping the slave trade
-why no bill rights?
Virginia Plan - ANS-"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for
proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan
favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own
plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan - ANS-A constitutional proposal that would have given each state
one vote in a new congress
Conneticut Plan - ANS-senate will have equal representation from all states and
Answers
What is the Declaration of Independence? - ANS-A document written in 1776 in
which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and
listed their grievances against the British King
What does the Declaration of Independence say about the source of rights and the
purpose of government? - ANS-The declaration of independence makes it clear that
the government has one purpose of protecting the human rights of life, liberty, and
property (pursuit of happiness).
Democracy - ANS-A form of govt where political power rests in the hands of the
people
Direct Democracy - ANS--All eligible citizens can participate directly
-Individuals represent their own interests
Representative democracy - ANS--All eligible voters can choose individuals to
represent them
-Represent the interests of constituents
-Few features of direct democracy
republic - ANS-A form of government in which the people select representatives to
govern them and make laws.
-popular consent
-natural elites should rule
-limits on masses
monarchy - ANS-A government in which power is in the hands of a single person.
Oligarchy - ANS-a small group of people having control of a country, organization,
or institution.
Tolitarianism - ANS-government control over every aspect of public and private life
What is a social contract? - ANS-an implicit agreement among the members of a
society to cooperate for social benefits
elite theory - ANS-claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of
people
majority rule - ANS-a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should
, have the power to make decisions binding upon the whole
minority rights - ANS-protections for those who are not part of the majority
pluralist theory - ANS-claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people
politics - ANS-the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and
which policies government will pursue
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation - ANS--articles could not be changes
without an unanmious amount to do so.
***problems could not be easily fixed
-there was no national judicial system
**** bc judiciaries are important enforces of national govt power
Articles of Confederation features and flaws - ANS--no executive branch
-Judicial
-Unicameral legislator
-equal rep. (1 vote per state)
-9/13 to pass
-unamity to amend/abolish
Federalists - ANS-supporters of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists - ANS-people who opposed the Constitution
Items of consensus at Constitutional Convention - ANS--replace articles of
confederation
-belief in republican form of govt
-need stronger national govt
-dangers of factions
Items of disagreement at the constitutional convention - ANS--representation in
congress
-giving power to the president
-stopping the slave trade
-why no bill rights?
Virginia Plan - ANS-"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for
proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan
favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own
plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan - ANS-A constitutional proposal that would have given each state
one vote in a new congress
Conneticut Plan - ANS-senate will have equal representation from all states and
