GOVT 220 Midterm Exam

Biblical Principles of Government - -Justice Inalienable rights Covenant Sin-Crime Distinction Separation of Church & State Resisting Tyranny Justice - -Every function of government Impartiality Protecting the weak and exploited (Is. 10:1-2) Inalienable Rights - -Made in God's Image (Gen. 1:26) Life, liberty, property Can't be taken away, but also can't be given away Based on Roman legal theory & Catholic theology for the American govt Covenant (pt. 1) - -A solemn agreement between human beings or between God and a human being in which mutual commitments are made. Hesed, mutual accountability, non-centralization, federalism Hesed - -Hebrew word for God's infinite mercy Part of the covenant idea Mutual Accountability - -Individuals being held responsible for their contribution to the group Part of the covenant idea Noncentralization - -A constitutional or political federal arrangement in which there are multiple centers of power, no one of which can legitimately centralize or decentralize power in the system unilaterally. Part of the covenant idea? Covenant (pt. 2) - -- Distinctly Biblical idea - History: fedis (Latin: "of faith") and federalism - Rejects both anarchy and tyranny - Emphasizes personal relationships & organizational leadership Covenant (pt. 3) - -The New Covenant supersedes the old testament covenants Noahic Covenant: Gen. 9:26 and capital punishment Mosaic Law: Ceremonial, Judicial, Moral Federalism - -A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments Part of the covenant idea. Sin-Crime Distinction - -"All crimes are sins, but not all sins are crimes." Ex. it's both a sin and a crime to murder, but it's only a sin to have lust, not a crime. The government can't police inside your head Institutional Separation of Church and State - -Forbids governmental establishment or preference of a religion and preserves religious freedom from governmental intrusion - ensures freedom of conscience - ex: Old Testament theocracy; ex: Christ did not seek a political kingdom - Sin-Crime distinction - Limits on social welfare policy Doctrine of the Two Swords - -Roman Catholic interpretation of Luke 22:38 The pope possessed both swords, but had granted the temporal sword to rulers; therefore, the papacy had the right to depose kings and emperors. Resisting Tyranny - -Tyranny is a material breach of the covenant - Locke: state of nature/state of war - Interposition and voting are two ways to resist tyranny - "Selfless" self-defense Constitution - -· Rights and Powers assigned in Constitution · Discussion of 3/5th Provision · Hypotheticals pertaining to a "Pure Split" at the Convention over slavery · The heart of tyranny and legalism as it pertains to slavery · Inalienable Rights · Resisting Tyranny · Petulant Individualism vs. Conservatism · Leftist Radicalism vs. Biblical Radicalism · Origin of conservative resistance to Civil Rights · Barry Goldwater's opposition to the Civil Rights Act · Populism and demagoguery vs. grassroots/non-centralization Constitution (pt. 2) - -Process took approx. 10 yrs Remarkably peaceful Important early lessons and experiences shaped the document Other influences include political philosophers, British constitutional and legal history Rights and Powers assigned in Constitution - -State Constitutions: - Separation of Powers - Bicameral legislation - Weak governors - Property restrictions for voting and holding office (when state constitutions were first a thing) - Based on covenantal ideas Articles of Confederation - -- First national constitution - Weak national government - Key provisions: State sovereignty & equality; limited powers; super-majority requirement; amendments - Weak 3/5ths Compromise/Provision - -Any person who was not free would be counted as three-fifths of a free individual for the purposes of determining congressional representation to increase the political power of slave holding states. Hypotheticals pertaining to a "Pure Split" at the Convention over slavery - -This was a discussion about what would have happened if the anti-slavery states had decided not to form a union with slave states and the two groups had just gone their separate ways. It's possible that such a separation might have actually made it harder to overturn slavery. The heart of tyranny and legalism as it pertains to slavery - -Rebel orphan slave might have something to do with this??? Tyranny takes away the right to life, liberty, & property Legalism is tyranny. Inalienable Rights (again) - -See previous card about this Resisting Tyranny (again) - -See previous card about this Petulant Individualism vs. Conservatism - -There is a difference between self-government, which embraces both limited (state) government and love of one's neighbor, and selfish individualism. Leftist Radicalism vs. Biblical Radicalism - -Leftist Radicalism: no absolutes, life is ours to choose. Combine w/definition of Liberal Biblical radicalism: Be such an image of Christ that we are radically different from the rest of the world Origin of conservative resistance to Civil Rights - -Conservative resistance to Civil Rights came from thinking that Civil Rights were a liberal idea rather than an inherent human right. Barry Goldwater's opposition to the Civil Rights Act - -Goldwater supported the Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960 and the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but, in a decision that he later said anguished him because of his belief in racial equality, he opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the basis that two of its provisions, specifically Title II and Title VII, were unconstitutional and a potential overreach of the federal government. Social equality was not something that the federal government should properly guarantee Title II - Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce; the Title defined "public accommodations" as establishments that serve the public. It exempted private clubs, without defining the term "private", or other establishments not open to the public Title VII - prohibits discrimination by employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Populism and demagoguery vs. grassroots/noncentralization - -There is a difference between "angry mob justice"/politicians bribing voters with government benefits and the act of friends and neighbors working together to solve local problems at the local level (noncentralization/grassroots). Fundamentalism/Legalism is F.A.I.L.S. - -F.A.I.L.S. F - -Fear-based A - -Authoritarian (Christian Nationalism, which is different from patriotism, seeking to influence government with Biblical principles, affirming national sovereignty) I - -Isolationist L - -Legalist S - -Shame-based De Jure Injustice - -Anything that violates life, liberty, and property, caused by a preexisting law which is inherently unjust or the absence of a necessary legal intervention De Facto Inequality - -Inequalities which exist in life, often from previous de jure injustices, the remedy of which is not necessarily a legal intervention, and one which is hotly contested among various political groups. i.e. Racial segregation, gender-based discrimination, etc De Jure & De Facto Debates - -Both are about how to remedy current inequalities caused by past impacts Busing, Affirmative Action as an example of when addr