Details Title: American Government Test ! Description: American Government_Chapter 1, 2, and 3_A Beka Total Flash Cards: 81 Created: 08/12/2009 09:21:15		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Political Studies Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term culture Definition a nation's language, religion, ethics, laws, and arts. a nation's way of life. Term Judeo-Christian heritage Definition America's primary cultural influence, rooted in Judaism and Christianity. Term Puritan work ethic Definition the idea that work is a gift from God and a means of glorifying Him. Term free enterprise Definition the government leaves individuals free to own businesses and make a living dependent on their own initiative Term capitalism Definition the American economic system by which the means of production and distribution (land, factories, railroads, etc.) are privately owned and operated. Term memorial Definition anything that helps people remember a past event. Term pledge Definition a solemn promise. Term allegiance Definition our loyalty, our support, and our devotion to duty. Term national anthem Definition the official patriotic song or hymn of a country. Term heritage Definition those characteristics and raditions that have been handed down to us by our ancestors. Term General Daniel "Chappie" James Definition the first black American in the history of the United States armed forces to achieve the rank of four-star general. Term Francis Bellamy Definition wrote the pledge of allegiance. Term Francis Scott Key Definition wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner." Term patriotism Definition a love for one's country and a loyalty to that country. Term limited government Definition a government that exercises its powers under restrictions, usually by means of a constitution. Term Americanism Definition the spirit of patriotism that we feel for our great nation. "the virtues of courage, honor, justice, truth, sincerity, and hardihood." Term nationalism Definition the promotion of one's own nation and government regardless of moral considerations. Term government Definition the authority and power to control, to direct, and to rule the actions and affairs of others Term sovereign Definition having supreme power over all nations, rulers, and individuals Term capital punishment Definition the first foundational civil ordinance Term laws Definition rules people follow in living together Term Code of Hammurabi Definition the law code of a Babylonian king who was a contemporary of the Hebrew patriarchs Term Decalogue Definition the true principles of morality, the basic rules of right and wrong and of good and evil Term revealed law Definition law given by God explicitly in the Holy Scripture Term natural law Definition law discernible by all men as image-bearers of God by virtue of the "work of the law written in their hearts" Term theocracy Definition a system of government in which God Himself rules personally or through chosen representatives Term autocracy Definition the rule by one whose will is supreme Term democracy Definition the people rule, either directly by popular vote or indirectly through elected representatives Term totalitarian dictatorship Definition dictatorship controlling all aspects of society Term socialism Definition a system of government control over the economy of a nation Term fascism Definition a form of socialism in which all power is vested in a dictator and a single political party; allows for total government control of all political, economic, cultural, religious, and social activities Term Communism Definition a totalitarian dictatorship by one or more persons that advocates the violent, revolutionary overthrow of the existing economic, political, and social order and sets up a tyrannical state that dominates the person, property, and thought of all the citizens by means of physical and psychological force and terror Term materialism Definition the misconception that the only reality is matter in motion and that everything in the world, including thought, will, and feeling, can be explained only in terms of material Term seperation of church and state Definition the idea that the church and the government are to remain institutionally seperate Term absolute monarchy Definition a system of government in which the ruler has unlimited power Term constitutional monarchy Definition a system of government in which the ruler's power is limited by a constitution and is equal to or subservient to an elected representative assembly Term constitutional republic Definition a form of government in which the people and their representatives are limited by a constitution Term dictatorship Definition a system of government in which the ruler acquires his power by some means other than inheritance and rules with absolute authority Term direct democracy Definition the truest form of democratic government in which the people rule directly by popular vote Term democratic republic Definition the more common form of democracy in which the people rule indirectly through elected representatives Term Karl Marx Definition formulated the basic ideas of Communism Term Nikolai Lenin Definition the first to put Communism into practice on a large scale Term common law Definition non-codified form of law based on long-accepted customs and traditions Term trial by jury Definition a man is judged guilty or innocent by a group of his peers Term Parliament Definition meetings of the Great Council Term Magna Carta Definition contained such seeds of freedome as no taxation without representation, right of habeas corpus, trial by jury, and due process of law Term English Bill of Rights Definition no man is above the law, no taxes without consent, people may petition for a redress of grievances, to keep and bear arms, free elections, representatives have freedom of speech, no excessive bail or fines and no cruel punishment Term Mayflower Compact Definition written by loyal subjects of the English Crown who sought to bring honor to their king and country; expressed the desire of the people that a civil government might be established Term charter Definition a document issued by the crown which established the relationship between the king and his subjects Term Massachusetts Body of Liberties; The New Haven Colony Laws Definition steps the colonists took to make their laws even more reflective of Biblical precepts Term higher law Definition law above the law; universal principles of right and justice Term unicameral Definition (one-house) legislature Term bicameral Definition (composted of two houses) Term town meeting Definition periodical assemblies of local citizens; chief lawmaking body of the town (an extraordinary degree of political participation by all citizens) Term Great Awakening Definition the spiritual revival which swept the American colonies between 1730 and 1760 Term seperation of church and state Definition the idea that the church and government should be seperate institutions Term Albany Plan Definition the proposed plan for uniting the colonies; called for an annual conference of delegates, one from each colony, to manage Indian affairs, pass laws, and levy taxes for the common defense of the colonies; proposed by Benjamin Franklin Term Declaration of Rights and Grievances Definition issued by the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765; protested the stamp tax and other British regulations which the colonists felt were illegal; marked the first time that a large number of colonies joined together to protest British action Term "Intolerable Acts" Definition a series of laws to punish the colonists of Boston for resistance to parliamentary regulation; seen as a threat to the liberty of every colony Term Prohibitory Act Definition act that not only cut off all trade between the colonies and England, but also officially removed the colonies from the "King's Protection" Term Declaration of Independence Definition laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity; recognizes God as the Supreme Judge of men and nations Term House of Lords; House of Commons Definition the upper house made up of the nobility and clergy; the lower house made up of the representatives of the "common" people Term William Blackstone Definition British jurist who wrote the Commentaries on the Laws of England, the greatest influence on the colonists' understanding of law Term House of Burgesses Definition made up of representatives from the several districts in the Virginia territory; consisted of the colonial governor, his council, and elected representatives Term Jonathan Edwards; George Whitefield Definition two men through whom God brought revival to the American colonies, resulting in the conversion of thousands of souls Term George III Definition the king whose accession in 1760 brough a great change in political affairs both in England and in the colonies; was determined to restore the power of teh monarchy by supportin gmen in Parliament who, as the "king's friends" would vote as he directed Term William Pitt the Elder; Edmund Burke Definition two English Parliamentarians who were allies of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and George Washington Term Stamp Act Congress Definition congress at which delegates concluded that according to their charters, they were only under the authority of the king; they were not under the authority of Parliament because they were not represented in Parliament Term First Continential Congress Definition pledged the loyalty of the colonists to the Crown but protested Parliamentary interference with American rights Term Second Continental Congress Definition America's first central government; convened in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775; governing body began to assume political power; it supported an army, appointed a commander in chief (George Washington), and issued money Term Richard Henry Lee Definition presented to the Continental Congress on June 7, 1776 a resolution for independence Term English common law Definition the product of several sources--Anglo-Saxon, Jewish, Viking, Roman, Ecclesiastical (Church)--many of which were influenced by the Scriptures Term Alfred the Great Definition Saxon king who prefaced his edition of the English law code with the Ten Commandments Term Henry II Definition king who strengthened the common law in England when he initiated a system of royal courts to administer the law Term Simon de Montfort Definition called the first meeting of Parliament in 1265 Term town government Definition the main unit of local government in New England Term county government Definition the local unit of government in the southern colonies Term Thomas Jefferson Definition the chairman of the committee who was primarily responsible for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence Term Edward I Definition convened the Model Parliament in 1295 Term John I Definition was forced to submit to the Magna Carta in 1215 Term Henry II Definition initiated a system of royal courts to administer English common law