Civics Vocab
Terms
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- civics
- the study of the duties, rights, and responsibitlities of citizenship
- majority rule
-
choices are made by the larger group
Good~expresses "general will", is a good indicator of the general public idea -Virginia promotes this
bad~not everyone has a say--if you aren't the majority, you are shut out-New Jersey promotes this - direct democracy
- democracy in which political decisions are made directly by the people rather than through representatives
- representative democracy
- democracy in which people elect representatives who make decisions to reflect their ideas
- alien
- a citizen of another coutnry living with the U.S
- immigrant
- citizen of a foreign country who comes into the U.S. planning to stay there
- naturalized citizens
-
people who become citizens of a nation through a legal process designed by the nation
U.S. steps to becoming a naturalized citizen:
1. File a Declaration of intention with the Immigration and Naturalization service (optional)
2. After 5 year's residence in the U.S. (3 years if married to a U.S. citizen), file a petition for Citizenship
3. Have two citizens testify that you have met the residence requirement, have a good moral character, and believe in the Constitution
4. Take an examination to prove you can read and write English and know American history and government
5. Pledge and oath of allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States and sign a certificate of naturalization - government
- any group that has the power to make and enforce laws
- constitution
-
a plan for government
the U.S. constitution has 3 major parts:
* Preamble
*7 articles
*26 Amendments - Preamble
-
The introduction to the Constitution ~ identifies objectives of the government
The Preamble:6 goals
1. We, the people of the United States, In order to form more perfect Union,
(to set up a stronger government then they had under the Articles of Confederation)
2. establish justice,
(to improve the court system)
3. insure domestic tranquility ,
(to have peace in all states)
4. provide for the common defense,
(to protect the country from enemies)
5. promote the general welfare,
(to have good living conditions)
6. and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America - legislature
- body of government responsible for making laws~include Senate and House of Representatives, and their subcommittees
- confederation
- a group of independent states joined together for a special purpose
- compromise & The Great Compromise
-
settlement of an argument in which each side gives of something so an agreement can be reached
The Great Compromise~between Virginia and New Jersey, agreement that the legislative branch would have two houses; House of Representatives would be elected on basis of population, while each state would have two reps. in the Senate. - Federalists
- supporters of the new Constitution and a strong central government
- anti-federalists
- opponents of the new Constitution favoring a smaller government and supporting individual rights/liberties under the states
- amendments
- a change offered or made in a law
- social contract (from Rousseau)
- essentially, the concept of government, in which people contribute to the whole by working together for mutual benefit--the group provides protection and services
- general will
- ideals and goals of the combined group, the public, the common good, common interest -- according to Rousseau, expressed by majority rule
- Virginia Plan
- The Virgniia plan called for a 3 branch govmt.-legislative,to make laws, executive, to enforce them, and a judicial branch to assess and analyze them. The legislative branch would have 2 houses, the HR and the S. Representation in both houses would be chosen according to population or amount of money they gave the national government. This plan gave the states with large populations more influence.
- New Jersey Plan
- Three Branches of government as well. Legislative branch has only one house, and each state has equal representation. This gave the smaller states equal power to hte big states.