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:flag-us:US GOVERNMENT:flag-us: - Coggle Diagram
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US GOVERNMENT
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Principles of the Constitution
Limited Government
powers of government are restricted by the consitituion
Republicanism
voters hold the sovereign power and elect representatives to exercise power for them
Federalism
power is divided between the national and state governments, limiting central powers
Separation of Powers
each branch of government has its own responsibilities and limitations
Legislative Branch: Made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, has the power to write and pass laws
Judicial Branch: Headed by the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, this branch interprets the laws and evaluates their constitutionality
Executive Branch: Led by President, along with the Vice President and executive departments, this branch enforces and administers the laws
Checks and Balances
each three branches of government exercises some control over the others, sharing power among them
Impeachment: the formal process by which a legislative body brings official charges of misconduct against a public official
Override: the power of Congress to cancel a presidential veto and turn a bill into law without the president's signature
Supermajority: a requirement for a proposal to gain a specified level of support which is greater than the threshold of one-half. (â…” vote, 67 senators)
Majority: refers to the political party or group that holds more than half of the seats in a legislative chamber, allowing them to control the agenda and leadership
Veto: The president can veto bills passed by Congress and appoint federal judges.
Appointment: the selection of a person to fill a non-elected federal office or position, governed principally by the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution
Judicial Review: the power of courts to examine actions by the legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional and void
Popular Sovereignty
authority for government flows from the people and they rule through their representatives
Individual Rights
unalienable rights guaranteed to all citizens
Political Parties: a group of people organized to acquire and exercise political power by winning elections and shaping public policy.
Democratic Party: Center-left to the modern liberal portion of the political spectrum, this party generally promotes a platform centered on social justice, economic equality, federal social safety nets, environmental protection, and strengthened public infrastructure.
Republican Party: free-market capitalism, social conservatism, and, in recent years, right-wing populism and economic nationalism
Two Party System: A political structure in which two major political parties consistently dominate national elections and government control, making it extremely difficult for any third party to achieve a majority or win executive power.
3rd Parties: Any political parties other than the two dominant organizations, the Democratic and Republican parties. These parties rarely win major federal offices, but they exert influence on American democracy. Ex. The Libertarian Party, The Green Party, The Constitution Party, and The Forward Party
Forms of Government
Feudalism: The king owns all the land. He shares the land with noble lords, who promise to fight for him. The lords then let poor peasants live on the land, but the peasants have to do all the farming and give up most of their food in exchange for protection.
Classical Republic: Old-school idea of government (like in ancient Rome). Instead of a king, the citizens choose leaders to represent them and make laws. Everyone is supposed to focus on what is best for the whole community, not just themselves.
Absolute Monarchy: This is a country ruled by a king or queen who has total control. They didn't win an election; they got the job because their parents were the rulers before them. They make all the laws, and no one can overrule them.
Authoritarianism: the government demands blind obedience. You cannot vote the leaders out, you cannot start a rival political party, and you cannot criticize the government. However, as long as you don't mess with politics, the government usually leaves your daily private life alone.
Dictatorship: a country ruled by one person with absolute power, but they usually didn't inherit it. Instead, they usually took control by force (like using the military) and kept power by using fear and strict rules.
Autocracy: One person holds absolute power with no legal limits. What they say goes, and nobody can vote them out.
Oligarchy: A small group of people runs the country. This group might be the richest families, the top military generals, or leaders of a specific religion. They look out for themselves rather than the regular citizens.
Liberal Democracy: This is how many modern countries work today. The people vote for their leaders in fair elections. It is called "liberal" because the government's power is limited by a constitution, which guarantees that every citizen has basic human rights (like freedom of speech) that the government cannot take away.
Totalitarianism: : This is the most extreme version of control. The government wants total control over everything you do, think, and say. They control the news, schools, churches, and even what you are allowed to say to your neighbors. They use secret police and propaganda to make sure everyone thinks exactly alike.