WGU C963 American politics and US
Constitution
Social Contract Ans- An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to being
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights Ans- the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include ...
WGU C963 American politics and US
Constitution
Social Contract Ans- An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to being
governed so long as the government protects their natural rights.
Natural Rights Ans- the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty,
and property
State of Nature Ans- A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into existence. is a
condition in which all of us live individually and solitarily, prior to the existence of society. We are
physically and mentally capable of achieving our own survival.
Montesquieu (1689-1755) Ans- contribution in The Spirit of the Laws (1748) regards the structure of
political institutions. He argues for a separation of powers: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each will
serve as a check on the power of the other, limiting the harm each might do. separates power to offset
the power of different social interests: ordinary people, the aristocracy, and the monarch.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679): Ans- One of the first individuals to contribute to the idea of the social
contract was a pre-Enlightenment English philosopher. Hobbes argues that society is not something
natural and immutable, but rather it is something created by us. We do this to resolve problems we
collectively face, to make our lives better. State of Nature: it's "a war of all against all." Basically, the
state of nature is a pretty nasty place where lives are perpetually insecure.
John Locke (1632-1704) Ans- we are autonomous individuals, capable of using reason, and are driven to
advance our personal interests. Our primary interest is survival, which we want to make secure and
comfortable. To achieve this security and comfort, we acquire property. Two Treatises of Government,
disagrees, saying the state of nature is a relatively decent place. All its inhabitants are rational people,
mindful of the basic law of nature to not harm another, and people will get along okay. But our
relationship in the state of nature is "inconvenient," implying an incentive for us to devise a better, more
convenient arrangement.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) Ans- A French man who believed that humans are naturally good
and free and can rely on their instincts. He also advocated a democracy because he believed the
government should exist to protect common good. Like other Enlightenment thinkers, he was
passionately committed to individual freedom, but he attacked rationalism and civilization as
,destroying, rather than liberating, the individual. He also called for a rigid division of gender roles,
believing women should be subordinate in social life. His ideals greatly influenced the early romantic
movement, which rebelled against the culture of the Enlightenment in the late eighteenth century.
Rousseau was both one of the most influential voices of the Enlightenment and, in his rejection of
rationalism and social discourse, a harbinger of reaction against Enlightenment ideas.
Constitution is influenced by the Enlightenment Ans- (Separation of powers) embodies Montesquieu's
principles by separating the legislative, executive, and judicial power, placing each into the hands of
different political actors.
Bill of Rights influenced by Enlightenment Ans- · The First Amendment gives us a definitive declaration
for the protection of natural rights. Protections of individual conscience as well as protections for
democratic participation (John Lock ideology).
· The Second Amendment, which also embodies Lockean ideas, permits the possession of arms for the
"security of a free State."14 In this Amendment, the right to rebellion is established.
· Due process says all citizens are subject to fair and equitable treatment.
· The Fourth - Eighth Amendments serve to both limit the power government has over us and lay out
procedures which must be followed when dealing with us.
· The Ninth Amendment makes it clear that the list of rights protected in the first eight Amendments is
not exhaustive and that we, the people, can assert additional natural rights when we see fit (at least in
theory.)
· The Tenth Amendment makes clear that powers not specifically granted to the federal government are
retained by the states and the people (these last two are Lockean ideals)
Declaration of Independence influenced by Enlightenment Ans- Locke maintains that society is a rational
but voluntary expression. Government, which serves to regulate the terms of the social contact on
which society is created, serves to protect our natural rights and serve as a democratic conduit for our
interests. Most important of our natural rights are liberty and property.
,National Government under the Articles of Confederation Ans- unicameral congress, or one chamber
known as the Confederation Congress. no executive or judicial branch. Functions in order to make sure
that the national government did not have too much power and that the power of the states remained
protected. had the authority to exchange ambassadors and make treaties with foreign governments and
Indian tribes, declare war, coin currency and borrow money, and settle disputes between states. Each
state legislature appointed delegates to the Congress; these men could be recalled at any time.
Regardless of its size or the number of delegates it chose to send, each state would have only one vote.
Delegates could serve for no more than three consecutive years, lest a class of elite professional
politicians develop. The nation would have no independent chief executive or judiciary. Nine votes were
required before the central government could act, and the Articles of Confederation could be changed
only by unanimous approval of all 13 states.
Powers under the Articles of Confederation (national government): Ans- The Power to Borrow and Coin
Money
The Power to Declare War
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans
The Power to Settle Disputes among Other States
The Power to Borrow and Coin Money (National Government) Ans- The national government could
make the currency of the United States, known as Continental currency. It could also borrow money
from other nations to cover the country's debts that remained from fighting during the American
Revolution. This power to borrow and coin money was limited, as the national government had to rely
on the states for enough money to cover debts and back any loans taken from other countries.
The Power to Declare War (National Government) Ans- The national government could declare war as it
deemed appropriate with other nations. It could also appoint military officials. However, this power was
limited. The national government could declare war, but there was no national military to draw soldiers
from. The soldiers came from the individual states.
The Power to Make Treaties and Alliances with Other Nations (National Government) Ans- The national
government could enter into treaties or agreements with other nations as it deemed appropriate. Under
this power, the national government could also appoint foreign ambassadors.
The Power to Regulate Trade with the Native Americans (National Government): Ans- The national
government was given power to negotiate and regulate trade with the Native Americans. Native
, Americans were not considered citizens of the United States and were treated as foreign nations by the
both the national and state governments.
The Power to Settle Disputes among Other States (National Government) Ans- the national government
had the authority to settle any and all boundary disputes that arose between the states, which were
bound to happen in this newly formed country.
Problems with the Articles of Confederation (Power to Raise an Army or Navy): Ans- Although the
central government could declare war and agree to peace, it had to depend upon the states to provide
soldiers. If state governors chose not to honor the national government's request, the country would
lack an adequate defense. The lack of a national army meant that the national government could not
draft any soldiers into the military.
Problems with the Articles of Confederation (Taxation) Ans- Articles of Confederation gave the national
government no power to impose and collect taxes. To avoid any perception of "taxation without
representation," the Articles of Confederation allowed only state governments to levy taxes. To pay for
its expenses, the national government had to request money from the states, which were required to
provide funds in proportion to the value of the land within their borders. The states, however, were
often negligent in this duty, and the national government was underfunded as a result. The national
government could not impose taxes on citizens. It could only request money from the states.
Problems with the Articles of Confederation (Regulating Trade): Ans- The national government did not
possess the power to regulate trade among the different states. This lack of authority not only affected
the national government, but the states as well. The national economy suffered as foreign countries
began to form trade agreements with individual states, agreements for which the national government
could not regulate or tax.
Problems with the articles of confederation National Government: Ans- · Each state had only one vote in
Congress regardless of its size.
· The national government could not impose taxes on citizens. It could only request money from the
states.
· The national government could not regulate foreign trade or interstate commerce.
· The national government could not raise an army. It had to request the states to send men.
· The Articles could not be changed without a unanimous vote to do so.
· There was no national judicial system.
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