Our First Government Test

Tomorrow is our very first AP Government test. I will use this blog as a studying aid.

Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes - Englishman

• In a State of Nature mankind is brutish and selfish and the system is very individualistic
• Social Contract - we give up some rights for protection
• Solution (I guess) was to have one ruler: a monarch

John Locke - Englishman in the 1600s - 2nd Treatise on government

• Natural Rights - Life, Liberty (not racial liberty), Property (he was coming out of a feudalistic society)
• People's obligation to rebel and institute a new government because
• Government is responsible to the people
• Solution is to have a body created by the people as the ruler
• Absolute monarchy is indeed inconsistent with civil society - it is worse than a State of Nature
  

Montesquieu - Frenchman - The Spirit of the Laws

• England transitions from Divine Right to Constitutional Monarchy
• 3 functions to government - Legislative, Executive, Judicial
• Popularly elected legislators
• Popular army as counterbalance to both executive and legislative
  

Rousseau - Frenchman - The Social Contract

• Mankind is naturally neither good/bad but corrupted by society
• Moral/Able leaders are needed

Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince and Republics & Monarchies

• A prince must know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state.
• A prince should be feared, not hated or loved. Fear should be his aim.
• The only way to establish and maintain a democracy is to have no "gentlemen" about - lazy, corrupt, etc people
• Let republics only be established where equality exists.

John Stuart Mill - On Liberty

• Humans have a right to their own thoughts and the expression of those thoughts
• However, they cannot infringe upon other's same rights

Pluralism

• Public policy emerges from competition among groups
• Power flows from resources, which can include intangibles
• Power is distributed among various sources

Amendments

1. Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition
2. Right to Bear Arms
3. Quartering of Soldiers
4. Unreasonable Search and Seizure - Warrants upon probable cause
5. Trial and Punishment - Due Process of Law - Just Compensation of Aquirings
6. Speedy/Public Trial - Assistance of Consul - Confront/Compulse Witnesses
7. Trial By Jury if > $20
8. Cruel/Unusual Punishment - Excessive Bail/Fines
9. Other Rights Not in the Constitution
10. Powers Not Delegated in Constitution Reserved to States/People
11. Private Parties Cannot Try a State
12. Electors Vote for both President and Vice-President
13. Slavery Abolished
14. Citizenship Rights - State Due Process Clause - Equal Protection
    
15. Voting Not Based on Race
16. Income Tax