ᴀꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪ ꜱᴛᴜᴅʏ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇ Flashcards
All governments claim sovereignty over a particular territory. What does “sovereignty” mean in this context ?
SOVEREIGNTY REFERS TO HAVING SOLE AUTHORITY OVER AFFAIRS WITHIN THEIR TERRITORIAL UNITS; SOVEREIGN GOVERNMENTS ( OR SOVEREIGN STATES) HAVE A RIGHT TO GOVERN THEIR TERRITORIES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS & HAVE A RIGHT TO USE MILITARY FORCE IF NECESSARY TO DEFEND THEIR SOVEREIGNTY FROM FOREIGN AGGRESSION
What does “relational power” mean ( as in “A has power over B” ) ?
RELATIONAL POWER REFERS TO THE ABILITY TO GET A PERSON OR GROUP TO DO WHAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT DO ( FOR ANY POSSIBLE TWO - WAY POWER RELATIONSHIP, IF THE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS WHO ARE PART OF THE RELATIONSHIP ARE CALLED “A” & “B,” THEN A HAS POWER OVER B TO THE EXTENT THAT A CAN GET B TO DO WHAT B WOULD NOT OTHERWISE )
Why is using the “power of the purse” not a part of the definition of government ?
GOVERNMENTS AREN’T THE ONLY HUMAN ORGANIZATION THAT USE MONEY TO EXERCISE POWER OVER OTHERS. BUSINESS OWNERS & MANAGERS ALSO USE MONEY TO INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR OF EMPLOYEES
Why is “affecting hearts & minds” not a part of the definition of government ?
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO AFFECTS HEARTS & MINDS. IMMEDIATE FAMILY USE THIS OFTEN, AS WELL AS MARKETING CAMPAIGNS OF BUSINESS
Define “liberal democracy”
LIBERAL DEMOCRACY REFERS TO A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT THAT COMBINES DEMOCRACY WITH THE RULE OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, THE SEPARATION OF POWERS, CHECKS & BALANCES, & OTHER INSTITUTIONAL DEVICES AIMED AT PROMOTING LIMITED GOVERNMENT
What’s the difference between a “representative democracy” & a “direct democracy” ?
A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY REFERS TO A FORM OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN WHICH THE CITIZENS WHO MAKE & ENFORCE LAWS OR ACCOUNTABLE & DO SO ON BEHALF OF THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS WHO DO NOT DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN MAKING IN ENFORCING LAWS, WHILE DIRECT DEMOCRACY REFERS TO A FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN WHICH ALL CITIZENS DIRECTLY PARTICIPATE IN MAKING & ENFORCING LAWS
What does it mean to say a government is “authoritarian” ( or “autocratic” ) ? How’s an authoritarian / autocratic government different from a democratic government ?
AUTHORITARIAN / AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS REFER TO GOVERNMENTS THAT CONTROL THE LAWS, WHERE CITIZENS DO NOT CONTROL ANY ASPECT OF THE GOVERNMENT
AN AUTHORITARIAN / AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IS DIFFERENT FROM A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT BECAUSE AN AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ITS CITIZEN’S DESIRES WHILST A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT DOES & IS IN SOME SENSE CONTROLLED BY THEIR CITIZENS
Define “politics”
POLITICS REFERS TO ACTIVITIES DEMOCRATIC CITIZENS ENGAGE IN AS THEY STRUGGLE TO EXERCISE POWER OVER GOVERNMENT
Define “ideology”
IDEOLOGY REFERS TO SET OF IDEAS ABOUT THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT THAT EMANATE FROM CORE VALUES & BELIEFS ABOUT HUMAN NATURE & SOCIETY
Define “ideological spectrum”
IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM REFERS TO POLITICAL IDEALS RANGING ON A CONTINUUM FROM THE EXTREME LEFT TO THE EXTREME RIGHT
What is the “LEFT’s perspective” on social issues ?
LEFT = RESIST TRADITIONAL HIERARCHIES, FAVOUR LAWS & POLICIES AIMED AT PROTECTING & ADVANCING THOSE WHO WERE OPPRESSED HISTORICAL
What is the “RIGHT’s perspective” on social issues ?
RIGHT = RESIST CHANGE TOWARDS GREATER EQUALITY & ACCEPTS TRADITIONAL HIERARCHIES
( SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY )
Define “market capitalism”
MARKET CAPITALISM REFERS TO AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM BASED ON MARKET EXCHANGES & THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION, & IN WHICH THE PRIVATE OWNERS OF THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION PURCHASE LABOR HOURS FROM WORKERS IN EXCHANGE FOR WAGES
Define “communism”
COMMUNISM REFERS TO EXTREME LEFT POLITICAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN WHICH THE STATE OWNS THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION & CENTRALLY COMMANDS THE ECONOMY TO ASSURE AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES
Define “social democracy”
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY REFERS TO TYPE OF MIXED ECONOMIC SYSTEM FAVORED BY THE IDEOLOGICAL LEFT THAT INVOLVES DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THEIR ECONOMIES IN AN EFFORT TO RETAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF CAPITALISM WHILE ACHIEVING THE LEFT’S ASPIRATIONS FOR LESS ECONOMIC INEQUALITY & NON - OPPRESSIVE RELATIONS IN THE ECONOMIC SPHERE
Define “welfare state”
WELFARE STATE REFERS TO NAME GIVEN TO A SET OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT SEEK TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC SECURITY, HEALTH & WELL - BEING OF CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN FINANCIAL OR SOCIAL NEED
Define “libertarianism”
LIBERTARIANISM REFERS TO AMERICAN IDEOLOGY WITH THE OVERRIDING GOAL OF HAVING GOVERNMENT PLAY A MINIMAL ROLE IN THE ECONOMY & SOCIETY. MAIN PRIORITY IS REDUCING GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE EVEN IF IT MEANS NEGLECTING THE CONCERNS ON THE RIGHT & LEFT SIDE
Define “globalization”
GLOBALIZATION REFERS TO THE INCREASING INTERDEPENDENCE OF COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIES & CULTURES DUE TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS & SERVICES & THE FREE FLOW ACROSS BORDERS OF INVESTMENTS, PEOPLE, & INFORMATION
Define “populism”
POPULISM REFERS TO AN ANTI - ELITE IDEOLOGY THAT VIEWS ORDINARY PEOPLE AS VIRTUOUS & THE ECONOMICALLY & POLITICALLY POWERFUL AS IRREDEEMABLY EVIL & CORRUPT
Define “right - wing populism”
RIGHT - WING POPULISM REFERS TO MARKED BY HOSTILITY TOWARD IMMIGRATION & A RACIALLY & CULTURALLY EXCLUSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHO COUNTS AS “THE PEOPLE”
Define “left - wing populism”
LEFT - WING POPULISM REFERS TO LIMITS ITS HOSTILITY TOWARD THE ECONOMIC ELITE & THOSE IN THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT WHO ARE VIEWED AS CORRUPTLY TIED TO THE ECONOMIC ELITE
Define “economic nationalism”
ECONOMIC NATIONALISM REFERS TO ECONOMIC POLICY SHOULD PLACE A HIGHER PRIORITY ON SERVING AMERICAN NATIONAL INTERESTS THAN ON MEETING THE DESIRES OF AMERICAN CONSUMERS FOR LOW COST IMPORTED GOODS OR SEEKING TO FORGE GREATER INTERDEPENDENCE & COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Define “tariffs”
TARIFFS REFERS TO TAXES CHARGED ON IMPORTED GOODS
Define “democratic socialism”
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM REFERS TO SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC
What is the difference between mere “ideological polarization” & “pernicious polarization.”
IDEOLOGICAL POLARIZATION REFERS TO HARMLESS & EVEN BENEFICIAL FOR DEMOCRATIC POLITICS WHILE PERNICIOUS POLARIZATION IS WHEN THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES VIEW EACH OTHER AS ENEMIES & THREATS
According to the textbook, are both forms of polarization necessarily a threat to democracy ? Why or why not ?
PERNICIOUS POLARIZATION WOULD BE THE ONLY FORM OF POLARIZATION THAT IS CONSIDERED A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY BECAUSE CITIZENS START TO VIEW EACH OTHER AS ENEMIES WHO POSE A FUNDAMENTAL THREAT TO THE COUNTRY & ONE’S WAY OF LIFE RATHER THAN VIEWING THEM AS POLITICAL OPPONENTS
Define “social identity theory”
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY REFERS TO A THEORY FROM SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY THAT SEEKS TO EXPLAIN WHY INDIVIDUALS DEFINE THEMSELVES IN REFERENCE TO GROUPS & HOW THIS KIND OF SOCIAL IDENTIFICATION INFLUENCES HOW MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS PERCEIVE & ACT TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER
Define “ingroups”
INGROUPS REFER TO A GROUP TO WHICH ONE BELONGS OR IDENTIFIES WITH
Define “outgroups”
OUTGROUPS REFER TO A GROUP TO WHICH ONE DOES NOT BELONG OR IDENTIFIES WITH
Define “ingroup favoritism”
INGROUP FAVORITISM REFERS TO THE TENDENCY TO SEE ONE’S IN - GROUP FAVORABLY & TREAT MEMBERS OF IT BETTER THAN MEMBERS OF OUTGROUPS
Define “outgroup derogation”
OUTGROUP DEROGATION REFERS TO THE TENDENCY TO SEE OUTGROUPS NEGATIVELY & TREAT MEMBERS OF THEM LESS WELL THAN MEMBERS OF INGROUPS
What’s the difference between partisanship based on “cross-cutting social identities” v. partisanship that is a “mega-identity” ? Which best describes partisanship today ? What does this have to do with pernicious polarization ?
CROSS - CUTTING SOCIAL IDENTITIES REFERS TO A CITIZEN THAT DOES NOT THINK OF THEIR PARTISAN IDENTITY AS BEING CLOSELY RELATED TO THEIR OTHER ( MORE IMPORTANT ) SOCIAL IDENTITIES. MEGA - IDENTITY REFERS TO A PARTISAN IDENTITY THAT IS REINFORCED & MAGNIFIED BY MULTIPLE SOCIAL IDENTITIES
PARTISANSHIP TODAY WOULD BE BEST DESCRIBED BY THE TERM MEGA - IDENTITY
CROSS - CUTTING IDENTITIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY MEGA - IDENTITIES WHICH HAD LED TO THE RISE OF PERNICIOUS POLARIZATION
What was “the great & radical vice” in the design of the Articles of Confederation
according to Alexander Hamilton ? Why did this “vice” contribute so greatly to the
weakness of the Articles of Confederation ?
THE GREAT & RADICAL VICE REFERS TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HAS AUTHORITY, & EXERCISE POWER OVER THE STATE GOVERNMENT
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WAS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY EXERCISE POWER OVER STATE GOVERNMENTS; COULDN’T LEVY TAXES, COULDN’T FUND THE ARMY; LEAD TO A COLLECTIVE ACTION PROBLEM
What was “the Great Compromise” ?
THE GREAT COMPROMISE REFERS TO A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE LARGE & SMALL STATES OF THE COLONIES. THE GREAT COMPROMISE RESOLVED THAT THERE WOULD BE REPRESENTATION BY POPULATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, & EQUAL REPRESENTATION WOULD EXIST IN THE SENATE. EACH STATE, REGARDLESS OF SIZE, WOULD HAVE 2 SENATORS. ALL TAX BILLS & REVENUES WOULD ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE. THIS COMPROMISE COMBINED THE NEEDS OF BOTH LARGE & SMALL STATES & FORMED A FAIR & SENSIBLE RESOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS
What were the names of the two main plans that were being debated before the Great Compromise broke the stalemate ? What was the scheme of
representation in each of those two main plans ?
THE VIRGINIA PLAN & THE NEW JERSEY PLAN
VIRGINIA PLAN REFERS TO THE LARGE STATE PLAN THE PROPOSAL AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THAT CALLED FOR REPRESENTATION OF EACH STATE IN CONGRESS TO BE PROPORTIONAL TO ITS POPULATION
NEW JERSEY PLAN REFERS TO THE SMALL STATE PLAN THE PROPOSAL AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THAT CALLED FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF EACH STATE IN CONGRESS REGARDLESS OF THE STATE’s POPULATION
Define “Three-Fifths Compromise”
THE THREE-FIFTHS COMPROMISE REFERS TO WHERE SLAVE - STATE DELEGATES WANTED EACH SLAVE TO BE COUNTED AS AT LEAST THREE-FIFTHS OF A PERSON
Why did anti-slavery delegates NOT want slaves to be counted at all for purposes of calculating each state’s number of representatives ? Why did slave-state delegates want each slave to be counted as at least three-fifths of a person ( if not as a whole person ) ?
THIS WOULD GUARANTEE SLAVE STATES A MAJORITY OF SEATS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THIS WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DELEGATES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Define “Electoral College”
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFERS TO A SYSTEM ESTABLISHED FOR ELECTING PRESIDENTS; THE NUMBER OF ELECTORS IN EACH STATE SHOULD EQUAL THE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES EACH STATE HAD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
What did the Original Constitution establish about the Atlantic Slave Trade ?
THE SLAVE TRADE CLAUSE GUARANTEED THAT CONGRESS WOULD NOT BAN THE SLAVE TRADE PRIOR TO 1808
Define “Fugitive Slave Clause”
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE CLAUSE GRANTED SLAVE OWNERS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO RECAPTURE RUNAWAY SLAVES WHO HAD FLED TO OTHER STATES, INCLUDING STATES WHERE SLAVERY WAS ILLEGAL. IT ALSO TOOK AWAY THE RIGHTS OF STATES TO PASS LAWS TO PROTECT & / OR EMANCIPATE RUNAWAY SLAVES
What were the six design principles of the original U.S.
Constitution ?
( 1 ) FEDERALISM
( 2 ) POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
( 3 ) REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY
( 4 ) BICAMERALISM
( 5 ) SEPARATION OF POWERS / CHECK & BALANCES
( 6 ) SMALL LIST OF CIVIL LIBERTIES
Define “federalism”
FEDERALISM REFERS TO A SYSTEM IN WHICH POWER IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE NATIONAL & STATE GOVERNMENTS
Define “Supremacy Clause”
THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE REFERS TO WHEN THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS FEDERAL LAWS SUPERIOR AUTHORITY OVER STATE LAWS
Define “popular sovereignty”
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY REFERS TO THE IDEA THAT THE POWER OF A STATE & ITS GOVERNMENT ARE CREATED & SUSTAINED BY THE PERMISSION OF ITS PEOPLE
How does the Constitution’s Preamble reflect the principle of “popular sovereignty.”
IT STATES, “WE THE PEOPLE … DO ORDAIN AND ESTABLISH THIS CONSTITUTION FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” THEY SPEAK TO THE FACT THAT, BY THE RULES SET IN ARTICLE VII, BEFORE THE CONSTITUTION COULD BE CONSIDERED “ESTABLISHED,” IT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY SPECIAL POPULARLY ELECTED RATIFYING CONVENTIONS IN AT LEAST NINE OF THE THIRTEEN STATES. THE CONSTITUTION ALSO REPRESENTS POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY BY ALLOWING THE THE CONSTITUTION FOR BEING CHANGED.
Why did the Founders choose a bicameral legislature instead of a unicameral one ?
THE FOUNDERS CHOSE A BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE BECAUSE IT FACILITATED THE GREAT COMPROMISE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW STATES TO BE REPRESENTED EQUALLY IN ONE CHAMBER ( THE SENATE ) & PROPORTIONALLY BASED ON POPULATION SIZE IN ANOTHER ( THE HOUSE )
Define “seperation of powers”
SEPARATION OF POWERS REFERS TO PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT THAT MEANS LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, & JUDICIAL POWERS ARE EXERCISED BY THREE SEPARATE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT CONSISTING OF DISTINCT INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE STAFFED BY OFFICIALS WHO SERVE IN ONLY ONE INSTITUTION AT A TIME
Define “checks & balances”
CHECKS & BALANCES REFERS TO PRINCIPLE OF GOVERNMENT THAT MEANS THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT EXERT ENOUGH POWER OVER ONE ANOTHER IN ORDER TO KEEP EACH OTHER WITHIN THEIR PROPER CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS
What were the “small list of civil liberties” ?
WHEN THE FOUNDERS SENT THE CONSTITUTION OUT FOR RATIFICATION, THE MOST SERIOUS CRITICISM LEVELED AGAINST IT WAS THAT IT LACKED A LIST OF LEGALLY PROTECTED CIVIL LIBERTIES LIKE ALL THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS HAD
LEGAL RIGHTS DESIGNED TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS FROM ABUSE OF POWER BY GOVERNMENT
Article V establishes four pathways for the sovereign people to amend the Constitution. What are they ?
PROPOSING AMENDMENTS
⅔ VOTE BY CONGRESS
⅔ OF STATE LEGISLATURES PETITIONING CONGRESS TO CALL A SPECIAL CONVENTION
RATIFYING AMENDMENTS
¾ OF STATE LEGISLATURE VOTING TO RATIFY
¾ OF SPECIAL POPULARLY - ELECTED RATIFYING CONVENTIONS
In what ways did these transform the Founders’ Constitution - particularly with respect to slavery & white supremacist views of American citizenship ?
SLAVERY & WHITE SUPREMACY WERE CHALLENGED & LIMITED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE FOUNDERS’ CONSTITUTION ALLOWED BOTH TO GO UNCHECKED, THESE AMENDMENTS SAW SLAVERY ABOLISHED & WHITE SUPREMACY BEING CHECKED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY
What are the key differences between a federal system & unitary national government ?
What does “reserved power” entail in terms of state authority in the U.S. federal system ?
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY IS DIVIDED & PARTLY SHARED BETWEEN A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT & MEMBER STATE GOVERNMENT. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO ALTER THE LEGAL POWERS / JURISDICTION OF MEMBER STATE GOVERNMENTS, WHEREAS IN UNITARY GOVERNMENTS, THE CENTRAL GOV CAN ALTER THE LEGAL POWERS / JURISDICTION OF MEMBER STATE GOVERNMENTS
RESERVED POWERS ENTAIL AREAS OF PUBLIC POLICY OVER WHICH ONLY THE STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVE AUTHORITY
The five arguments made FOR greater national government authority
( 1 ) Preserving the Union
( 2 ) Reducing Compliance Costs Through Standardization & Uniformity of Rules
( 3 ) Providing National Public Goods & Reducing Negative Externalities
( 4 ) Protecting Minority Rights
( 5 ) Preventing Races to the Bottom
Explain “Preserving the Union”
ACTS AS A GUARANTOR OF PEACE, PROSPERITY, & COOPERATION
PREVENTS STATES FROM BECOMING TOO INDEPENDENT OR POWERFUL
Explain “Reducing Compliance Costs Through Standardization & Uniformity of Rules”
NO PAY CUSTOMS FEES WHEN GOING TO A DIFFERENT STATE
BUSINESSES COULD EXPAND TO OTHER STATES
REDUCES OPPORTUNITY COST
Explain “Providing National Public Goods & Reducing Negative Externalities”
MORE LIKELY TO PROVIDE NATIONWIDE PUBLIC GOODS
STATES ARE MORE LIMITED / SELFISH IN THEIR MOTIVES TO OVERCOME THE TEMPTATION TO FREE-RIDE
Explain “Protecting Minority Rights”
MORE LIKELY TO PROTECT MINORITY RIGHTS THAN SMALLER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS ( SLAVES )
Explain “Preventing Races to the Bottom”
MORE LIKELY TO UPHOLD HIGHER STANDARDS THAN STATES IN REGULATING LARGE CORPORATIONS
RACE TO THE BOTTOM REFERS TO WHEN ECONOMIC COMPETITION BETWEEN STATES ENABLES THEM TO ENACT SOCIALLY SUBOPTIMAL REGULATIONS TO ATTRACT / RETAIN LARGE BUSINESSES & THE JOBS THEY PROVIDE
The five arguments made FOR greater state government authority
( 1 ) Protecting Liberty
( 2 ) Representing the Diversity of Local Community Values & Interests
( 3 ) Learning from Policy Experimentation (“Laboratories of Democracy”)
( 4 ) Benefiting from “Foot Voting”
( 5 ) Fostering Democratic Citizenship
Explain “Protecting Liberty”
UNITARY GOVERNMENT IS MORE LIKELY TO BECOME OPPRESSIVE & CAN’T EFFECTIVELY CONTROL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
WITHOUT STATE GOVERNMENTS SERVING AS A CHECK ON THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S POWER, THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT WILL DOMINATE THE PEOPLE & STRIP THEM OF THEIR POWER
Explain “Representing the Diversity of Local Community Values & Interests”
SINCE THERE IS MUCH DIVERSITY IN VALUES & INTERESTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, IT CAN BE BETTER TO ALLOW DECISIONS TO BE MADE AT THE MOST LOCAL LEVEL POSSIBLE
Explain “Learning from Policy Experimentation (“Laboratories of Democracy”)”
FEDERALISM ALLOWS STATES TO CONDUCT THEIR OWN POLICY EXPERIMENTS & THIS ALLOWS EVERYONE TO LEARN WHAT WORKS BEST & WHAT DOES NOT
IT PROMOTES PROGRESS TOWARD BETTER APPROACHES TO PUBLIC POLICY BY ALLOWING US TO LEARN FROM THE STATE “LABORATORIES OF DEMOCRACY”
Explain “Benefiting from “Foot Voting”
IF PEOPLE DON’T LIKE THE POLICIES OF THEIR REGION, THEY CAN VOTE BY MOVING TO DIFFERENT REGIONS WHERE THEY FIND THE POLICIES MORE ACCEPTABLE
SERVES AS A DETERRENT FROM GOVERNMENTS ENACTING UNJUST / INEFFICIENT LAWS
Explain “Fostering Democratic Citizenship”
INCREASES THE NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT & PRACTICE / DEVELOP THE SKILLS, HABITS, & DISPOSITIONS ESSENTIAL FOR DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP
Define “judicial review”
JUDICIAL REVIEW REFERS TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPREME COURT TO STRIKE DOWN UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS MADE BY GOVERNMENT
What are the two important principles found in the Tenth Amendment ?
THE AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LIMITED TO ONLY THOSE LEGAL POWERS THAT ARE DELEGATED TO IT BY THE US CONSTITUTION
( LIMITED SPHERE OF AUTHORITY )
UNLESS THE US CONSTITUTION - OR A STATE’S CONSTITUTION - PROHIBITS A STATE FROM EXERCISING A PARTICULAR POWER, THEN THE STATE IS PRESUMED TO HAVE THAT POWER
Define “enumerated powers”
ENUMERATED POWERS REFER TO SPECIFIC POWERS EXPLICITLY GRANTED TO CONGRESS FOUND IN ARTICLE I, SECTION 8 OF THE CONSTITUTION
Define “implied powers”
IMPLIED POWERS REFER TO POWERS IMPLIED BY THE TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION TO CONGRESS
Define “Necessary & Proper Clause”
THE NECESSARY & PROPER CLAUSE REFERS TO CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER… GIVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE IMPLIED POWER TO PASS ANY LAW “NECESSARY AND PROPER” FOR THE EXECUTION OF ITS EXPRESS POWERS
What are “amendment - enforcing provisions” ?
AMENDMENT - ENFORCING PROVISIONS REFER TO PROVISIONS OF SIX AMENDMENTS ( 13ᵀᴴ, 14ᵀᴴ, 15ᵀᴴ, 19ᵀᴴ, 23ᴿᴰ, 26ᵀᴴ ) THAT GRANT CONGRESS AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE AMENDMENTS
The “police power” is the other Supreme Court doctrine fundamental to American
federalism. What is meant by “police power” ?
( HINT: It is not about police officers. ) What does it have to do with the constitutional law of American federalism ? Are there any constitutional limits on the “police power” of the state governments ?
“POLICE POWER” REFERS TO THE IDEA THAT A GOVERNMENT HAS INHERENT AUTHORITY TO MAKE LAWS & REGULATIONS TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, & MORALS OF THE PEOPLE
THE IDEA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY HAS THOSE POWERS DELEGATED TO IT BY THE CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN INTERPRETED AS AFFIRMING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE INHERENT “POLICE POWER”
NO, AS LONG AS STATES DON’T VIOLATE A LEGAL LIMIT PLACED ON THEM BY THE US / STATE CONSTITUTION, STATES MAY DO WHATEVER THEY CHOOSE TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, & MORALS OF THE PEOPLE
Why is this system of dual federalism termed ‘layer cake’ federalism ?
THIS FORM OF FEDERALISM IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ‘LAYER CAKE FEDERALISM,’ BECAUSE EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS SEEN AS SEPARATE FROM THE OTHER, WITH THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAVING AUTHORITY OVER NATIONAL MATTERS & STATE GOVERNMENTS HAVING AUTHORITY OVER STATE MATTERS
Define “progressive income tax”
PROGRESSIVE INCOME TAX REFERS TO A FAIRER TAX THAT WOULD REDUCE ECONOMIC INEQUALITY
What has the impact of the progressive income tax been in the U.S. since 1894 ?
SHIFTED TAX BURDEN FROM FALLING HARDEST ON LOW-INCOME CITIZENS TO HIGH-INCOME CITIZENS. DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY THE SUPREME COURT IN 1895. RATIFIED AS 16ᵀᴴ AMENDMENT IN 1913 BY CONGRESS
Using the power of the purse, how has the federal government influenced state governments ?
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GOT STATE GOVERNMENTS TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULDN’T FEASIBLY ( OR CONSTITUTIONALLY ) IMPLEMENT ON ITS OWN
Among other things, changes in how the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution
beginning in 1937 paved the way for the modern welfare state. What is meant by
“welfare state” ? How has it impacted American federalism ?
WELFARE STATE REFERS TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE RIGHTS TO A GOOD EDUCATION, DECENT HOME, ADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE, & PROTECTION FORM THE ECONOMIC FEARS OF OLD AGE, SICKNESS, ACCIDENT, & UNEMPLOYMENT”
IT ALLOWS CONGRESS TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO PARTICULAR GROUPS, SO LONG AS CONGRESS BELIEVES DOING SO WILL PROMOTE THE OVERALL WELFARE OF THE COUNTRY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SUPREME COURT DECLARED THAT FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS NOT ITS ROLE TO SECOND-GUESS CONGRESS’ DETERMINATIONS ABOUT WHAT WILL PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE. THIS MEANT CONGRESS WAS FREE TO BUILD WELFARE STATE PROGRAMS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT DECLARING THEM UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Define “Great Society”
“GREAT SOCIETY” REFERS TO PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON’s ( LBJ ) AMBITIOUS PUBLIC POLICY THAT SOUGHT TO WAGE A WAR ON POVERTY BY PROVIDING JOB TRAINING & DIRECT INCOME TO SUPPORT THE POOR, IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, MEDICAL CARE, & TRANSPORTATION FOR LOW INCOME AMERICANS, PROVIDE FUNDS & LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR, PROMOTE RACIAL EQUALITY, PROTECT CONSUMERS & THE ENVIRONMENT & PROMOTE THE ARTS
Define “grants-in-aid”
“GRANTS-IN-AID” REFER TO GRANTS IN THE FORM OF MONEY OR LAND PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STATE & / OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON THE CONDITION THAT THE FUNDS BE USED FOR PURPOSES DEFINED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Define “categorial grants”
CATEGORICAL GRANTS REFER TO A TYPE OF FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID THAT PROVIDES RELATIVELY STRICT & SPECIFIC GUIDELINES ON HOW THE STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVING THE MONEY MUST SPEND IT. BY ACCEPTING THESE FUNDS IN THE ’60s, STATES ALLOWED THE FED GOVERNMENT TO DEFINE & OVERSEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MANY ASPECTS OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CARRIED OUT WITH LITTLE OR NO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT
What kind of impact did “grants-in-aid” & “caterogical grants” have on the growth of the federal government ?
THESE INCREASED THE INTERMINGLING OF FEDERAL & STATE FUNCTIONS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USING CATEGORICAL GRANTS TO INDUCE STATES TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL POLICY PRIORITIES IN AREAS THAT HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN HANDLED SOLELY BY THE STATES
Define “cooperative federalism”
COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM REFERS TO THE INCREASED INTERMINGLING OF FEDERAL & STATE FUNCTIONS - WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT USING CATEGORICAL GRANTS TO INDUCE STATES TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL POLICY PRIORITIES IN AREAS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN HANDLED SOLELY BY THE STATES. KNOWN AS “MARBLE CAKE FEDERALISM” TO HIGHLIGHT THE FUNCTIONS & ROLES OF FEDERAL & STATE GOVERNMENTS
Define “dual federalism”
DUAL FEDERALISM REFERS TO FEDERALISM MARKED BY A CLEAR DIVISION OF AUTHORITY & RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE FEDERAL & STATE GOVERNMENTS. STATES FOCUSED ON PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES, REGULATING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIORS, ETC. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOCUSED ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, REGULATING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE STATES, & COORDINATING EFFORTS AN INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS ( LAYER CAKE FEDERALISM )
Define “block grants”
BLOCK GRANTS REFER TO A FEDERAL GRANT-IN-AID THAT PROVIDES STATES & / OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH SIGNIFICANT FREEDOM TO DECIDE HOW TO SPEND THE MONEY
Define “devoultion”
DEVOLUTION REFERS TO THE PROCESS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RETURNING FUNCTIONS & POWERS TO STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAD BEEN ASSUMED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SINCE THE NEW DEAL & GREAT SOCIETY
How do “block grants” & “devolution” relate to Richard Nixon & the conservative backlash against the liberal federalism of FDR & LBJ ?
NIXON WANTED STATES TO HAVE MORE RIGHTS AGAIN, THIS DESIRE & THE ACTS HE PUT IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE IT CHANGED THE AMERICAN FEDERALIST SYSTEM BY TAKING POWER AWAY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ( HE WANTED TO APPEASE CONSERVATIVES )
How did Ronald Reagan try to reign in the size & influence of the federal government ? Were these measures successful ? Why, after three decades of decline, did the national debt double during the 1980s ( when Reagan was president ) ?
PRESIDENT REAGAN SET OUT TO “STARVE THE BEAST” ( REFERRING TO DRASTICALLY REDUCING TAXES & FORCING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CUT SPENDING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ). THEN, HE CALLED FOR A REDUCTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’s POWER & STRENGTH OF THE 10ᵀᴴ AMENDMENT PRINCIPLE
THE RESULTS OF THE MEASURES WERE MIXED, THE SUCCESSES WERE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1950s THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN SPENDING ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS-IN-AID TO STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SPENDING GRANTS TO THE STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DECLINED BY 33% DURING REAGAN’S TIME IN OFFICE. CONVERTING CATEGORICAL GRANTS TO BLOCK GRANTS DIRECTLY INCREASES STATE GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY TO DECIDE HOW FUNDS ARE SPENT. THE FAILURES WERE THAT THE TAX CUTS DID NOT LEAD THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE OVERALL SPENDING NEARLY AS MUCH, SPENDING ACTUALLY INCREASED.
THE NATIONAL DEBT DOUBLED DUE TO REAGAN’S POLICIES & THE LIMITING OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Define “principled federalism”
PRINCIPLED FEDERALISM REFERS TO A PREFERENCE FOR A PARTICULAR ALLOCATION OF AUTHORITY BETWEEN NATIONAL & STATE GOVERNMENTS THAT ONE CONSISTENTLY ADHERES TO EVEN IF ONE DISLIKES THE POLICY OUTCOMES
