88 Terms Flashcards
Majority rule
A fundamental democratic principle requiring a majority’s view be respected. Nonetheless, the Constitution
originally contained a number of provisions designed to limit majority rule, including the electoral college, life tenure for Supreme Court justices, and the selection of senators by state legislators
Checks and balances
System in which each branch of govemment can limit the
power of the other twobranches. For example, the Senate has the power toapprove or reject presidential appointments to the Supreme Court.
Unitary system
System of government in which all power is invested in a central government
Federalism
Asystem of government in which power is divided by a
written constitution between a central government and
regional governments. As a result, two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same geographic area and people.
Expressed powers
Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. For example, the Constitution gives Congress the power to coin money, impose taxes, and regulate
interstate commerce. Expressed powers are also called enumerated powers.
Implied powers
Powers of the federal govemment thatgo beyond those enumerated in the Constitution. Implied powers are derived
from the elastic or necessary and proper clause.
Reserved powers
Powers not specifically granted to the national goverment or denied to the states. Reserved powers are held by the states through the Tenth Amendment.
Cooperative federalism
Situations in which the National and state governments work together to complete projects also called fiscal federalism
Categorical grant
Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.
Block grants
Funds granted to the states for a broadlydefined purpose. Because block grants shift resources from the federal goverment to thestates, they contribute to the growing number of state and local government employees.
Mandates
Rules telling states what they mustd o to comply with federal guidelines. Unfunded mandates require state and local governments to provide services or comply with regulations without the provision of funds.
Devolution
Amovement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from
the federal government to state and local governments.
Political culture
A set of widely shared political beliefs and values. America’s political culture is characterized by strong support for individual liberty, political equality, legal equality, therule of law, and limited government
Political socialization
The process by which political values are formed and passed
from one generation to the next. The family is the most important agent of political socialization.
Public opinion
Attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues and events
Political ideology
A cohesive set of beliefs abt politics, public policy, and gov roles
Political efficacy
Belief that’s one’s political participation makes a difference
Split ticket voting
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices
in the same election. Recent elections have witnessed a significant increase in split-ticket voting as the number of voters who identify themselves as independents increases.
Political party
Agroup of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate goverments and determine public policy.
Plurality election
The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes
than anyone else, but less thanhalf the total.
Single member district
An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office. This type of electoral system
typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties.
Party era
A historical period dominated by one political party
Critical election
An election when a specific group of voters change their voting patterns of party loyalty
Party realignment
The majority party is displaced by theminority party, thus
ushering in a new party era. For example, in 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) led the New Deal coalition of blue-collar workers, racial minorities, Southerners, and farm
laborers toa sweeping electoral victory.
Divided government
Agovernment in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress. The pattern of divided government has dominated U.S. politics since the early 1970s.
Interest group
An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit. Unlike political parties, interest groups do not elect people to office.
PAC
committee formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the
campaigns of political candidates whom they support
Free riders
People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions. Labor unions and public interest groups often have a free-rider problem because people can benefit
from the group’s activities without joining.
Power of elite theory
The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.
Pluralist theory
The theory that many interest groupscompete for power in a large number of policy areas.
Hyperpluralist theory
The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there areso many competing interest groups.
Mass media
Means of communication such as newspapers, radio,
television, and the Internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences.
Linkage Institutions
Institutions that connect citizens to government. The mass
media, interest groups, and political parties are the three main linkage institutions.
Horse race journalism
The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on issues
