AP Gov 4/13 Vocab Quiz Flashcards
Majority rule
the belief that the power to make decisions about government should reflect the will of most (the majority) of the people
Minority rights
rights of the minority must also be protected, even at the expense of overriding the will of the majority. The minority always has the right to speak out against the majority, for example. It’s kinda like a check on the majority
Unitary system
central gov has all the power (exs: absolute monarchies)
Federal system (federalism)
divides power between national and state governments. Under federalism, each level of government is independent and has its own powers and responsibilities.
expressed powers
these powers are clearly outlined in the Constitution
Enumerated powers
Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.
Implied powers
A political power not expressly named in a constitution but that is inferred because it is necessary to the performance of an enumerated power.
necessary and proper clause
Constitution also grants Congress the power to do anything “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties.
aka elastic clause
reserved powers
powers given to the states by the 10th amendment because they are not given to the national government
The 10th amendment
powers given to the states by the 10th amendment because they are not given to the national government
Dual federalism (layer cake federalism)
like a layer cake, the states’ and the national governments each had their own distinct areas of responsibility, and the different levels rarely overlapped.
Cooperative federalism
Federalism over much of the last century has more closely resembled a marble cake rather than a layer cake as federal authority and state authority have become intertwined.
Fiscal federalism
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system
Block grants
Money given for a fairly broad purpose with few strings attached.
Categorical grants
Money given for a specific purpose that comes with restrictions concerning how the money should be spent
Unfunded mandates and an example
one for which the federal government provides no money. For example, the federal government has required state and local governments to live up to the Americans with Disabilities Act without providing money to make buildings accessible to handicapped people. State governments resent unfunded mandates
Funded mandates and an example
when the federal government give the states money to help them do whatever they want them to do
political culture
The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms concerning the relationship of citizens to government and to one another.
political socialization
The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.
public opinion
consists of the views held by the population of a state that influence those in power.
political ideology
A coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who ought to rule, what principles rulers ought to follow, and what policies rulers ought to pursue.
political efficacy
how much effect the citizens of a certain country think they have on their federal and local governments. When citizens think they have a low amount of impact on their government then they are known to have low political efficacy. When the public has good faith in their government and its abilities to listen to their citizens views and respond to them then they are said to have high political efficacy. A belief that you can take part in politics (internal) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external).
bureaucratic expertise
The people who administer policy often know much more about those issues than the president or members of Congress. This expertise gives the bureaucrats power.
conservative ideology
limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.
liberal ideology
government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.
political party – roles they play
a political party is an alliance of like-minded people who work together to win elections and control of the government.
Fxns:
- Recruit candidates
- Organize elections
- Hold conventions
- Unite factions
- Ensure plurality
plurality elections
Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election
single-member district
every elected official represents a geographically defined area, such as a state or congressional district and each area elects one representative
winner-take-all elections
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies. In US presidential elections, the system in which the winner of the popular vote in a state receives all the electoral votes of that state.
critical election
an electoral “earthquake” where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era.
devolution
transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal gov to the states
bully pulpit
the president’s use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public
new federalism
political theory started by Nixon but carried out by Reagan which favors downsizing the federal gov and devolution to the states
