Chapter 1-10 Flashcards

1
Q

government

A

the institutions and processes through which public policy is created for a society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

unitary government

A

a way of organizing a nation so that all of the power resides in the central government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

monarchy

A

form of government where a king, queen, or emperor holds supreme power (authoritarian)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

oligarchy

A

a small group of people who have all of the political power (authoritarian)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

direct democracy

A

procedures such as initiative, referendum, and the recall, by which voters can have a direct impact on policy making and the political process by means of the voting booth

citizens themselves vote on a law and create policies for the country

(democratic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

referendum

A

a state level method of direct legislation that gives the voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Representative democracy (presidential)

A

citizens elect officials to make laws and these representatives are accountable to those they govern

citizens elect both the legislative and executive branch
(democratic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

representative democracy (Parliamentary)

A

citizens elect officials to make laws and these representatives are accountable to those they govern

citizens elect the legislative branch (parliament) and the legislative branch appoints the executive (prime minister)
(democratic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

dictatorship/totalitarianism

A

one single individual retains all of the power (authoritarian)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

confederate

A

most of the power resides with the states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

federal

A

power is divided between the states and the national government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Authoritarian government

A

citizens don’t influence government, freedom is restricted, no rights; leaders are above the rule of the law, retain power for life and keep it with force; media is censored, government controls all businesses, limits freedoms of citizens choosing what job they want, COMMAND ECONOMY

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Democratic Government

A

citizens participate in government by voting and running for office; leaders obey the rule of the law, gov’t power is separated and officials place limits on each others powers; media is owned by citizens and is uncensored, citizens have rights guaranteed by a constitution; citizens own and run businesses MARKET ECONOMY/CAPITALISM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what should a government do

A
provide a national defense
public services (public goods)
preserve order
socialize the youth
collect taxes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

legislative branch (WHO)

A

national: CONGRESS
state: MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY (STAE SENATE and HOUSE OF DELEGATES
local: BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

executive branch (WHO)

A

national: PRESIDENT
state: GOVERNOR
local: MAYOR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

judicial brach (WHO)

A

national: SCOTUS
state: COURT OF APPEALS
local: DISTRICT COURT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

politics

A

the process by which we select our governmental leaders and the polices these leaders pursue. it produces authoritative decision about public issues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

party-platform

A

a political party’s statement of its goals and polices for the next four years. the platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidates strength. it is the best formal statement of what a party believes in.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

political participation

A

all activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the politics they pursue. voting is the most common but not the only means of political participation in a democracy (others include protest and civil disobedience)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

single-issue groups

A

groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. (this makes them different from interest groups)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

policy-making system

A

the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. people’s interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policy makers. these issues shape policy, which in turn impacts the people, generating more interests, problems, and concerns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

policy-making system flow chart

A

people (interests, problems, concerns) –> linkage institutions (parties, elections, media, interest groups) –> policy agenda (political issues) –> policymaking insinuations (legislative, executive, court, bureaucracy) –> policy (expenditures, taxes, laws, regulations, non-decisions) –> people (impacts of policy)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

linkage institutions

A

the political channels through which people’s concerns become political issues on the political agenda. (elections, political parties, interest groups, media)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

policy agenda

A

the issues that attract serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in optics at any given point in time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

politcal issue

A

a result of people disagreeing about a problem or about the public policy needed to fix it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

policy-making institutions

A

the branches of government charged with taking action on political issues. US constitution established the three, and political scientists today consider bureaucracy an institution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

public policy

A

a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. a policy is a course of action taken in regard to some problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

policy impacts

A

the effects a policy has on people and problems. impacts are analyzed to see how well a policy met its goal and at what cost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

democracy

A

a system of selecting policy makers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

framers view of democracy

A

no fondness for it because they doubted the ability of the ordinary American to make informed judgments about what the government should do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

traditional democratic theory

A
equality in voting
effective participation
enlightened understanding
citizens control the agenda 
inclusion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

15th amendment

A

Africans Americans can vote; ever race can vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

17th amendment

A

the citizens can vote for senators as well as house members in congress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

19th amendment

A

women can vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

23 amendment

A

gave DC electors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

24th amendment

A

no more poll taxes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

26th amendment

A

people at and above the age of 18 can vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

majority rule

A

part of the inclusion part of traditional democratic theory

choosing among alternatives requires the majority’s desire to be respected

40
Q

minority rights

A

part of the inclusion part of traditional democratic theory
guarantees rights to those who do not belong to the majorities and allows that they might join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument

41
Q

representation

A

a basic principle of traditional democratic theory;

describes the relationship between the few leaders d the may followers

42
Q

pluralist theory

A

a theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a completion among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred polices

43
Q

majority v. plurality

A

In elections, a majority happens when more than half of the electorate votes for one candidate. For example, if a candidate gets 50.1% of the vote, she gets a majority. A plurality happens when less than half vote for a candidate that wins because the vote is split among more than two candidates.

44
Q

elite and class theory (ELITISM)

A

a theory of government and politics contending that societies are are divided along class lines and an upper elite class rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization

45
Q

hyperpluralism

A

a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that the government is weakened. gridlock

46
Q

challenges to democracy

A

increased technical expertise
limited participation in government
escalating campaign costs
diverse political interests

47
Q

policy gridlock

A

a condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy (nothing gets done)

48
Q

political culture

A

an overall set of values widely shred within a society

49
Q

American political culture

A

liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire, populism

50
Q

texas v johnson

A

SCOTUS agreed with Johnson that the law prohibiting the burning of the flag violates the freedom of speech

51
Q

constitution

A

a nations basic law. creates political institutions, assigns or divides power in gov’t, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. can be written or unwritten

52
Q

French and Indian War

A

vast acquisition of land. British Parliament made colonists pay for the defense of the land (lots of taxes on lots of shit)

53
Q

stamp act

A

an act of the British Parliament in 1756 that exacted revenue from the American colonies by imposing a stamp duty on newspapers and legal and commercial documents. Colonial opposition led to the act’s repeal in 1766 and helped encourage the revolutionary movement against the British Crown.

54
Q

revolutionary war

A

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence[N 1] and the Revolutionary War in the United States, was the armed conflict between Great Britain and thirteen of its North American colonies, which had declared themselves the independent United States of America.

55
Q

Declaration of Independence

A

the document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

56
Q

natural rights

A

John Locke

rights inherent to human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property.

57
Q

consent of the governed

A

John Locke

the idea that government derives it authority by sanction of the people

58
Q

limited government

A

John Locke

the idea that certain restrictions should be places on government to protect the natural rights of citizens

59
Q

social contract theory

A

Rousseau

the condition in which people give up some individual liberty in exchange for some common security

60
Q

conservative revolution

A

the revolution didn’t drastically change the colonists way of life, simply restored the rights of the colonists that they felt were already theirs as British subjects

61
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

the first constitution of the US adopted by Congress in 1777. the articles established a national legislature, the continental congress but most authority reseted with the state legislatures

62
Q

changes in the states made by the articles of confederation

A
middle class were brought to power (farmers, manorial landholders, and artisans) (extended political participation to them)
dramatic increase in liberty for white males
structure of government in the states became more responsive to the people
63
Q

economic turmoil caused by the AoC

A

economic issues were at the top of the political agenda
postwar depression left many small farmers unable to pay there debts
few states even passed laws favoring the debtors over th creditors

64
Q

Shay’s rebellion

A

a series of attacks on the courthouses by a small band of farmers led by revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings

65
Q

the Annapolis meeting

A

a handful of leaders assembled and planned a full-scale meeting of all of the states in may in Philadelphia
Continental Congress approved this meeting and called for a meeting of the states which became known as the Continental Convention

66
Q

delegates demographics at the Continental Convention

A

they were the minority,

college educated and rich

67
Q

agenda in philadelphia

A

meant to just fix the AoC, but they decided to create a whole new Constitution altogether

68
Q

Equality issues

A

Constitution is silent on equality

Three main issues: state representation, slavery, voting

69
Q

New jersey plan

A

called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population

70
Q

Virginia Plan

A

called for representation of each state to be proportional to the state’s share of the US population

71
Q

Connecticut Compromise

A

2 houses of Congress

72
Q

Slavery issue in the Constitution

A

nothing really said about it; but the possible top of importing them after 1808

3/5 compromise

73
Q

equality in voting in the Constitution

A

left to the states; those who can vote in state stuff can vote in national stuff too

74
Q

economic issues the Continental Congress had to deal with

A

states had erected tariffs against products of other states
paper money in each state was vitally worthless, but some states would force creditors to accept the worthless money
Congres was having trouble raising money because the economy was in a recession
PEOPLE AT CONVENTION WANTED TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF THE NATIONAL GOV’T IN ECONOMY
CONGRESS HAD CLEAR ECNOMIS POWERS IN CONSTITUION

75
Q

individual rights in the constitution

A
few but there are:
bills of attainder
writ of habeas corpus
ex post facto laws
strict scrutiny for treason (colonists had been treasonous themselves) 
no religious qualifications for office
right to trial in criminal cases
76
Q

write of habeas corpus

A

a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding prisoner in custody

77
Q

bills of attainder

A

punish people without judicial trial

78
Q

ex post facto laws

A

punish people or increase the penalties for acts which were not illegal or not punishable when the act was committed

79
Q

the madisonian model

A

a way of organizing government to thwart tyranny of the majority through:
1. placing as much of the gov’t as possible away from the direct control of the marjory
2. checks and balances
3. separation of powers
4. federalism
(feared majority and minority factions taking total control of gov’t)

80
Q

factions

A

groups of people, currently known as political parties or interest groups, who arise as a result of the unequal distribution of wealth to seize the reins of the gov’t in their own interest

81
Q

Madisonian model: limited majority control

A

the people really have direct control of voting house members, and the house members have more frequent elections

82
Q

Madisonian Model: separation of powers

A

Senate, judicial , and executive have separate powers, outlined in the Constitution (Article I,II,III)
Montesquieu
each branch is relatively independent so that one cannot control the other

83
Q

Checks and Balances

A

limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different gov’t institutions

84
Q

Madisonian Model: establishing a federal system

A

outlined in Articles I,II, III,IV

85
Q

republic

A

what the constitution created in America

a form of gov’t in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws

86
Q

federalists

A

supported the ratification of the Constitution

87
Q

anti-federalists

A

did not support the ratification of the constitution

88
Q

federalists papers

A

a collection of 85 articles written by alexander hamilton, john jay, and James madison under the name publius to defend the constitution in detail

89
Q

Federalist 10

A

supported Constitution as the only way to control factions

90
Q

bill of rights

A

first 10 amendments to the US Constitution drafted in response to the anti-federlist concerns.

91
Q

ratification

A

the formal validation of a document

92
Q

marbury v. madison

A

established judicial review

93
Q

judicial review

A

the power the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and by implication the executive are in accords with the US constitution

94
Q

federalism

A

a way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land an people

95
Q

intergovernmental-relations

A

the workings of the federal system- the entire set of interactions among state, local, and national gov’t

96
Q

supremacy clause

A

article VI of the constitution, which makes the constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is working within constitutional limits

97
Q

tenth amendment

A

powers not delegated to the national gov’t or not given to the states are given to the states