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APGAP > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Government

A

institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society

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2
Q

Democracy

A

system of selecting policymakers and organizing govt. so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences

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3
Q

Direct Democracy

A

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

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4
Q

Representative Democracy

A

indirect; citizens vote for leaders to represent their interests in policymaking

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5
Q

Parliamentary Democracy

A

govt. that typically selects the political leader from membership in parliament (the legislature), who are elected

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6
Q

Presidential Democracy

A

govt. where a head of govt. is also head of state and leads executive branch separate from legislative branch

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7
Q

Authoritarian

A

form of govt. where individual freedom is subordinate to the power of the state; power is centered in one person or small group not constitutionally accountable

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8
Q

Dictatorship/Totalitarianism

A

absolute power and control of central govt. is held by dictator of a highly centralized govt.

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9
Q

Monarchy

A

form of govt. where one person (like king/queen) rules; monarch often head of state only, not govt.

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10
Q

Oligarchy

A

govt. where a small group of people has control

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11
Q

Unitary

A

govt. with all power residing in a central govt.; most natl. govts. today (ex: Japan)

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12
Q

Confederacy

A

group of states/political units loosely allied; central authority only has a few powers

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13
Q

Federalism

A

way of organizing a nation so that 2 levels of govt. have formal authority over same land & people; shared power between units of govt.

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14
Q

Politics

A

process by which we select our govt. leaders & what policies they pursue; produces authoritative decisions about public issues

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15
Q

Party Platform

A

political party’s statement of its goals & policies for the next 4 yrs; drafted prior to party convention by a committee; best formal statement of a party’s beliefs

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16
Q

Policy Agenda

A

issues that attract serious attention of public officials and other people involved w/ govt. at a given time

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17
Q

Policymaking System

A

process by which political problems are communicated to voters and acted on by policymakers

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18
Q

Linkage Institutions

A

channels through which issues & people’s policy preferences get on govt. policy agenda; main ones: voting, political parties, media, interest groups

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19
Q

Political Culture

A

overall set of values widely shared w/in a society

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20
Q

Political Issue

A

issue that arises when people disagree about a problem & public policy choice

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21
Q

Political Participation

A

all the activities used by citizens to influence selection of political leaders or policies they pursue; ex: voting, protest, civil disobedience

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22
Q

Single-Interest Groups

A

groups with narrow interests, tend to dislike compromise, members are often new to politics

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23
Q

Public Goods

A

goods that everyone must share

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24
Q

Public Policy

A

choice that govt. makes in response to a political issue

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25
Q

Gridlock

A

condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and est. policy; nothing may get done

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26
Q

Pluralism

A

theory of govt. and politics emphasizing that politics is a competition among groups, each pressing for preferred policies

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27
Q

Hyperpluralism

A

theory of govt. & politics that says that groups are so strong that govt. is weakened; exaggerated form of pluralism

28
Q

Elite & Class Theory

A

theory of govt. & politics saying that societies are divided along class lines & that an upperclass elite will rule regardless of niceties of govt. organization

29
Q

Majority Rule

A

a fundamental principle of trad. democratic theory; majority’s desire is respected when choosing among alternatives

30
Q

Minority Rights

A

principle of trad. democratic theory; guarantees rights to those that don’t belong to majority; allows that they might join the majority though persuasion

31
Q

Declaration of Independence

A

document approved by reps. of the American colonies in 1776; stated grievances against British monarch and declared independence

32
Q

Natural Rights

A

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on govts., which include life, liberty, and property; idea was central to Locke’s theories about govt. & was widely accepted among US Founding Fathers

33
Q

Social Contract Theory

A

idea that people give up rights to govt. in exchange for protection, services, & ability to live in the country

34
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

1st constitution of the US, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781; est. a natl. legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested w/ state legislatures

35
Q

Shays’ Rebellion

A

a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Capt. Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings

36
Q

Constitution

A

nation’s basic law; creates political institutions, assigns/divides power in govt., & often provides certain guarantees to citizens; written or unwritten

37
Q

Limited Government

A

idea that certain things are out of bounds for govt. b/c of citizens’ natural rights; central to Locke’s philosophy & contrasted w/ “divine right” rule

38
Q

Factions

A

interest groups arising from unequal distribution of wealth/property that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10; like today’s interest groups

39
Q

Madisonian Model

A

Madison’s proposal for govt. that limited majority control, separated different institutions’ powers, & constructed a sys. of checks and balances

40
Q

Unicameral Legislature

A

single legislative chamber (ex: City Council)

41
Q

Bicameral Legislature

A

2 legislative branches or chambers (ex: Congress=Senate+House of Reps.)

42
Q

Federalists

A

supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were contemplating adopting it

43
Q

Anti-Federalists

A

opponents of the US Constitution when the states where contemplating adopting it; argued the Constitution was class-based & would erode fundamental liberties & weaken states

44
Q

Federalist Papers

A

collection of 85 articles by Hamilton, John Jay, & Madison under the name “Publius” that defend the Constitution in detail; 2nd only to Constitution in characterizing Framers’ intents

45
Q

Bill of Rights

A

1st 10 amendments to the US Constitution drafted in response to Anti-Federalist concerns; define basic liberties/freedoms (press, religion, speech, etc.) & offers protections (no arbitrary searches or being held w/o talking to a lawyer)

46
Q

Checks and Balances

A

important part of Madisonian model designed to limit govt.’s power by requiring power to be balanced among branches; institutions check e/others power

47
Q

Consent of the Governed

A

Locke’s required basis for govt.; govts. derive authority from citizens’ consent

48
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

idea that people are the ultimate source of power & those chosen to govern must conform to the general will

49
Q

Separation of Powers

A

part of Madisonian model; requires that e/ branch of govt; be relatively independent so one can’t control the others

50
Q

Electoral College

A

unique US institution created by Constitution; selection of president by electors chosen by state parties; usually reflects majority’s wishes

51
Q

Marbury v Madison

A

1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall & associates 1st asserted Supreme Court’s right to determine meaning of Constitution; est. JUDICIAL REVIEW

52
Q

Judicial Review

A

power of courts to determine whether acts of Congress and by implication the executive, are in accord w/ the Constitution

53
Q

Supremacy Clause

A

Article VI of Constitution; makes Constitution, natl. laws, & treaties supreme over state law when the natl. govt. is acting constitutionally

54
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of all states in Congress, regardless of population

55
Q

Virginia Plan

A

proposal at Constitutional Convention that called for representation in Congress based on a state’s share of US population

56
Q

Connecticut Compromise

A

compromise at Constitutional Convention; est. 2 houses of Congress: House of Reps. (population) & Sentate (2 reps./state)

57
Q

Three-Fifths Compromise

A

representation & taxation were based off # of free people + 3/5 # of slaves (constitutional)

58
Q

Ratification

A

approval from the legislative branch required to validate govt. agreements

59
Q

Republic

A

form of govt. that derives its power, directly or indirectly, from the people; those chosen to govern are accountable to whom they govern

60
Q

Bills of Attainder

A

bills that punish people w/o judicial review; Constitution prevents Congress from passing them

61
Q

Ex Post Facto Laws

A

laws that punish people/increase people retroactively for acts not illegal when committed; Constitution prevents Congress from passing them

62
Q

Writ of Habeus Corpus

A

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

63
Q

Intergovernmental Relations

A

the workings of the federal sys.–entire set of interactions among local, state, & natl. govts.

64
Q

Cooperative Federalism

A

“marble cake”; sys. of govt. in which powers & policy assignments are shared between state & natl. govts.; may share costs, administration, and even blame for errors

65
Q

Dual Federalism

A

“layer cake”; sys. of govt. in which both state and natl. govts. remain supreme w/in their own spheres, each responsible for some policies

APGAP (4 decks)

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