Chapter 1 Flashcards
Government
institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society
Democracy
system of selecting policymakers and organizing govt. so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences
Direct Democracy
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
Representative Democracy
indirect; citizens vote for leaders to represent their interests in policymaking
Parliamentary Democracy
govt. that typically selects the political leader from membership in parliament (the legislature), who are elected
Presidential Democracy
govt. where a head of govt. is also head of state and leads executive branch separate from legislative branch
Authoritarian
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
Dictatorship/Totalitarianism
absolute power and control of central govt. is held by dictator of a highly centralized govt.
Monarchy
form of govt. where one person (like king/queen) rules; monarch often head of state only, not govt.
Oligarchy
govt. where a small group of people has control
Unitary
govt. with all power residing in a central govt.; most natl. govts. today (ex: Japan)
Confederacy
group of states/political units loosely allied; central authority only has a few powers
Federalism
way of organizing a nation so that 2 levels of govt. have formal authority over same land & people; shared power between units of govt.
Politics
process by which we select our govt. leaders & what policies they pursue; produces authoritative decisions about public issues
Party Platform
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
Policy Agenda
issues that attract serious attention of public officials and other people involved w/ govt. at a given time
Policymaking System
process by which political problems are communicated to voters and acted on by policymakers
Linkage Institutions
channels through which issues & people’s policy preferences get on govt. policy agenda; main ones: voting, political parties, media, interest groups
Political Culture
overall set of values widely shared w/in a society
Political Issue
issue that arises when people disagree about a problem & public policy choice
Political Participation
all the activities used by citizens to influence selection of political leaders or policies they pursue; ex: voting, protest, civil disobedience
Single-Interest Groups
groups with narrow interests, tend to dislike compromise, members are often new to politics
Public Goods
goods that everyone must share
Public Policy
choice that govt. makes in response to a political issue
Gridlock
condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and est. policy; nothing may get done
Pluralism
theory of govt. and politics emphasizing that politics is a competition among groups, each pressing for preferred policies
Hyperpluralism
theory of govt. & politics that says that groups are so strong that govt. is weakened; exaggerated form of pluralism
Elite & Class Theory
theory of govt. & politics saying that societies are divided along class lines & that an upperclass elite will rule regardless of niceties of govt. organization
Majority Rule
a fundamental principle of trad. democratic theory; majority’s desire is respected when choosing among alternatives
Minority Rights
principle of trad. democratic theory; guarantees rights to those that don’t belong to majority; allows that they might join the majority though persuasion
Declaration of Independence
document approved by reps. of the American colonies in 1776; stated grievances against British monarch and declared independence
Natural Rights
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
Social Contract Theory
idea that people give up rights to govt. in exchange for protection, services, & ability to live in the country
Articles of Confederation
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
Shays’ Rebellion
a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Capt. Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings
Constitution
nation’s basic law; creates political institutions, assigns/divides power in govt., & often provides certain guarantees to citizens; written or unwritten
Limited Government
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
Factions
interest groups arising from unequal distribution of wealth/property that James Madison attacked in Federalist Paper No. 10; like today’s interest groups
Madisonian Model
Madison’s proposal for govt. that limited majority control, separated different institutions’ powers, & constructed a sys. of checks and balances
Unicameral Legislature
single legislative chamber (ex: City Council)
Bicameral Legislature
2 legislative branches or chambers (ex: Congress=Senate+House of Reps.)
Federalists
supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were contemplating adopting it
Anti-Federalists
opponents of the US Constitution when the states where contemplating adopting it; argued the Constitution was class-based & would erode fundamental liberties & weaken states
Federalist Papers
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
Bill of Rights
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)
Checks and Balances
important part of Madisonian model designed to limit govt.’s power by requiring power to be balanced among branches; institutions check e/others power
Consent of the Governed
Locke’s required basis for govt.; govts. derive authority from citizens’ consent
Popular Sovereignty
idea that people are the ultimate source of power & those chosen to govern must conform to the general will
Separation of Powers
part of Madisonian model; requires that e/ branch of govt; be relatively independent so one can’t control the others
Electoral College
unique US institution created by Constitution; selection of president by electors chosen by state parties; usually reflects majority’s wishes
Marbury v Madison
1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall & associates 1st asserted Supreme Court’s right to determine meaning of Constitution; est. JUDICIAL REVIEW
Judicial Review
power of courts to determine whether acts of Congress and by implication the executive, are in accord w/ the Constitution
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of Constitution; makes Constitution, natl. laws, & treaties supreme over state law when the natl. govt. is acting constitutionally
New Jersey Plan
proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of all states in Congress, regardless of population
Virginia Plan
proposal at Constitutional Convention that called for representation in Congress based on a state’s share of US population
Connecticut Compromise
compromise at Constitutional Convention; est. 2 houses of Congress: House of Reps. (population) & Sentate (2 reps./state)
Three-Fifths Compromise
representation & taxation were based off # of free people + 3/5 # of slaves (constitutional)
Ratification
approval from the legislative branch required to validate govt. agreements
Republic
form of govt. that derives its power, directly or indirectly, from the people; those chosen to govern are accountable to whom they govern
Bills of Attainder
bills that punish people w/o judicial review; Constitution prevents Congress from passing them
Ex Post Facto Laws
laws that punish people/increase people retroactively for acts not illegal when committed; Constitution prevents Congress from passing them
Writ of Habeus Corpus
court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
Intergovernmental Relations
the workings of the federal sys.–entire set of interactions among local, state, & natl. govts.
Cooperative Federalism
“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
Dual Federalism
“layer cake”; sys. of govt. in which both state and natl. govts. remain supreme w/in their own spheres, each responsible for some policies
