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AP Government > Constitutional Underpinnings > Flashcards

Constitutional Underpinnings Flashcards

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1
Q

What is needed for a Democracy?

A
  • The presence of government.
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2
Q

Participatory/Direct Deomocracy

A

A government in which all or most citizens participate directly.
- ex. Aristotelian View/ Town Hall meeting atmosphere

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3
Q

Representative Democracy

A

A government in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote.

  • Supported by Joesph Schumpeter
  • Present in U.S. today
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4
Q

Class View

A

View that the government is dominated by capitalists.

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5
Q

Power elite view

A

View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most whom are outside of the government.

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6
Q

Bureaucratic View

A

View that the government is dominated by appointed officials.

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7
Q

Pluralist View

A

The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

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8
Q

Political Elites may be described as:

A
  1. Reflecting a dominant social class
  2. A group of business, military, labor union, and elected officials control all decisions.
  3. Appointed bureaucrats run everything
  4. Representatives of a large number of interest groups are in charge
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9
Q

Majoritarian Politics

A

Occurs when elected officials are the delegates of the people- as the people (majority of them_ would act were the matter put to a popular vote.

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10
Q

Authority

A

The right to use power

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11
Q

Power

A

The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions.

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12
Q

Legitimacy

A

Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution.

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13
Q

Political Culture

A

A patterned and sustained way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out.

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14
Q

5 Important Elements of the Political System:

A
  • Liberty
  • Equality
  • Democracy
  • Civic Duty
  • Individual Responsibility
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15
Q

Liberty

A

Americans are preoccupied with their rights. They believe they should be free to do pretty much as they please, with some exceptions, as long as they don’t hurt other people.

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16
Q

Equality

A

Americans believe everyone should have ave an equal vote and an equal chance to participate/succeed.

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17
Q

Democracy

A

Americans think government officials should be accountable to the people.

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18
Q

Civic Duty

A

Americans generally feel people ought to take community affairs seriously and help out when they can.

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19
Q

Individual Responsibility

A
  • Barring some disability

- Individuals are responsible for their own actions/well-being

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20
Q

Sources of Political Culture

A
  • Influence of American Revolution
  • Influence of religion/original sin on Constitution
  • Presence of Class Consciousness
  • Many Americans believe themselves to be “middle class.”
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21
Q

Class Consciousness

A

A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups.

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22
Q

Political Socialization

A

Process by which background traits influence one’s political views.

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23
Q

Sources of political socialization:

A
  • Genes/Family
  • Religion
  • Gender
  • Social Class
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Region
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24
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government.

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25
Q

Checks & Balances

A

Authority shared by three branches of government.

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26
Q

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

A

Plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state- selected senate, with 2 members representing each state.

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27
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

Powers given to the national government alone.
- Include ability to print money, declare war, make treaties, conduct foreign affairs, and regulate commerce among the states/foreign nations.

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28
Q

Reserved Powers

A

Powers given exclusively to the states.

- Include the power to issue licenses and to regulate commerce wholly within a state.

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29
Q

Concurrent Powers

A

Powers shared by the national and state governments.

- Include collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and having courts.

30
Q

Impeachment Process

A
  • Charges are brought by the House of Representatives

- Senate must be convicted by a 2/3 vote

31
Q

Formal Powers of the President

A
  • Line-Item Veto
32
Q

Line-Item Veto

A
  • An executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature.
33
Q

Federalism

A

Government authority shared by national & state & local governments.

34
Q

Dual Federalism

A

Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate.

35
Q

Grants-in-aid

A

Money given by the national government to the states.

36
Q

Categorical Grants

A

Federal grants for specific purposes

- Such as building an airport

37
Q

Conditions of aid

A

Terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds.

38
Q

Mandates

A

Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.

39
Q

Waiver

A

A decision by an administrative agency grating some other part permission to violate a low or rule that would otherwise apply to it.

40
Q

Elastic Clause

A
  • Also referred to as “Necessary & Proper Clause”
  • Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it by the Constitution.
41
Q

Marble Cake Federalism

A

Powers are all intertwined

42
Q

Common Characteristics of Found Father:

A
  • White

- Middle Aged

43
Q

7 Founding Fathers

A
  • John Adams
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Alexander Hamilton
  • John Jay
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • James Madison
  • George Washington
44
Q

Types of participation

A
  • Voting
  • Joining a political party
  • Donating to a candidate/campaign
  • Signing a petition
  • Protesting
  • Writing Letters
45
Q

Who Votes?

A
  • Citizens who register are highly likely to vote

- Those 65+ vote in higher proportions than those 18-20

46
Q

Voting Age Population

A
  • All U.S residents 18 or over
    • Including non citizens
    • Disenfranchised
47
Q

Voting Eligible Population

A
  • Citizens who have reached the minimum age to vote

- Excludes those who are not legally permitted to cast a ballot

48
Q

Why do individuals not vote?

A
  • Too busy/scheduling conflicts
  • Family Chores/Obligations
  • Believe their vote does not matter
49
Q

Straight Ticket

A

Voting for candidates of the same party.

50
Q

Split Ticket Voting

A

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election.

51
Q

Constitution Expansion of the Electorate

A
  • 18th Amendment
  • 19th Amendment
  • 15th Amendment
52
Q

Liberals typically

A
  • Support Government control of economy

- Oppose Government control of soical issues

53
Q

Conservatives typically

A
  • Support Government control of social issues

- Oppose Government control of economy

54
Q

Ideology

A

A body of ideas that reflects the social goals of an individual, group or culture

55
Q

Party

A

A group which reflects a party’s platform with specific economic and social goals

56
Q

Democrats

A
  • Run on party platform
  • Appear similar in ideals to Liberals
  • Major political party
57
Q

Republicans

A
  • Run on party platform
  • Appear similar in ideals to Conservatives
  • Major political party
58
Q

Third Parties

A
  • Run on individual platforms

- Often “splinter parties” from the main 2 U.S. political parties

59
Q

Plurality

A

When a candidate receives more votes than any other.

60
Q

Majority

A

When a candidate receives more than 50% + of votes

61
Q

PAC’S

A

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations.

62
Q

PAC’S may donate up to

A

$5,000

63
Q

FECA

A
  • Federal law designed to increase disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.
  • Placed limits campaign contributions
64
Q

When a presidential nominee is choosing a vice president often times the running mate is

A

more extreme in ideology

65
Q

Federalist Paper #51

A
  • Madison states the purpose of a government.

- Believes government should run itself

66
Q

In the 1960’s ____ became prominent in influencing elections.

A

media (television)

67
Q

Issue Ads

A

Discuss broad political ideas as opposed to candidates

68
Q

Horse Race campaigns focus on

A

polling data/public perception

69
Q

Federalist Paper #10

A
  • Role of factions
  • Destroyed by:
    • Destroy liberty essential to their existence
    • Give all same opinions/passions/interests
  • Check & Balance Idea posed
70
Q

Census

A

An official count/survey of entire population

AP Government (2 decks)

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