exam #1 Flashcards
comparative method
a learning approach based on studying the differences and similarities among similar units of analysis (such as states)
moralistic cultures
a political culture that views politics and government as the means to achieve the collective good
individualistic cultures
a political culture that views politics and government as just another way to achieve individual goals
traditionalistic cultures
a political culture that views politics and government as the means of maintaining the existing social order
laboratories of democracy
a metaphor that emphasizes the states’ ability to engage in different policy experiments without interference from the federal government
devolution
the process of taking power and responsibility away from the federal government and giving it to state and local governments
federalism
a political system in which national and regional governments share powers and are considered independent equals
unitary systems
a political system in which legal authority is held by a central government
- this is a relationship between states and local governments
confederacy
a voluntary association of independent, sovereign states or governments
representative government
a form of government in which citizens exercise power indirectly by choosing representative to legislate on their behalf
preemption
the process of the federal government’s overriding areas regulated by state law
enumerated powers
grants of authority explicitly by the Constitution
implied powers
political powers granted to the united states government that aren’t explicitly stated in the constitution
concurrent powers
powers that both federal and state governments can exercise
exclusive powers
powers given by the Constitution solely to the federal government
national supremacy clause
constitutional clause that states that federal law takes precedence over all other
general welfare clause
constitutional clause that gives Congress an implied power through the authority to provide for the general welfare
necessary and proper clause
Constitutional Clause that gives Congress an implied power through the right to pass all laws considered “necessary and proper” to carry out the federal government’s responsibilities as defined by the Constitution
full faith and credit clause
constitutional clause that requires states to recognize each other’s public records and acts as valid
privileges and immunities clause
constitutional clause that prohibits states from discriminating against citizens of other states
categorical grants
federal grants-in-aid given for specific programs that leave states and localities with little discretion over how to spend the money
general revenue sharing grants
federal grants-in-aid given with few constraints, leaving states and localities almost complete discretion over how to spend the money
block grants
federal grants-in-aid given for general policy areas that leave states and localities with wide discretion over how to spend the money within the designated policy area
natural law
a set of moral and political rules based on divine law and binding on all people
dual constitutionalism
a system of government in which people live under two sovereign powers. in the united states, these are the government of their states of residence and the federal government
colonial charters
legal documents drawn up by the British Crown that spelled out how the colonies were to be governed
bicameral legislatures
legislatures made up of two chambers, typically a house of representatives, or assembly, and a senate
legislative proposals
depending on the legislature, either a simple majority or supermajority in both houses of the legislature is needed to send the proposal to the electorate
ballot initiatives
process through which voters directly convey instructions to the legislatures, approve a law, or amend the constitution
constitutional convention
process of a constitutional convention:
- state legislature passes a resolution
- electorate votes to approve the resolution
- elections for convention delegates
- constitutional convention convenes
- electorate votes on the proposed changes
judicial review
the power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution
constitutional commissions
expert committees formed to assess constitutions and suggest changes
ratification
a vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change, referendum, or ballot initiative
referendums
procedures that allow the electorate to accept or reject a law passed by the legislature
budget deficits
cash shortages that result when the amount of money coming into the government falls below the amount being spent
sales taxes
taxes levied by state and local governments on purchases
property taxes
a tax paid on property owned by an individual or other legal entity, such as a corporation
primary funder of local governments
income taxes
taxes on wages and interest earned
excise taxes
taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and other similar products that are designed to raise revenues and reduce use
severance taxes
taxes on natural resources that are removed from a state
user fees
charges levied by governments in exchange for services
tax capacity
a measure of the ability to pay taxes
tax effort
a measure of taxes paid relative to the ability to pay taxes
progressive tax system
a system of taxation in which the rate paid reflects the ability to pay
regressive taxes
taxes levied on all taxpayers regardless of income or ability to pay, placing proportionately more of a burden on those with lower incomes
intergovernmental transfers
funds provided by the federal government to state governments and by state governments to local governments
bonds
certificates that are evidence of debts on which the issuer promises to pay the holders a specified amount of interest for a specified length of time and to repay the loans on their maturity
general obligations bonds
investments secured by the taxing power of the jurisdiction that issues them
revenue bonds
investments secured by the revenue generated by a state or municipal project
municipal bonds
bonds issued by states, counties, cities, and towns to fund large projects as well as operating budgets. income from such bonds is exempt from federal taxes and from state and local taxes for the investors who live in the state where they are issued
budget process
the procedure by which state and local governments assess revenues and set budgets
fiscal year
the annual accounting period used by a government
- for reference, the federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1st to September 30th
balanced budget
a budget in which current expenditures are equal to or less than income
expenditures
money spent by the government
fiscal federalism
the system by which federal grants are used to fund programs and services provided by state and local governments
discretionary spending
spending that is controlled in annual appropriations acts
entitlement
a service that government must provide, regardless of the cost
office group ballot
a ballot in which candidates are listed by name under the title of the office they are seeking
party column ballot
a ballot in which the names of candidates are divided into columns arranged according to political party
straight ticket
voting for all of one party’s candidates for various offices - for instance, voting for all Democrats or Republicans
secret ballot
a ballot printed by a state that allows voters to pick and choose among different candidates and party preferences in private
voter turnout
the percentage of voting-eligible citizens who register to vote and do vote
nonpartisan elections
an election in which the candidates do not have to declare party affiliation or receive a party’s nomination; local offices and elections are often nonpartisan
what kinds of goods and services do state and local governments provide?
good schools, good roads, safe streets, affordable health care, and much more
the articles of confederation
1781-1789
the 10th amendment
the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people
5 periods of federalism
- dual federalism
- cooperative federalism
- centralized federalism
- new federalism
- ad hoc federalism
N.F.I.B. vs. Sabelius
the court rules that the federal government can require individuals to purchase health insurance and that doing so does not violate powers reserved to the states under the Tenth amendment
Rucho vs. Common Case
court rules that federal courts cannot review challenges to partisan gerrymandering by states
direct democracy
a system in which citizens make laws themselves rather than relying on elected representatives
california’s proposition 13
- capped the rate at which property taxes could grow, which severely limited funding education
- proposition 98 now requires 40% of California’s general revenue go to education
Quill Corp vs. North Dakota
a state could not impose sales taxes on a business that did not have a physical location in the state
South Dakota vs. Wayfair, Inc
- allows states to collect sales taxes from online retailers whether they have a physical presence in the state or not
- what matters now is whether the sale is made to a state resident and whether the state in question has a law requiring online retailers to collect a sales tax
The Economic Cycle
- depending on the makeup of their economies, states can find themselves at very different places on an economic cycle at the same point in time
State and Local Government Expenditures
salaries - largest source of expenditures for state and local governments
1. wages
2. education
3. health care
4. welfare
5. fire, police, and prisons
6. highways
the electoral college
- each state’s electoral college votes are equal to the size of its congressional delegation
- voting power of smaller states is disproportionately larger than the states’ population, whereas the voting power of bigger states is disproportionately lower
turnout rates in municipal elections
turnout rates are generally less than 20 percent
texas state officials
a super majority is required for the Texas Legislature to conduct any business at all
- 100/150 members of house and 21/31 members of the senate
Does every state have to balance its budget?
no - vermont is not required to balance its budget
does every state have a bicameral legislature?
no - nebraska is unicameral
does every state require the electorate to approve legislature proposals?
no - not Delaware
which two states have neither sales nor income taxes?
- alaska
- new hampshire
