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US political systems > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The manipulation of district boundaries to favor political preference.

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2
Q

Federalism

A

The division of power between state and national government.

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3
Q

Separation of Powers

A

The division of authority within a government.

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4
Q

Federalist 51

A

An essay by James Madison made to emphasize the importance of separation of powers.

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5
Q

Federalist 10

A

An essay by James Madison made to discuss the importance of democracy to prevent tyranny of the majority.

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6
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

The powers granted to the Federal Government, especially congress.

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7
Q

Implied Powers

A

The powers granted to individual State Governments, as not otherwise specifically granted to the Federal Government.

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8
Q

Containment

A

To corral all democratic minded forces into a broad coalition to isolate and defeat antidemocratic extremists.

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9
Q

Defensive Democracy

A

The government authority and the law can be used to exclude and prosecute antidemocratic forces. (a la Donald Trump)

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10
Q

Article I, Section 8

A

The Federal Government’s power to regulate commerce among states, collect taxes, declare war, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.

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11
Q

Supremacy Clause of Article 6

A

The constitution is the supreme law of the land. The Federal Government reigns over state laws.

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12
Q

The 10th Amendment

A

Powers not given to the Federal Government are reserved to individual states.

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13
Q

Police Powers

A

The capacity of the states to regulate behavior and enforce order within their territory.

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14
Q

Nationalization Era

A

Early interpretation of the Constitution emphasizing implied powers and the supremacy clause. (1789-1834)

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15
Q

John Marshall

A

Chief Justice during the Nationalization Era. Committed federalist in favor of a stronger national government.

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16
Q

Dual Federalism

A

Powers were shared between federal and state governments, emphasizing the 10th amendment. (until 1933)

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17
Q

Cooperative Federalism

A

A flexible relationship between state and federal governments. (until 1980)

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18
Q

New Federalism

A

Efforts to grant more power to the states by narrowing federal powers and allowing more use of federal grants. (since 1981)

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19
Q

Marijuana Policy

A

Federal and state governments have gone through different proceedings of the legality of marijuana, leading to legal controversy

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20
Q

Immigration Policy

A

The United States Congress has authority over immigration policy in the United States.

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21
Q

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

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22
Q

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A

Prohibits racial discrimination in voting.

23
Q

Multiracial Democracy

A

A political system with regular, free, and fair elections in which adult citizens of all ethnic groups possess the right to vote.

24
Q

“One of the greatest threats to democracy is the idea that it is unassailable.”

A

No form of government is perfect, and to think that Democracy defies that rule defeats the point of Democracy.

25
Q

Why did democracy in the U.S. seem to be so unassailable?

A

The U.S. is the first successful democracy with many documents in place to keep it strong. As the U.S. became powerful, many thought that Democracy was unassailable.

26
Q

America’s Global Freedom Index Score

A

Declined from 90 to 83 after Donald Trump’s presidency.

27
Q

Why are recent issues in the U.S. not entirely unique?

A

Growing diversity as a result of immigration has lead to political issues across the globe.

28
Q

Why does the U.S. stand apart from other countries in immigration issues.

A

The reaction to growing diversity has been unusually authoritarian. Extremist forces actually ascended to national power, whereas in Europe they have been largely confined to the opposition.

29
Q

Election of 1800

A

This was the first US election where the people changed their minds. Jefferson lost to Adams 4 years earlier, then won.

30
Q

Constitutional Hardball

A

Exploiting of gaps in written laws to legally, but unethically, achieve political power.

31
Q

Lawfare

A

The strategic use of legal proceedings to hinder or intimidate political opponents.

32
Q

13th Amendment

A

Abolished Slavery

33
Q

14th Amendment

A

Birthright citizenship

34
Q

15th Amendment

A

All citizens may vote

35
Q

Civil Rights act of 1875

A

Extended the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal treatment to all places.

36
Q

How did the republican party switch in the 1930s?

A

Millions of urban working-class voters rejected the Republicans, establishing the Democrats as the new majority party. The Democrats won five consecutive presidential elections between 1932 and 1948. The Republicans risked becoming a “permanent minority.”

37
Q

How did the Civil Rights revolution shake up America’s party system?

A

When the Civil rights act was passed, segregation became consistent with republicanism.

38
Q

What are the three basic principles that democratic parties must follow?

A

Accept election results, reject the use of violence to gain power, reject antidemocratic extremists.

39
Q

How does social media affect the way political offices were designed?

A

Politicians have more power now than they ever have to communicate directly to the people, thus creating much more intense movements across the nation.

40
Q

Madison’s take on human nature

A

Man is ambitious, and will do what they can to influence based on their personal perception of what’s right. A government must first be enabled to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

41
Q

How is Madison’s vision of separation of powers and checks and balances working today?

A

There is polarization and gridlock in congress, and the executive and judicial branch have grown far more powerful than originally planned.

42
Q

Is the bill of rights counter-majoritarian?

A

Yes, the first ten amendments were added to protect individual liberties and limit the power of the government.

43
Q

Is the supreme court counter-majoritarian?

A

Yes, the supreme court’s job is to interpret the constitution, and therefore protect individual rights.

44
Q

Is federalism counter-majoritarian?

A

Somewhat. The focus on division of powers to all of the states prevents the existence of one overarching power, but it may grant individual states more power than others.

45
Q

Is bicameral congress counter-majoritarian?

A

While congress is designed to represent the people fairly, the fact that all states have two senators plays towards majoritarianism.

46
Q

Is senate appointment counter-majoritarian?

A

Yes, the indirect nature of voting and potential to deviate from majority preferences therein makes senate appointment counter-majoritarian.

47
Q

Is the electoral college counter-majoritarian?

A

Yes, the electoral college gives more power to sparsely populated districts, which leads to minority rule.

48
Q

Why has the US “always been excessively counter-majoritarian?”

A

In fear of creating a majority-rule system comparable to Britain’s rule over the colonies, the constitution was framed to be so counter-majoritarian, that it gives the minority too much power.

49
Q

Why is government necessary?

A

Maintain order, protect property, and provide public goods.

50
Q

US government system

A

Representative democracy

51
Q

Democratic Backsliding

A

Power given to the public becomes more arbitrary and repressive.

52
Q

Three Basic Political Science Questions

A

Empirical: identifiable facts. Analytical: why? Normative: what “should” be.

53
Q

Data

A

Factual information collected and used as the basis for reasoning, analysis and inference.

US political systems (1 decks)

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