Exam #1 Flashcards
Republic
A government in which citizens rule indirectly and make government decisions through their elected representatives.
Institutions
The organizations, norms, and rules that structure government and public action.
Rational-choice theory
An approach to political behavior that views individuals as rational, decisive actors who know their political interests and seek to act on them.
American exceptionalism
The view that the United States is uniquely characterized by a distinct set of ideas such as equality, self-rule, and limited government.
Freedom
The ability to pursue one’s own desires without interference from others.
Negative liberty
Freedom from constraints or the interference of others.
Positive liberty
The ability - - and provision of basic necessities - - to pursue one’s goals.
Self-rule
The idea that legitimate government flows from the people.
Democracy
A government in which citizens rule directly and make government decisions for themselves.
Referendum
An election in which citizens vote directly on an issue.
Initiative
A process in which citizens propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution.
Conservatives
Americans who believe in reduced government spending, personal responsibility, traditional moral values, and a strong national defense.
Liberals
Americans who value cultural diversity, government programs for the needy, public intervention in the economy, and individuals’ right to a lifestyle based on their own social and moral positions.
Individualism
The idea that individuals, not the society, are responsible for their own well-being.
Social democracy
The idea that government policy should ensure that all are comfortably cared for within the context of a capitalist economy.
Equality
All citizens enjoy the same privileges, status, and rights before the laws.
Social equality
All individuals enjoy the same status in society.
Political equality
All citizens have the same political rights and opportunites.
Economic equality
A situation in which there are only small differences in wealth between citizens.
Median
A statistical term for the number in the middle or the case that has an equal number of examples above and below it.
Equal opportunity
The idea that every American has the same chance to influence politics and achieve economic success.
Equal outcome
The idea that citizens should have roughly equal economic circumstances.
Political culture
The attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that give order and meaning to public life.
Constitution
A statement of fundamental principles that governs a nation or an organization.
Indentured servant
A colonial American settler contracted to work for a fixed period (usually three to seven years) in exchange for food, shelter, and transportation to the New World.
Compact
A mutual agreement that provides for joint action to achieve defined goals.
Covenant
A compact invoking religious or moral authority.
Delegate representation
Representatives follow the expressed wishes of the voters.
Trustee representation
Representatives do what they regard as in the best interest of their constituents - - even if constituents do not agree.
Mercantilism
An economic theory in which the government restrains imports and promotes exports to maintain national power and wealth. Popular in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
First Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met in 1774.
Second Continental Congress
A convention of delegates from the thirteen colonies that became the acting national government for the duration of the Revolutionary War.
Confederation
A group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national government, although each state retains a degree of sovereign autonomy.
Federalism
Power divided between national and state government. Each has its own sovereignty (independent authority) and its own duties.
Virginia Plan
Madison’s plan, embraced by Constitutional Convention delegates from larger states; strengthened the national government relative to state governments.
Bicameral
Having two legislative houses or chambers - - such as the House and the Senate.
New Jersey Plan
Put forward at the convention by the small states, it left most government authority with the state governments.
Unicameral
Having a single legislative house or chamber.
Electoral College
The system established by the Constitution to elect the president; each state has a group of electors (equal in size to that of its congressional delegation in the House and the Senate); today, the public in each state votes for electors who then vote for the president.
Classical republicanism
A democratic ideal, rooted in ancient Greece and Rome, that calls on citizens to participate in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gain, and defer to natural leaders.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen.
Incorporation
The process by which the Supreme Court declares that a right in the Bill of Rights also applies to state governments.
Originalism
A principle of legal interpretation that relies on the original meaning of those who wrote the Constitution.
Pragmatism
A principle of legal interpretation based on the idea that the Constitution evolves and that interpretation of the Constitution must be put in the context of contemporary realities.
Unitary government
A national polity governed as a single unit, with the central government exercising all or most political authority.
Confederation
A group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national government, although each state retains a degree of sovereign authority.
Diffusion
The spreading of policy ideas from one city or state to others, a process typical of American federalism.
Delegated powers
National government powers listed explicitly in the Constitution (Article 1, Section 8).
Commerce clause
The constitutional declaration empowering Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, between states, and with Indian tribes.
Necessary and proper clause
The constitutional declaration that defines Congress’s authority to exercise the “necessary and proper” powers to carry out its designated functions. Stretches national government authority to include anything implied in the Constitution’s text.
Implied powers
National government powers implied by, but not specifically named in, the Constitution.
Supremacy clause
The constitutional declaration (in Article 6, Section 2) that the national government’s authority prevails over any conflicting state or local government’s claims, provided the power is granted to the federal government.
Inherent powers
Powers not specified or implied by the Constitution but necessary for the president or Congress to fulfill their duties.
Reserved powers
The constitutional guarantee (in the Tenth Amendment) that the states retain government authority not explicitly granted to the national government.
Concurrent powers
Government authority shared by national and state governments, such as the power to tax residents.
Full faith and credit clause
The constitutional requirement (in Article 4, Section 1) that each state must recognize and uphold laws passed by any other state.
Dual federalism
Clear division of governing authority between national and state governments.
Cooperative federalism
Mingled governing authority, with functions overlapping across national and state governments.
Grants-in-aid
National government funding provided to state and local governments, along with specific instructions about how the funds may be used.
New federalism
A version of cooperative federalism, but with less oversight by the federal government (which still provided funds) and more control on the state and local level.
Block grants
National government funding provided to state and local governments, with relatively few restrictions or requirements on spending.
Progressive federalism
Modern federalism variant in which the national government sets broad goals for a program, and relies on state innovations to achieve them.
Unfunded mandate
An obligation imposed on state or local government officials by federal legislation, without sufficient federal funding support to cover the costs.
Devolution
The transfer of authority from national to state or local government level.
Preemption
The invalidation of a U.S. state law that conflicts with federal law.
Civic voluntarism
Citizens voluntarily participating in public life without government involvement - - for example, getting together to build a playground or clean up the litter in town.
