Exam One Flashcards
What is ideology?
a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
What do conservatives tend to believe?
belief in limited government, individualism, traditionalism, republicanism, and limited federal governmental power in relation to U.S. states.
What do liberals tend to believe?
belief in the rights of the individual, liberty, consent of the governed, political equality and equality before the law.
What are some of the explanations for low voter turnout?
- cognitive limitations
- indirect measure of satisfaction
- media
- cynicism
- time
- the electoral system
- complacency
What is an incumbent?
someone who has already held office.
What is a constituent?
being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect.
What does pork barrel mean?
spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support.
What is the franking privilege?
the ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.
What is constituency service?
assistance to constituents by congressional members.
In most states, which entity is responsible for the drawing (and the periodic redrawing) of congressional districts?
the state legislature.
What is gerrymandering?
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.
What are some reasons for decreasing competitiveness in US elections?
1) Lack of responsive
- A Representative as a trustee vs. delegate
- Bailout example
2) Increased partisanship
- Good and Bad
3) Lack of civil discourse
- Political middle has disappeared
- incumbency decreases competition
What are some of the consequences of this decreasing competitiveness in US elections?
Some view low voter participation as a threat to representative democratic government. Low voter participation presumably signals apathy or cynicism about the political system in general. also may signal potential voters simply do not want to take the time to learn about the issues or that issues are too complicated. More satisfaction with the status quo.
About what percent of House incumbents win re-elections?
In recent years this rate has been well over 90 percent, with rarely more than 5-10 incumbents losing their House seats every election cycle.
How was government under the Articles of Confederation structured?
under the Articles, the national government consisted of a unicameral (one-house) legislature (often called the Confederation Congress); there was no national executive or judiciary.
What does it mean to have a confederal system of government?
the confederal form of government is an association of independent states.
How was the vote in the legislature apportioned under the Articles of Confederation?
each state would appoint between two and seven delegates to the congress, and each state delegation would have one vote.
How many votes did it take to get legislation passed under the Articles?
9 of 13 states had to approve of or ratify a law under the Articles of Confederation in order for that law to be passed.
What was the amendment process for the Articles?
The Articles required unanimous consent to any amendment, so all 13 states would need to agree on a change.
What was Shays’ Rebellion?
Shays’ Rebellion was a series of violent attacks on courthouses and other government properties in Massachusetts that began in 1786 and led to a full-blown military confrontation in 1787.
What were the principle weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation?
Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.
Why were farmers mad during the time of Shays’ Rebellion?
High taxes in Massachusetts led to many farmers being unable to pay off their debts and therefore losing their property.
What was the role of the Confederation Congress in handling Shays’ Rebellion?
What was the unique experience of Rhode Island as the call for a constitutional convention came about?
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
What were the formal instructions given to the delegates at the constitutional convention?
Not to tell anyone anthing.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
The plan was created in response to the Virginia Plan, which called for two houses of Congress, both elected with apportionment according to population
What was the Virginia Plan?
The Virginia Plan proposed a legislative branch consisting of two chambers (bicameral legislature), with the dual principles of rotation in office and recall applied to the lower house of the national legislature. States with a large population, like Virginia (which was the most populous state at the time), would thus have more representatives than smaller states.
What was the Connecticut Compromise?
an agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. It retained the bicameral legislature as proposed by James Madison, along with proportional representation in the lower house, but required the upper house to be weighted equally between the states. Each state would have two representatives in the upper house.
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
a compromise between Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the enumerated population of slaves would be counted for representation purposes regarding both the distribution of taxes and the apportionment of the members of the United States House of Representatives.
Which governmental institution is described in Article I of the Constitution?
the Legislative Branch - consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress.
Which governmental institution is described in Article II of the Constitution?
the executive branch of the federal government, which carries out and enforces federal laws.
Which governmental institution is described in Article III of the Constitution?
Judicial Branch - vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
What is the process by which the Constitution may be amended?
Amendments may be proposed either by the Congress, through a joint resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, or by a convention called by Congress in response to applications from two-thirds of the state legislatures.
What is the most common method by which the constitution may be amended?
proposal by congress
