Final Flashcards
public goods
goods, such as clean air and clean water that everyone must share
government
the institutions and processes through whichpublic policies are made for a society
public policy
a choice that government makes in response to a political issue
politics
the proess by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue
linkage institutions
the channels or access points through which issues and people’s policy preferences get on the government’s policy agenda
checks and balances
an important part of the Madisonian model designed to limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental instiutions
electoral college
a unique American institution created by the Constitution that provides fro the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties
hyperpluralism
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong htat government is weakened-exaggerated
policy gridlock
no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy
federalism
a way of organizing a nation so that two levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people
elastic clause
the final paragraph in Article I which autorizes Congress to pass all lawys “necessary and proper” to cvarry out the enumerated powers
supremacy clause
makes the Constitution,national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits
unfunded mandates
when federal government requires state and local action but does not provide the funds to pay for the action
civil liberties
the legal constitutional protections agains government. formally set down in the Bill of Rights
affirmative action
a policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvataged group
