Key Terms Flashcards
Checks and balances
System in which each branch of government can limit the other 2 branches (senate has power to reject presidential appointments to the Supreme Court)
Majority rule
- fundamental democratic principle requiring that the majority’s view be respected
- Constitution limits this with electoral college, life tenure for Supreme Court justices, and the selection of senators by state legislators
Unitary system
System of govt in which all power is invested in a central govt
Federalism
System of govt where power is divided by a written constitution between a central govt and regional govts (two+ levels of govt have rule over same geographic area)
Expressed powers
Powers specifically granted to the federal govt by the constitution (ie. enumerated powers) - Congress has right to coin money, impose taxes, and regulate interstate commerce
Implied powers
Powers of the federal govt that go beyond those enumerated in the constitution (derived from elastic/necessary and proper clause)
Reserved powers
Powers not specifically granted to the national govt or denied to the states (10th Amendment)
Cooperative federalism
Situations in which the national and state govts work together to complete projects (fiscal federalism)
Categorical grant
Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose
Block grant
Funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose (contribute to state govt employment)
Mandates
Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines (unfunded - state and local govts to provide services or comply with regulations without the provision of funds)
Devolution
A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal govt to state and local govts
Political culture
Widely shared political beliefs and values (usa: individual liberty, political equality, legal equality, the rule of law, and limited govt)
Political socialization
Political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next (agent is family)
Public opinion
Attitudes toward institutions, leaders, political issues, and events
Political ideology
A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of govt
Political efficacy
The belief that one’s political participation makes a difference
Split-ticket voting
Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election
Political party
A group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate govts, and determine public policy
Plurality election
Winning candidate is person who received more votes than anyone else, but less than half the total
Single-member district
An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office - leads to legislatures dominated by two parties
Party era
A historical period dominated by one party
Critical election
An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty
Party realignment
The majority party is displaced by the minority party, ushering in a new party era
Divided govt
A govt in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress (since 1970’s)
Interest group
An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit (do not elect people to office)
Political action committee (PAC)
Formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support
Free riders
People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions
Power elite theory
The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas
Pluralist theory
Many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas
Hyperpluralist theory
Govt policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups
Mass media
Means of communication such as newspapers, radio, tv, and the Internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences
Linkage institutions
Connect citizens to govt (mass media, interest groups, and political parties)
Horse-race journalism
The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on issues
Congressional redistricting
The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Reps
Gerrymandering
The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts to ensure the max number of seats for its candidates
Incumbent
An officeholder who is seeking reelection, most important factor in determining the outcome of congressional elections
Franking privilege
The right of members of Congress to mail newsletters to their constituents at the govt’s expense
Standing committees
Permanent subject-matter congressional committees that handle legislation and oversee the bureaucracy
Conference committees
Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
House rules committee
Set the guidelines for floor debate. Gives each bill a rule that places the bill on the legislative calendar, limits time for debate, and determines the type of amendments that will be allowed
House ways and means committee
House committee that handles tax bills
Seniority
Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving committee chairs to members of the committee with the longest records of continuous service
Filibuster
A way of delaying or preventing action on a bill by using long speeches and unlimited debate to “talk a bill to death”
Cloture
A senate motion to end a filibuster, 3/5 vote
Logrolling
Tactic of mutual aid and vote trading among legislators
Oversight
Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office
Delegate role of representation
When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents
Closed primary
A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket
Front loading
The recent pattern of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence
Soft money
Contributions to political parties for party-building activities, circumvent limits on hard money
527 group
A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process; not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party
Veto
The president’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress, may override the veto with a 2/3s vote in each chamber
Line-item veto
The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills, Supreme Court struck this down as an unconstitutional expansion of the president’s veto power
Executive agreement
A pact between the president and a head of a foreign state (do not have to be approved by the Senate), not part of law and not binding for future presidents
Executive privilege
President’s power to refuse to disclose confidential info
Lame-duck period
The president’s term is about to come to an end = less influence
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization of appointed officials
Executive order
A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president. Based on constitutional or statutory authority and have the force of law
Iron triangle
An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member provides key services, info, or policy for the others.
Issue network
Includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue
Policy agenda
A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important, mass media plays important role in influencing issues which receive public attention
Appellate jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court
Senatorial courtesy
An unwritten tradition whereby the Senate will not confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president’s own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve
Writ of certiorari
An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review
Rule of four
The SC will hear a case if four justices agree to do so
Solicitor general
Responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the U.S. govt to the SC
Amicus curiae brief
A friend of the court brief filed by interest group or interest party to influence a SC decision
State decisis
“Let the decision stand” - vast majority of Supreme Court decisions based on precedents established in earlier cases
Judicial restraint
Philosophy that the SC should use precedent and the Framers’ original intent to decide cases
Judicial activism
SC must correct injustices when other branches of govt or states refuse to do so
Monetary policy
Regulating the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates (controlled by Federal Reserve Board)
Fiscal policy
Raising and lowering the taxes and govt spending programs, controlled by executive and legislative branches
Entitlement program
Govt-sponsored program that provides mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements (Social Security and Medicare)
Office of management and budget (OMB)
Preparing the budget that the president submits to Congress
Civil liberties
Legal and constitutional rights that protect individuals from arbitrary acts of govt (freedom of speech and fair trial)
Civil rights
Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by govt officials or individuals
Selective incorporation
Case-by-case process by which liberties listed in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Establishment clause
A provision of the First Amendment the prohibits Congress from establishing an official govt-sponsored religion
Free exercise clause
Each person the right to believe what he wants. But, religion cannot make an act legal that would otherwise be illegal (First Amendment)
Clear and present danger test
Judicial interpretation of the 1st Amend that govt may not ban speech unless it possesses an imminent threat to society
Writ of habeas corpus
Court order that a prisoner be brought before a court and that the court offices show cause why the prisoner should not be released
Bill of attainder
Provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial
Ex post facto law
A law applied to an act committed before the law was enacted
Exclusionary rule
SC guideline that prohibits evidence obtained by illegal searches or seizures from being admitted in court
Miranda warnings
Police must read to suspects prior to questioning that advises them of their rights
Strict scrutiny
SC rule that classification by race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a “compelling public interest”
Affirmative action
Requiring federal agencies, universities, and most employers to take positive steps to remedy the effects of past discrimination
