Midterm Flashcards
Empirical Analysis
Empirical Analysis: Evidence approach to interpreting information. “Using the scientific method puts the science in political science”
Normative Analysis
Normative Analysis: A subjective and value based observation. Usually opinion and cannot be proved.
Democratic Consolidation
The process which a new democracy develops and mature. It’s ability to consolidate properly shows it’s success. Proper democratic consolidation sets the precedent that it will be unlikely to revert to authoritarianism or a different type of government.
Democratic Legitimacy
Democratic Legitimacy can be best defined as political sustainability of a regime. A regime should establish reasonableness among its citizens and provide proper reason for it to exist. Democratic Legitimacy is a belief that people must have maintain rule
Liberals
Economic Decisions: Big Government Influence
Social Dimension: Small Government Influence
Libertarians
Economic Decisions: Small Government Influence
Social Dimension: Small Government Influence
Populists
Economic Decisions: Big Government Influence
Social Dimension: Big Government Influence
Conservatives
Economic Decisions: Small Government Influence
Social Dimension: Big Government Influence
Process-based democratic values
Rule of law
no one is above the law, citizens are all underneath the law
Process-based democratic values
Competition
elections provide voters the option to choose between 2 or more perspectives
Process-based democratic values
Inclusiveness
participation by different groups in society for elections and government positions
Process-based democratic values
Accountability
voters can keep representatives accountable to their demands and office
Process-based democratic values
Responsiveness
policy outcomes reflect the public’s opinion and sometimes, but not always means the majority of people
3 Political Cultures
Moralistic
The government’s primary function should be that of a problem-solver. Great focus on mass participation
3 Political Cultures
Traditionalistic
Traditionalistic - Government maintains the status quo. Let people be free and solve their own problems, per se. Mass participation is not necessarily encouraged
3 Political Cultures
Individualistic
Individualistic - More in the middle, different groups and different people compete in order to get the Government to act. Mass participation is mildly encouraged.
One Person One Vote
All votes are equal.
Zones must reflect population equivalently.
Rezoning must happen every 10 years
Styles of democracy
Majoritarian
Winner takes all
Needs few veto players
To pass a bill legislation needs a simple majority rule (50%+1)
There IS NOT federalism (no overlapping law making ability between the national and local governing bodies).
Styles of democracy
Consensual
Based on proportional representation
Needs many veto players
To pass legislation it needs a supermajority rule (anything more than 50%+1)
There IS federalism (power overlaps between the jurisdiction of national and local levels)
Civil Liberties
Bills of Attainder
Congress cannot pass a bill that declares someone a criminal, they have to have a fair trial
Civil Liberties
Habeas Corpus
you cannot be imprisoned without knowing what you’re being charged for (this is the most relevant one used today)
Civil Liberties
Ex Post Facto
If it wasn’t declared a crime at the time you did it, you cannot be charged for doing it.
To Pass Legislation
Simple Majority and signed by President
To amend constitution
3/4 of states (38 states)
2/3 majority vote in congress
Under neutrality standard,
When can government restrict freedom of religion?
Employment division vs Smith
The government is permitted to restrict free exercise of religion when the religion’s practice, irrelevant to the religion, is against a desired behavior in society.
Protected Class
There cannot be laws that discriminate on race, religion or creed. These are protected classes. Political party, for instance, is not.
In the case of reapportionment of the Shaw vs. Reno case, reapportionment could not happen in a basis of race or location, but could be discriminated in a case of Political Party.
Heuristics
Memorable things about candidates, not necessarily specific details. Enough information to make an educational guess to see which is a better candidate based off previously known information.
Memory Model
voters store information about a candidate as a fact or a bullet point, it is stored as a fact and used as such
ON-Line Model
voters store information as an impression rather than a fact, using vague emotions happy/unhappy, simply impression and not facts. Basically, a voter uses straight facts to vote for a candidate, or simplu cast votes on the impressions left by a candidate
Miracle of Aggregation
careless and uninformed voters cancel each other out, informed and interested/invested voters swing the votes around.
Prospective Voting
Choosing candidates based on their platforms and promises
Retrospective Voting
Judging incumbents on their accomplishments
Civic Voluntarism
The idea that citizens will bring their financial and time-volunteered support.
Rich donate money, poor donate time.
