Midterm IDs Flashcards
Divided Government
A situation in which one political part controls the executive branch while another part controls one or both houses of the legislative branch, leading to a potential gridlock in policy-making
“Going Public”
A strategy where the President or other politicians appeal directly to the public to gain support for their policies, thereby pressuring other political actors to align with public opinion.
Free Rider
An individual or entity that benefits from resources, goods, or services without paying for the cost of the benefit, often leading to under-provision of those goods or services.
Jim Crow System
A series of laws and customs enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans in the Southern United States from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.
Coordination Game (“Battle of the Sexes”)
A game theory scenario where two players prefer to coordinate their actions but have different preferences in the outcomes, requiring negotiation or communication to achieve mutual satisfaction.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted during the Revolutionary War, which established a weak federal government meant with limited powers, later replaced by the current U.S. Constitution.
Police Patrols vs. Fire Alarms
Two models of congressional oversight over bureaucracy. “Police patrols” involve proactive, systematic monitoring, while “fire alarms” rely on external reports of problems to trigger oversight.
“Long 1960s”
A term referring to the extended period from the mid-1950s to the mid-1970s characterized by significant social, political, and cultural upheavals, including civil rights movements and anti-war protests.
Supremacy Clause
A clause in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution stating that federal law is the “supreme Law of the Land,” taking precedence over state laws and constitutions.
Clean Air Act
A federal law enacted in 1963 and amended several times designed to control air pollution on a national level by setting and enforcing air quality standards.
Collective Action Problem
A situation where individuals would all benefit from a certain action, but the associated cost makes it unlikely that any individual will undertake it alone, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Southern Realignment
The political shift in the Southern United States from a Democratic stronghold to a Republican base, occurring primarily during the latter half of the 20th century, influenced by civil rights policies and cultural changes.
Filibuster
A parliamentary procedure used in the U.S. Senate whereby one or more senators extend debate on a proposed piece of legislation to delay or entirely prevent a vote on the proposal.
Principal-Agent Problem (Delegation)
A dilemma arising when one party (the principal) delegates work to another (the agent), who may have different interests and levels of information, leading to potential conflicts.
Unilateral Action
Decisions or actions taken by the President without the explicit approval or cooperation of other branches of government, often through executive orders or proclamations.
Veto Point
A stage in the legislative process where a bill can be halted by an individual or a collective body, such as a committee, a legislative chamber, or the executive.
Seniority System
A traditional system in legislative bodies where longer-serving members are given preference for leadership positions and committee assignments.
Extended Republic (Federalist #10)
James Madison’s argument that a large republic can better guard against the dangers of factionalism and protect minority rights by diluting the influence of any single faction.
“Ambition must be made to Counteract Ambition” (Federalist #51)
Madison’s assertion that the structure of government should be designed so that each branch’s ambitions counterbalance the others, preventing any one branch from gaining too much power.
Electoral College
The body established by the U.S. Constitution to elect the President and Vice President, consisting of electors from each state proportional to its congressional representation.
Reconstruction Era
The period following the Civil War (1865-1877) during which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union, and formerly enslaved individuals were granted civil rights.
Candidate-Centered Elections
Elections where the focus is on individual candidates, their personal qualities, and positions on issues, rather than on party affiliation or platforms.
Incumbency Advantage
The observed phenomenon where current officeholders have a higher probability of of being re-elected due to factors like name recognition, access to campaign finance, and government resources.
Sixteenth Amendment (Federal Income Tax)
An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1913, granting Congress the power to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the U.S. Census.
Voting Rights Act
A landmark 1965 federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting, aiming to ensure all citizens can participate in the electoral process.
Voter ID Laws
State laws requiring individuals to present specific forms of identification to vote, purportedly to prevent fraud but sometimes criticized for disenfranchising voters.
White Primary
Primary elections held in Southern states that excluded African American voters, effectively disenfranchising them; declared unconstitutional in 1944.
Shelby v. Holder
A 2013 Supreme Court case that invalidated the pre-clearance formula of the Voting Rights Act, affecting federal oversight of state voting laws.
Statutory Interpretation
The process by which courts interpret and apply legislation, determining the meaning and intent of laws passed by legislatures.
Social Security Act
Enacted in 1935, it established a system of old-age benefits, unemployment insurance, and welfare programs in the United States.
Mardbury v. Madison
The 1803 Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, allowing courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
“Laboratories of Democracy”
A concept that state government can experiment with policies, and successful ones can be adopted by other states or the federal government.
“Race to the Bottom”
When governments or companies compete by lowering standards, often to attract business, potentially leading to negative outcomes.
Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council
A 1984 Supreme Court case establishing the “Chevron deference,” where courts defer to administrative agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes.
Counter-majoritarian Difficulty
A term coined by legal scholar Alexander Bickel, referring to the tension that arises when unelected judges, through judicial review, overturn laws enacted by democratically elected representatives, thereby acting against the will of the majority.
“Politicians in Robes”
A colloquial phrase suggesting that judges, particularly those on higher courts like the Supreme Court, make decisions based on personal or political biases rather than impartial legal reasoning, thereby acting similarly to elected politicians.
Competitive Authoritarianism
A hybrid political system that maintains the appearance of democracy - such as elections and allowing opposition parties - but where incumbents frequently abuse state resources and manipulate rules to maintain power, resulting in unfair competition.
