Midterm study Flashcards
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Explain what is meant by the terms politics and government?
Government refers to the binding decisions, or rules, that are made for citizens in a particular area and the institutions that enforce these rules. Politics are the process by which the character, membership, and actions of a government are determined. It is also the struggle to move government to a preferred course of action.
Describe three factors that contribute to a person’s political socialization.
Political socialization refers to the conscious and unconscious transmission of political culture and values from one generation to another and it is the way which individuals learn, organize, and develop political values. The six agents of political socialization are as follows: family, school, peers and community, religion, media, and events. family: children typically adopt political interest or values from parents. How parents address events such as handling police may influence how children view authority. School: school educations children on basic political knowledge and social order through established authority and school rules. Religion: religion can become a factor in how individual shapes their political values around their religion in which they may choose more conservative or liberal values.
Explain the difference between empirical politics or normative politics.
These two theories refer to the theoretical approaches to politics. Broadly speaking, the empirical approach seeks to discover and describe facts whereas the normative approach seeks to determine and prescribe values.
Identify two types of governmental systems.
Monarchy, dictator, oligarchy, pluralism, democracy, republic, etc.
Describe the various debates that occurred as the constitutional conventions.
The legislative branch was critical to the delegates but the argument over allocation over the seats arose. The issue came down to state or individual based approach as the argument came down to which state had more sway in the new system. Delegates of smaller states wanted influence, and delegates from larger states wanted the amount of citizens be its unit of representation. The great compromise or Conecticut compromise called for a House of Representatives based on proportional presentation (Virginia Plan) but a second branch, senate, which contained equal number of representatives from each state (New Jersey Plan)
What did the case Gibbons vs. Ogden entail and what precedence did it set?
The case Gibbons vs. Ogden challenged a New York law that granted specific steamboat operators the exclusive privilege of providing service between New York and New Jersey. The Chief Justice concluded that Congress possessed exclusive authority over the regulation of interstate commerce including navigation and that states no longer had power to grant such exclusive licenses. This decision along with other shaped federalism by interpreting the constitution to give the government supreme power over public policy and thus limiting the power of the states.
Summarize the evolution of federal-state relationships in the U.S. over time.
During our early republic we relied on dual federalism which left question as to which layer of government controls that even further, which layer is superior. From the New Deal to 1980’s the democrats controlled the government and gave a lot of power in the government. The election of Ronald Reagan meant a shift from government intervention and more at the state level. Essentially it is constantly a debate of where power of authority should go, state or federal; and if federal, then to what layer of federal: etc.
What are implied powers?
Powers that are not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, but which can be decuced from the text. That these powers are permitted to Congress can be seen in the so-called “elastic clause,” which says that congress has the right to create laws that are “necessary and proper’ to carry out the powers which are specifically stated.
Define politics.
The process by which a character, membership, and actions of government are determined. It is also the struggle to move government to a preferred course of action.
Define Government.
The formal structures and institutions through which binding decisions, or rules, and made for its citizens of a particular area. Such institutions include legislatures such as city council or Congress as well a courts.
Define political socialization
The conscious and unconscious transmission of political culture and values from one generation to another. It is the process by which people learn political information, organized political knowledge, and develop political values.
What is authority?
The recognized right of a particular individual, group, or institution to make binding decisions. In the political context: it relates to the government’s ability to enforce its rules and collect resources.
Define Concurrent Powers.
Powers that are shared by on the federal level and state governments. These powers include the ability to make laws, roads, defense, parks and enforcement for police.
What is Cooperative federalism?
The belief that state and national governments should work together to solve problems.
Describe the political and economic achievements of women in this country over time. Identify some obstacles to equality.
Women mobilized in universal suffrage for the right to vote. They were successful in winning the inclusion of women suffrage on the ballot. In 1917 women received the right to vote for certain elections such as presidential elections or primary elections. The issue was supported by congress and was ratified as the nineteenth amendment. Women faced discrimination until 1960-1970 where a new movement took place in which women challenged the role and expectations of their subordination in society by taking on new jobs and education.
Explain the constitutional basis for our civil rights and for laws prohibiting discrimination.
The concept of civil rights stems from the framers idea of political equality or “all men are created equal.” The founders intended for all mento have right over their views, property, and ability to participate in the governing system. The fourteenth amendment contains that equal protection clause which states that people may not be deprived of specific right.
Explain the case Miranda vs. Arizona.
If a person is not free to walk away from police questioning (Excluding any persons who are on the street or voluntarily go to the police station) the officer must make it clear that the person has a right to remain silent and have a attorney present during questioning.
What is the exclusionary rule?
In Weeks. Vs. Us, the Supreme Court endorsed the ruling the evidence obtained improperly by the police cannot be used to prosecute someone.
What is Veto power?
The vested power or constitutional right of one branch or department of government to refuce approval of measures proposed by another department, especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature and thus prevent or delay its enactment into law.
Define Block Grant.
A grant that allows for flexible spending and appear to be a more efficient form of federal grants.
What is a Categorical Grant?
Federal funds targeted for specific purposes, typically they have many restrictions often leaving little room for discretionary spending.
Define Devolution.
The transfer of power to political subunits.
What are Delegated Powers?
Also called, “enumerated powers,” are the powers that are clearly spelled out in the Constitution. These are powers of the federal government.
What are Checks and Balances?
An elaborate system that limits the actions of each branch of government.
Define Natural rights.
A notion that individuals possess certain privileges or guarantees by virtue of being human. These rights are not granted by government but instead by God thus these rights cannot be given or taken away.
What is a Unitary system?
A system in which all ruling authority rests in a single national government.
Define Anarchy.
A state of lawlessness of political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority.
Define Bicameral.
A system of government in which the legislature comprises of two houses. The constitution establishes two chambers, the House of Representatives and Senate.
What was the 3/5 compromise?
An issue of slavery in determining population for delegation in the House of Representatives, five slaves were equal to three white males in the census.
Define Faction.
A group of individuals, such as a political party, a trade union, or other group with a common political purpose.
What is a Republic?
A system of government in which a small group of elected representatives act on the behalf of many.
What is a Direct Democracy?
All the citizens make all the decisions.
What was the Virginia plan?
Also called, Big-State Plan. It proposed a strong national government that could make and enforce laws, and collect taxes. The people would be governed by two governments - the state and national. A system such as this is known as a Federal system of government. Additionally, both houses of legislature would feature proportional representation; basically, this means the more people a state has, the more representatives it gets in the legislature.
What was the New Jersey plan?
A response to the Virginia plan designed to protect the security and power of the small states by limiting each state to one vote in Congress.
What was the Madisonian model?
The model is a philosophy of the use of presidential powers. The Madisonian model is a structure of government in which the powers of the government are separted into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This came about because the delegates saw the need to structure the government in such a way to provent the imposition of tyranny by either majority or by a minority.
Define Separation of Powers.
It means that there are three separate branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. The three branches are distinct and have checks and balances on each other. In this way, no one branch can gain absolute power or abuse the power they are given.
What is the Commerce Clause?
The power of Congress “to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among several states, and with the Indian tribes.”
What was the Constitution Convention?
A convention that took place to address problems in governing the U.S. under the Articles of Confederation. The result of the convention was the creation of the United States Constitution.
Who were the Federalists?
Supports of the Constitution.
Define Tyranny.
A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The collective name for the first amendments of the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the governments’ power in judicial and other proceedings, and reserve some powers to the states and the public.
What were the Articles of Confederation?
An agreement among the 13 founding states that established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as the first constitution.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
Opponents of the constitution after the ratification process.
Define Confederation.
The act of forming into or becoming part of a confederacy. A loose allegiance of political units.
Define Federation.
A joining together of states into a league or federal union while maintaining the control of its own affairs.
