Part 1 (Chapters 1-6) Flashcards
authority
the right to use power
power
the ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions
legitimacy
Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution. What makes a law or constitution a source of right, which in turn makes power rightful (i.e., a person has political authority if his or her right to act in a certain way is conferred by a law or by a state or national constitution)
elite
Persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource, like money or power. An identifiable group of persons who possess a disproportionate share of some valued resource (in this case, political power)
power elite
?? corporate leaders, top military officers,, handful of elected officials ??
democracy
The rule of the many. (1) a regime that is as close as possible to Aristotle’s definition – the “rule of the many”; or (2) institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which leaders/individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote (also known as “representative democracy”)
direct (participatory) democracy
A system where all or most citizens participate directly in either holding office or making policy.
representative democracy
institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in which leaders/individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote
marxist view
View that the government is dominated by capitalists. Karl Marx’s theory re distribution of power: government, even if democratic in form, is merely a refection of underlying economic forces (whichever class – capitalists or workers – that dominated the economy also controls the government)
power elite view
View that the government is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of goverment. C. Wright Mills’ theory re distribution of power: a coalition of three groups (corporate leaders, top military officials, and a handful of elected officials) dominate politics and government. View that American democracy is dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside government and enjoy great advantages in wealth, status or organizational position
pluralist view
The belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy. Theory re distribution of power: political resources ((money, prestige, expertise, organizational position, access to mass media) are so scattered that no single elite has a monopoly. Likewise, diversity of governmental institutions in which may be exercised (city, state, federal, mayors, managers, legislators, presidents, judges, etc.) are too diverse for a single group to dominate.
bureaucratic view
view that the government is dominated by appointed officials. Max Weber’s theory re distribution of power: power is mainly in the hands of America’s appointed officials/career government workers, regardless of who comes into power (capitalists or workers in the Marxist view, or well-positioned elites in the power elite view)
amendment
a new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by the states
Antifederalists
those who favor a weaker national government
Articles of Confederation
a weak constitution that governed America during teh Revolutionary War
bill of attainder
a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime
Bill of Rights
first 10 amendments to the Constitution
checks and balances
system of authority shared by three branches of government that can each keep the others from overstepping/abusing/etc.
coalition
an alliance of factions
concurrent powers
powers shared by the national and state goverments
Constitutional Convention
meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new constitution
enumerated powers
powers given to the national government alone
ex post facto law
a law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed
faction
a group with a distinct political interest
federalism
government authority shared by national and state governments
Great Compromise
plan to have a popularly elected House based on state population and a state-selected Senate, with two members for each state
habeas corpus
an order to produce an arrested person before a judge
line-item veto
an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature
New Jersey Plan
proposal to create a weak national government
republic
a government in which elected representatives make the decisions
reserved powers
powers given to the state government alone
separation of powers
constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government
Shay’s Rebellion
a 1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes
unalienable (inalienable)
a human right based on nature or God
Virginia Plan
proposal to create a strong national government
judicial review (bonus word)
the power of the courts to declare laws constitutional
Federalists (bonus word)
those who favor a stronger national government
block grants
money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines by Washington
conditions of aid
terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds
devolution
the effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states
dual federalism
doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate
grants-in-aid
money given by the national government to the states
initiative
process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot
mandates
terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants
“necessary and proper” clause
section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to it duties, which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it (enumerated) by the Constitution
nullification
the doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state’s opinion, violates the Constitution
police power
state power to enact laws promoting health, safety and morals
recall
procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office
referendum
procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature
categorical grants (bonus word)
federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport
revenue sharing (bonus word)
federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states
political culture
A coherent way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out.
civic duty
A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.
civic competence
A belief that one can affect government policies.
class consciousness
A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups.
orthodox
A belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance.
progressive
A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion.
political efficacy
A belief that you can take part in politics (internal efficacy) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external efficacy).
internal efficacy
The ability to understand and take part in politics.
external efficacy
The willingness of the state to respond to the citizenry.
due process of law
denies the government the right, without ______________, to deprive people of life, liberty and property
equal protection of the law
a standard of equal treatment that must be observed by the government
selective incorporation
court cases that apply the Bill of Rights to states
freedom of expression
people shall be free to exercise their religion, and government may not establish a religion
prior restraint
censorship of publication (telling a newspaper in advance what it can publish)
clear-and-present-danger test
law should not punish speech unless there was a _____________________ [threat, or risk] of producing harmful actions
libel
a writing that falsely injures another person
symbolic speech
an act that conveys a political message
free-exercise clause
First Amendment requirement that law cannot prevent ____________ of religion
establishment clause
First Amendment ban on laws “respecting an ______________ of religion”
wall of separation
court ruling that government cannot be involved with religion
exclusionary rule
improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial
search warrant
a judge’s order authorizing a search
probable cause
reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making an arrest; more than mere suspicion
good-faith exception
an error in gathering evidence sufficiently minor that it may be used in a trial
civil rights
the rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences
suspect classifications
classifications of people on the basis of their race or ethnicity
strict scrutiny
a USSC test to see if a law denies equal protection because it does not serve a compelling state interest and is not narrowly tailored to achieve that goal
separate-but-equal doctrine
the doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that African Americans could constitutionally be kept in ________________ facilities
de jure segregation
racial segregation that is required by law
de facto segregation
racial segregation that occurs in schools, not as a result of the law, but as a result of patterns of residential settlement
civil disobedience
opposing a law one considers unjust by peacefully disobeying it and accepting the resultant punishment
police powers
state power to effect laws promoting health, safety, and morals
affirmative action
programs designed to increase minority participation in some institution (businesses, schools, labor unions, or government agencies) by taking positive steps to appoint more minority-group members
equality of result
making certain that people achieve the same result
reverse discrimination
using race or sex to give preferential treatment to some people
equality of opportunity
giving people an equal chance to succeed
Jim Crow
Segregation and disenfranchisement laws; a formal, codified system of racial apartheid that dominated the American South for three quarters of a century beginning in the 1890s. The laws affected almost every aspect of daily life, mandating segregation of schools, parks, libraries, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, trains, and restaurants.
