Poli-Sci Exam #1

Question 1

Government

Answer 1

A system/institution responsible for managing a country. It creates and enforces laws, public affairs, services, and managing resources.

Question 2

Politics

Answer 2

The process of making decisions and exercising power within a society or organization. It involves the negotiation, competition, and collaboration among individuals or groups to determine how resources, authority, and policies are distributed and managed.

Question 3

Totalitarian Government

Answer 3

A political system where the state holds absolute power, suppressing individual freedoms and dissent. It centrally controls all aspects of public and private life, often led by a single ruler or party.

Question 4

Democracy

Answer 4

A system of government where power is vested in the people, who exercise it directly or through elected representatives. It emphasizes participation, equality, and majority rule.

Question 5

Direct Democracy

Answer 5

A form of government in which citizens vote on laws and policies directly, rather than electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Question 6

Representative Democracy

Answer 6

A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

Question 7

Backsliding of Democracy

Answer 7

Refers to the decline or erosion of democratic practices and institutions, often resulting in increased authoritarianism or reduced political freedoms.

Question 9

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

Answer 9

An economic system where the government has minimal intervention in business and economic activities, allowing market forces to operate freely.

Question 10

Majority Rule/Minority Rights

Answer 10

The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

Question 11

Linkage Institution

Answer 11

Organizations or mechanisms that connect individuals with the government, facilitating communication and influence. Examples include political parties, interest groups, and media.

Question 12

Political System

Answer 12

The structure and set of processes through which a society organizes and governs itself, including its institutions, practices, and rules for making and implementing decisions.

Question 13

Public Policy

Answer 13

Refers to the principles and actions adopted by governments to address societal issues and guide decision-making on various matters affecting the public.

Question 14

Trade-Offs

Answer 14

Refers to the compromises or sacrifices made when choosing one policy or solution over another, often involving balancing competing interests, values, or goals.

Question 15

Clash: Liberty vs Order

Answer 15

The clash between liberty and order in politics involves balancing individual freedoms with the need for rules and regulations to maintain social stability and public safety.

Question 16

Clash: Liberty vs Equality

Answer 16

The clash between liberty and equality involves balancing individual freedoms with efforts to ensure equal outcomes or opportunities, as policies to promote equality may sometimes restrict personal freedoms.

Question 17

Articles of Confederation

Answer 17

The first constitution of the United States, establishing a weak central government with limited powers, emphasizing state sovereignty and creating a loose alliance among the states.

Question 18

Virginia Plan

Answer 18

Called for a powerful central government with a two-house legislature, where representation would be determined by state population or wealth, benefiting larger states.

Question 19

New Jersey Plan

Answer 19

Suggested a single-house legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of its size or population, to safeguard the interests of smaller states.

Question 20

The Great Compromise

Answer 20

Created a two-chamber legislature: the House of Representatives, which has members based on state populations, and the Senate, where each state has the same number of representatives. This balanced the needs of large and small states.

Question 21

The Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 21

An agreement counting each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes in Congress.

Question 22

Bicameral

Answer 22

A 2-house legislature

Question 23

Checks and Balances

Answer 23

A system where different branches of government have powers that limit and oversee each other, preventing any single branch from gaining excessive power.

Question 24

Bill of Rights

Answer 24

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental individual freedoms and protections.

Question 25

Separation of Powers

Answer 25

The division of government into distinct branches, each with its own functions and powers, to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Question 26

Federalists

Answer 26

Supporters of a strong central government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 27

Anti-Federalists

Answer 27

Opposed a strong central government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, advocating for greater state and individual rights.

Question 28

Tyranny

Answer 28

The oppressive and unjust exercise of power, often by a single ruler or a small group, leading to the violation of rights and freedoms.

Question 29

Amendment

Answer 29

A formal change or addition to a legal document, such as a constitution or law.

Question 30

Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)

Answer 30

A legal measure that grants the president authority to use military force for specific purposes or against particular threats.

Question 31

Magna Carta

Answer 31

A 1215 document that limited the power of the English monarch and established certain legal rights for subjects.

Question 32

Mayflower Compact

Answer 32

A 1620 agreement among Pilgrims to create a self-governing colony based on majority rule.

Question 33

French-Indian War

Answer 33

(1754-1763) A conflict between Britain and France in North America, with Native American allies on both sides, over control of colonial territories.

Question 34

John Locke (Natural Rights)

Answer 34

John Locke was a philosopher who argued that individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which governments must protect.

Question 35

Social Contract

Answer 35

A theory that individuals consent to form a government and abide by its rules in exchange for protection and order.

Question 36

First Continental Congress

Answer 36

(1774) A meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia to address grievances against British policies and to organize a collective response.

Question 37

Second Continental Congress

Answer 37

(1775-1781) A meeting of colonial delegates that managed the American Revolution, declared independence, and established the Continental Army.

Question 38

Post-Independence Challenges

Answer 38

Post-independence challenges included establishing a stable government, managing economic issues, addressing internal conflicts, and securing international recognition and support.

Question 39

Daniel Shays’ Rebellion

Answer 39

(1786-1787) An armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic hardships and debt, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Question 40

Federalism

Answer 40

Federalism in the U.S. government is the division of powers between the national and state governments, allowing both to function independently in their respective jurisdictions.

Question 41

Unitary System

Answer 41

A form of government in which power is centralized in a single, national authority, with any subnational entities (like states or provinces) deriving their powers from the central government rather than having constitutionally guaranteed authority.

Question 42

Expressed Powers

Answer 42

Expressed powers are those explicitly granted to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, primarily found in Article I, Section 8, which outlines specific authorities such as regulating commerce, coining money, and declaring war.

Question 43

Implied Powers

Answer 43

Implied powers are those not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution but are considered necessary for the federal government to carry out its expressed powers.

Question 44

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 44

The Necessary and Proper Clause is a constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its expressed powers, including implied powers.

Question 45

Significance of the McCulloch v. Maryland case

Answer 45

The McCulloch v. Maryland case established the principle that implied powers allow the federal government to create a national bank, extending federal authority beyond those powers explicitly listed in the Constitution.

Question 46

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 46

The Full Faith and Credit Clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution requires states to recognize and respect each other’s laws, records, and court decisions, ensuring legal consistency and cooperation between states.

Question 47

Dual Federalism

Answer 47

A system where the national and state governments function independently within their own areas of power, with clear roles and responsibilities, similar to a “layer cake” model.

Question 48

10th Amendment, States’ Rights, Reserved Powers

Answer 48

The 10th Amendment keeps powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution for the states and the people. This supports states’ rights and limits federal power.

Question 49

Supremacy Clause

Answer 49

The Supremacy Clause, found in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, establishes that federal law takes precedence over state laws and constitutions when there is a conflict, ensuring a uniform legal framework across the nation.

Question 50

Preemption

Answer 50

A legal doctrine that allows federal law to take precedence over state law when both governments have authority in the same area, often arising from the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.

Question 51

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 51

A model of governance in which the national and state governments work together collaboratively on policy areas, often blending their functions and responsibilities, resembling a “marble cake” rather than a “layer cake” approach.

Question 52

Grants-in-Aid

Answer 52

Funds provided by the federal government to state or local governments for specific projects or programs, designed to assist in the implementation of public policies and initiatives.

Question 53

Categorical Grants

Answer 53

Federal funds given to state or local governments for specific purposes, often with strict regulations and requirements attached, ensuring that the money is used for designated programs or projects.

Question 54

Block Grants

Answer 54

Federal funds given to state or local governments that allow them to use the money more freely. This helps them tackle different issues within a broad category without strict federal rules.

Question 55

Mandates

Answer 55

Rules set by the federal government that state or local governments must follow to implement certain policies or programs, often requiring them to do so to receive federal funds.

Question 56

New Federalism

Answer 56

A political philosophy that seeks to restore power and responsibility to the states by reducing federal control and increasing state discretion in various policy areas.