Poli-Sci Exam #1 Flashcards
Government
A system/institution responsible for managing a country. It creates and enforces laws, public affairs, services, and managing resources.
Politics
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.
Totalitarian Government
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.
Democracy
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.
Direct Democracy
A form of government in which citizens vote on laws and policies directly, rather than electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf.
Representative Democracy
A system of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf.
Backsliding of Democracy
Refers to the decline or erosion of democratic practices and institutions, often resulting in increased authoritarianism or reduced political freedoms.
Laissez-Faire Capitalism
An economic system where the government has minimal intervention in business and economic activities, allowing market forces to operate freely.
Majority Rule/Minority Rights
The democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority
Linkage Institution
Organizations or mechanisms that connect individuals with the government, facilitating communication and influence. Examples include political parties, interest groups, and media.
Political System
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.
Public Policy
Refers to the principles and actions adopted by governments to address societal issues and guide decision-making on various matters affecting the public.
Trade-Offs
Refers to the compromises or sacrifices made when choosing one policy or solution over another, often involving balancing competing interests, values, or goals.
Clash: Liberty vs Order
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.
Clash: Liberty vs Equality
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.
Articles of Confederation
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.
Virginia Plan
Called for a powerful central government with a two-house legislature, where representation would be determined by state population or wealth, benefiting larger states.
New Jersey Plan
Suggested a single-house legislature with equal representation for each state, regardless of its size or population, to safeguard the interests of smaller states.
The Great Compromise
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.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
An agreement counting each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes in Congress.
Bicameral
A 2-house legislature
Checks and Balances
A system where different branches of government have powers that limit and oversee each other, preventing any single branch from gaining excessive power.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental individual freedoms and protections.
Separation of Powers
The division of government into distinct branches, each with its own functions and powers, to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Federalists
Supporters of a strong central government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Anti-Federalists
Opposed a strong central government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, advocating for greater state and individual rights.
Tyranny
The oppressive and unjust exercise of power, often by a single ruler or a small group, leading to the violation of rights and freedoms.
Amendment
A formal change or addition to a legal document, such as a constitution or law.
Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)
A legal measure that grants the president authority to use military force for specific purposes or against particular threats.
Magna Carta
A 1215 document that limited the power of the English monarch and established certain legal rights for subjects.
Mayflower Compact
A 1620 agreement among Pilgrims to create a self-governing colony based on majority rule.
French-Indian War
(1754-1763) A conflict between Britain and France in North America, with Native American allies on both sides, over control of colonial territories.
John Locke (Natural Rights)
John Locke was a philosopher who argued that individuals have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, which governments must protect.
Social Contract
A theory that individuals consent to form a government and abide by its rules in exchange for protection and order.
First Continental Congress
(1774) A meeting of colonial delegates in Philadelphia to address grievances against British policies and to organize a collective response.
Second Continental Congress
(1775-1781) A meeting of colonial delegates that managed the American Revolution, declared independence, and established the Continental Army.
Post-Independence Challenges
Post-independence challenges included establishing a stable government, managing economic issues, addressing internal conflicts, and securing international recognition and support.
Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
(1786-1787) An armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic hardships and debt, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Federalism
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.
Unitary System
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.
Expressed Powers
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.
Implied Powers
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.
Necessary and Proper Clause
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.
Significance of the McCulloch v. Maryland case
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.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
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.
Dual Federalism
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.
10th Amendment, States’ Rights, Reserved Powers
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.
Supremacy Clause
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.
Preemption
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.
Cooperative Federalism
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.
Grants-in-Aid
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.
Categorical Grants
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.
Block Grants
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.
Mandates
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.
New Federalism
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.
