POLS 3030 Ch. 1-3 Key Terms Flashcards
Making decisions based on the best research findings available.
Evidence-based Practices
The ability of government to respond effectively to change, make decisions efficiently and responsibly, and manage conflict.
Capacity
The territorial range of government authority; sometimes used as a synonym for “city” or “town”.
Jurisdiction
A system of government in which powers are divided between a central (national) government and regional (state) governments.
Federalism
An anticipatory condition, as opposed to a reactive one.
Proactive
Money set aside when a state’s finances are healthy for use when state revenues decline. Formally called “budget stabilization funds”.
Rainy Day Funds
To reduce the size and cost of something, especially government.
Downsize
An environment characterized by stagnant revenues and budget cuts, leading to changes in the provision of public services.
New Normal
An effort to change how a state or city is perceived by the public, to create a new image of a place.
Re-Brand
A characteristic of a government that is open and understandable, one in which officials are accountable to the public.
Transparency
An unofficial region of the US, generally consisting of the South and the West
Sunbelt
An unofficial region of the US, generally comprising the Northeast and the Midwest. Labeled rustbelt sometimes used as synonym.
Frostbelt
The attitudes, values, and beliefs that people hold toward government.
Political Culture
Political conflicts that emerge from deeply held moral values.
Culture Wars
One in which all government authority is derived from a central government.
Unitary System
A league of sovereign states in which a limited central government exercises few independent powers.
Confederacy
A means of dividing the power and functions of government between a central government and a specified number of geographically defined regional jurisdictions.
Federal System
Those powers expressly given to the national government, primarily in Article I, Section B, of the Constitution.
Enumerated (Delegated Powers)
Those granted by the Constitution to both the national and the state governments.
Concurrent Powers
Theory holding that the national government is dominant over the states.
Nation-Centered Federalism
Theory holding that the national government represents a voluntary compact or agreement between the states, which retain a dominant position.
State-Centered Federalism
Those powers residing with the states by virtue of the Tenth Amendment.
Reserved Powers
The amendment to the constitution, ratified in 1791, reserving powers to the states.
Tenth Amendment
A theory of federalism that became the foundation for states’ rights arguments.
Compact Theory
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes national laws superior to state laws.
National Supremacy Clause
Portion of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that authorizes Congress to enact all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its responsibilities.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Those powers that are not expressly granted by the Constitution but that are inferred from the enumerated powers.
Implied Powers
Part of Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution, which gives congress the power to regulate trade with foreign countries and among the states.
Commerce Clause
The portion of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that provides for the general welfare of the United States.
General Welfare Clause
Enacted in 1868, this amendment contains citizens rights, due process, and equal protection provisions that states must apply to all citizens.
Fourteenth Amendment
Enacted in 1913, this amendment grants the national government the power to levy income taxes.
Sixteenth Amendment
The principle that national laws take precedence over state laws.
Federal Pre-Emption
Model in which the responsibilities and activities of the national and state governments are separate and distinct.
Dual Federalism
A model of federalism that stresses the linkages and joint arrangements among the three levels of government.
Cooperative Federalism
A model of cooperative federalism in which many new grants-in-aid, including direct national-local financial arrangements, were made.
Creative Federalism
A model that represents a return of powers and responsibilities to the states.
New Federalism
The delegating of power and programs from the federal government to state and local governments.
Devolution
A form of federalism in which the national government uses regulations, mandates, conditions, preemptions, and other actions to impose national priorities on the states.
Coercive Federalism
An intergovernmental transfer of funds or other assets, subject to conditions.
Grant-In-Aid
A form of financial aid from one level of government to another to be used for a narrowly defined purpose.
Categorial Grant
A form of financial aid from one level of government to another for use in a broad, functional area.
Block Grant
A funding mechanism that automatically allocates monies based on conditions in the recipient government.
Formula Grant
A competitive funding mechanism that awards monies based on the strength of an applicant government’s proposal.
Project Grant
A requirement that a state or local government undertake a specific activity or provide a particular service as a condition of funding.
Federal Mandate
The basic legal and political document of a state; it prescribes the rules through which government operates.
Fundamental Law
The legislature’s dominance of the other two branches of government.
Legislative Supremacy
An ideal of the structure and contents of a state constitution that emphasizes brevity and broad functions and responsibilities.
Model State Constitution
A state constitutional tradition based on detailed provisions and procedure.
Positive-Law Tradition
A state constitutional tradition based on basic and enduring principles that reach beyond statutory law.
Higher-Law Tradition
An informal means of revising constitutions whereby members of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch apply constitutional principles and law to everyday affairs of governing.
Interpretation
The power of the U.S. Supreme Court or state supreme courts to declare unconstitutional actions of the executive and legislative branches, as well as decisions of lower courts.
Judicial Review
The formal approval of a constitution or a constitutional amendment by a majority of the voters of a state.
Ratification
The most common means of amending a state constitution, wherein the legislature proposes a revision, usually by a two-thirds majority.
Legislative Proposal
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that is placed on the ballot by citizen petition.
Initiative
A procedure by which the voters of a jurisdiction propose the passage of constitutional amendments, state laws, or local ordinances, bypassing the legislative body.
Direct Initiative
Voter initiative proposal must be submitted to the legislature before going on the ballot for voter approval.
Indirect Initiative
A assembly of delegates chosen by popular election or appointment by the legislature to revise an existing constitution or to create a new one.
Constitutional Convention
A meeting of appointed delegates established to study an existing constitution, or specific provisions, and to recommend proposed changes.
Constitutional Commision
