Quarter 1 US Terms Flashcards
Authority stems from the top and is transmitted downwards through the line by the help of delegation of authority
Title
Specific conditions
Formal authority
Author of The Power Elite,
Introduced that term and describes the relationships and class alliances among the U.S. political, military, and economic elites
C. Wright Mills
A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
Elitist Theory
Invented the classic conception of bureaucracy
Max Weber
A government regulatory agency that consistently makes decisions favorable to the private interests that it regulates
Captured Agency
No law may be enforced by the government unless it conforms with certain universal principles (written or unwritten) of fairness, morality, and justice
Higher Law
A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests groups
Faction
Federalist Paper: Guard against factions
Federalist 10
Federalist Paper: Checks and balances
Federalist 51
A group of people, groups, or countries who have joined together for a common purpose
Coalition
A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held custody
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A legislative act that imposes punishment without a trial
Bill of Attainder
When the national government would give states a share of national tax revenues
Eliminated
Revenue Sharing
Requirements associated with federal grants
Any provision in statute or regulation or any Federal court ruling that imposes an enforceable duty upon State, local, or tribal governments including a condition of Federal assistance or a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program.
Mandates
Federalist Paper: Strength of state/federal government
Federalist 46
Federalist Paper: Strength of federal government does not pose a threat to the states
Federalist 45
A charter that allows the city government to do anything that is not prohibited by the charter or by state law
Home Rule Charter
Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect public health, safety, and welfare
Police Power
A procedure whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters
Initiative
General vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision
Referendum
A procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before then end of their term
Recall
The flow of power and responsibility from states to local government
Second order devolution
Use of nongovernmental organizations to implement public policy
Third order devolution
Democratic and civic habits of discussion, compromise, and respect for differences which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations
Social capital
Beliefs that a person holds regarding their social class or economic rank in society, the structure of their class, and their class interests
Marxist term
Class consciousness
A sustained intention to contribute to one’s society through participation in civic and political action
Civic purpose
Distribution of individual preferences for or evaluations of a given issue
Public opinion
When people hold political opinions but do not fully express them
Latent
A widely shared and consciously held view
Manifest opinion
Issues that people believe are important to them
Salient
Generic name in the United States to denote a hypothetical member of society deemed a “common man”
John Q. Public
Cultural mindset or region of the United States that, geographically, comprises the bulk of rural and suburban America
Middle America
Unspecified large majority of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly
Silent majority
Prominent American political organization associated with the Christian right
Mobilized Christian Republicans
Christian coalition
Document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign
Detailed the actions the Republicans promised to take if they became the majority party
Contract with America
Division of voters into voting blocs
Political cleavage
Working class
Blue collar
Office jobs
White collar
Belief that government can bring justice and equality
Liberalism
Political principles focused on altering social structures through revolutionary means and changing value systems in fundamental ways
Radical
Political positions or activities that accept or support social equality, often in opposition to social hierarchy and social inequality (liberal)
Left wing
View some forms of social hierarchy or social inequality as either inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable (conservatives)
Right wing
Libertarian candidate
Barry Goldwater
- Average American moron
- Beer 6 pack
- Blue collar
- Standard
Joe Six Pack
Primary elections in the Southern states of the United States of America in which only white voters were permitted to participate
White primary
Outlawed the use of literacy tests
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Congress extended Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act for five years (no more literacy tests)
Voting Rights Act of 1970
Secret ballot
Australian Ballot
People who vote but participate in little else politically
Voting specialist
People who not only vote but like to get involved politically with their party
Campaigners
People who tend to reserve their energies for community activities of a nonpartisan kind
Communalist
Those who do not vote and stay out of election campaigns and civic associations
Parochial
