Semester Test Review Flashcards
Public good
Goods, such as clean air and clean water, that everyone must share
Government
The institutions and process through which public policies are made for society
Public policy
A choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem
Politics
The process by which we select our government leaders, and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produce authoritative decisions about public issues
Linkage institutions
The channels or access points through which issues and peoples policy preferences get on the governments policy agenda. In the United States, elections, political parties, interest groups and the mass media are the three main linkage institutions
Checks and balances
An important part of the Madisonian model designed to limit governments power by requiring that power be balanced among the different government institutions. These institutions continually check on another’s activities. This system reflects Madison’s goal of setting power against power
Electoral college/electoral votes
A unique American institution created by the constitution that provides for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Electoral college vote usually reflects a popular majority the winner takes all rule count to big states there are 538 votes and you need 270 to win
Pluralism
Theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
Elite theory
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 organizations
Hyperpluralism
A theory of governing and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. Hyperpluralism is an extreme, exaggerated or perverted form of pluralism
Policy gridlock
A condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The results is that nothing may get done
Federalism
A way of organizing a nation so that two levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government
Elastic clause/necessary and proper
The final paragraph of Article I, section 8 of the constitution, which authorizes congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the enumerated powers. The elastic clause (government can stretch)
Supremacy clause
Article VI of the constitution, which makes the constitution, national laws and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits
Unfunded mandate
When the federal government requires state and local action but does not provide the funds to pay for the action
Civil liberties
The legal constitutional protections against government. Although our civil liberties are formally set down in the Bill of Rights, the court, police and legislative define their meaning
Gerrymandering
Drawing a political boundary for an advantage (typically illegal)
Affirmative action
A policy designed to give special attention to our compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantage group (goes with Court case University of California vs Baake)
19th Amendment
Ratified August 18th, 1920 Women’s right to vote (suffrage)
Trial balloon
An intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction
Political party definition by Anthony Downs
A “term of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office duty constituted elections”
Patronage
One of the key inducements used by political machines. A patronages job, promotion or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone
Entitlement
Policies for which expenditures are uncontrollable because congress has in effect obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Each year congress bill is a straight forward function of the X level of benefits times the Y number of beneficiaries. Social security benefits are an example
Lobbyists/Most common function
According to Leoster Milbrath a “communication by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision” most common function is to provide information (goes with special interest)
Appropriation
An act of congress that actually funds problems within limits established by authorization bills. Appropriations usually cover one year (money set aside)
Flat tax
where everyone has the same rate/same expenditure example: sales tax
Progressive Tax
The different abilities to pay example: income tax
Original jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case FIRST, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case
Appellate jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of courts that hear case brought to them on appeal from lower courts. These courts do not review the factual record only the legal issues involved (hearing it for the second time) court case Gregg vs Georgia
Double Jeopardy
Idea that you cannot be tried for the same crime twice
Incrementalism
The belief that the best predictor of this years budget is last years budget, plus a little bit more (an increment) according to Aaron Widavsky “most of the budget is a product of previous decisions”
Interest groups
An origination of people with shared policy goals entering the process of several points to try to achieve those goals. Interest groups pursue their goals in many arenas
Veto
The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to congress with reasons for rejecting it. A two-thirds vote in each house can override a veto
Sub government/iron triangles
A network if groups within the American political system which exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas. Known as iron triangles, sub government are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency is in charge of administering that policy and members of congressional committees and subcommittees handing that policy
Jefferson’s three rights
Life, liberty and Pursuit of Happiness
Influence of John Locke
Life, liberty, and property
Reasons for development of the Republican Party
Abraham Lincoln and the expansion of slavery
Largest Modern Political Party
Democratic
Age group lest likely to vote
18-25 year olds
How Bureaucracies functions?
According to Max Weber a bureaucracy depends on certain elements, it was a hierarchical authority structure in which power flows from too down and responsibility flows from fhe bottom top, uses task specialization, operates on merit principle an behaves impersonality, well organized machines with plenty of working
Functions of the Supreme Court
Court ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws, resolves conflicts among states, and maintains national supremacy. It has both original/appellate jurisdiction, but unlike other federal courts, it controls it’s own agenda
Military spending-believe we should spend less
Liberals
Use of force-less willing to commit troops to action
Liberals
Abortion- support freedom of choice
Liberals
Prayer in school-opposed
Liberals
Affirmative action-favor
Liberals
Scope of government-view government as a public interest
Liberals
Taxes-want to tax rich more
Liberals
Spending-want to spend more on the poor
Liberals
How to cut crimes-believe we should solve the problems of crimes
Liberals
Defendants rights- believe we should guard them carefully
Liberals
Military spending- believe we should maintain peace through strength
Conservatives
Use of force- more likely to support military invention around the world
Conservatives
Abortion-right to life
Conservatives
Prayer in school-are supportive
Conservatives
Affirmative action-oppose
Conservatives
Scope of government- favor free market solutions
Conservatives
Taxes-want to keep taxes low
Conservatives
Spending-want to keep spending low
Conservatives
How to cut crime-believe we should stop coddling criminals
Conservatives
Defendants rights-believe we should stop letting criminals hide behind bars
Conservatives
Functions of all governments
- maintain a national defense
- provide public services
- preserve order
- socialize the young
- collet taxes
Principles of traditional democratic theory
- Equality in voting
- Effective participation
- Enlightened understanding
- Citizen control of agenda
- Inclusion
Plessey vs Ferguson
1896 Supreme Court decision that provided a constitutional justification for segregation by ruling that a Louisiana law requiring “equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races” was not unconstitutional
Roe vs Wade
1973 Supreme Court decision for bade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permits states to limit abortions to protect the mothers health in the second trimester and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester
Miranda vs Arizona
1966 Supreme Court decision that sets guidelines for police questioning of accused persons to protect them against self incrimination and to protect their rights to control
University of California vs Baake
Ruled on affirmative action that you cannot use race as the only form for admission
Gideon vs Wainwright
1963 Supreme Court decision holding that anyone accused of a felony where imprisonment may be imposed, however poor he or she might be, has a right to a lawyer
Marbury vs Madison
1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshat and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the US constitution. The decision established the courts power of judicial review over acts of congress, in this case the Judiciary Act of 1789
Gregg vs Georgia
1976 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionally of the death penalty, stating that “it is an extreme sanction, suitable to the extreme of crimes” the court did not therefore believe that the death sentence constitutes cruel and unusually punishment
Brown vs Board of Eduction
1954 Supreme Court decision holding that school segregation in Topeka Kansas was inherently guarantee of equal protection. This case marked the end of legal segregation in the US.
Reed vs Reed
The landmark case in 1971 in which the Supreme Court for the first time upheld a claim of gender discrimination
Three branches of government, the head of each branch, and the function of each branch
Judicial-Supreme Court (interpret the law)
Legislative-congress (passes the nations laws)
Executive-president (ensures laws are carried out)
