Unit 1 Flashcards
Democracy
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents in response to the publics preferences.
Linkage institution
The political channels through which peoples concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. In the United States, linkage institutions include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media
Policy agenda
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at a point in time
Policy gridlock
A condition that occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, so nothing gets done
Policymaking system
The process by which policy comes into being and evolves. Peoples interests, problems, and concerns create political issues for government policy makers. These issues shape policy, which in turn impacts people, generating more interests, problems, and concerns
Politics
The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue. Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues
Participatory democracy
Pluralist democracy
A theory of American democracy emphasizing that the policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups with shared interests, with no single group usually dominating. Pluralist tend to believe that as a result, public interest generally prevails.
Elite democracy
A theory of American democracy contending that an upper class elite holds the power and makes policy, regardless of the formal governmental organization
Anti-federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating it’s adoption
Articles of confederation
The first constitution of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. The articles established a national legislature, the continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures
Bicameralism
Separation of congress into senate and house
Bill of rights
The first 10 amendments of the US Constitution drafted in response to some of the anti-federalist concerns. These amendments define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants’ rights
Brutus no 1
Checks and balances
Features of the constitution that limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions. These institutions continually constrain one another’s activities
Constitutional convention
Electoral college
Voters pick representatives of the electoral college that elect the president
Virginia plan
The proposal at the constitutional convention that cold for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that states share of the US population
New jersey plan
The proposal at the constitutional convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the states population
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
The compromise reached at the constitutional convention that established two houses of Congress: the house of representatives, in which representation is based on a states share of the US population; and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives
3/5ths compromise
The South requested 3/5 compromise wear a slave counted as 3/5 of a person allowing them to get more representation in house of representatives
Declaration of independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence
Factions
Parties or interest groups that James Madison saw as arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth and attacked as having the potential to cause instability in government
Federalist papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius“ to defend the Constitution in detail
Federalist paper 10
Federalists
Supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were contemplating it’s adoption
Formal amendment
Proposal and ratification of an amendment may be proposed either by 2/3 vote in each house of Congress or by a national convention called by Congress at the request of 2/3 of state legislatures. Ratified by legislatures of 3/4 of states or buy special state conventions cold and 3/4 of the states
Judicial review
The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and, by implication, the executive are in accord with the US Constitution. Judicial review was established by Marbury v. Madison
Limited government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens
Madisonian model
Human nature was self interested so they had to create a separation of powers and checks and balances
Marbury v madison
The 1803 case in which the supreme court asserted it’s right to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the courts power of judicial review over acts of Congress.
Natural rights
Right inherent in human beings, not dependent on government, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among Americans founders
Popular sovereignty
The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people
Republicanism
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws
Separation of powers
A feature of the constitution that requires each of the three branches of government
—executive, legislative, and judicial—to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the others. Power is shared among these three institutions
Shays rebellion
A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by revolutionary war captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings
Social contract
People have to give something up in return for the protection of liberties
Us constitution
The document written in 1777 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of US government and the tasks these institutions perform. Replaced the articles of confederation
10th amendment
The constitutional amendment stating, “the powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”
14th amendment
The constitutional amendment adopted after the Civil War that declares, no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws“
Commerce clause
Regulate interstate and international commerce
Full faith and credit clause
A clause in article IV of the constitution requiring each state to recognize the public ask, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states
Necessary and proper clause (elastic)
The final paragraph of article 1, section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes Congress to pass all laws “necessary and proper“ to carry out the enumerated powers
Privileges and immunities clause
The provision of the constitution according citizens of each state the privileges of citizens of other states
Supremacy clause
The clause in article VI of the constitution that makes the constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme overstate laws as long as the national government is acting within its constitutional limits
Devolution
Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government or state and local governments
Extradition
A legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed
Cooperative federalism (marble)
A system of government in which power’s in policy assignments are shared between states in the national government
Dual federalism (layer)
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spears, each responsible for some policies
Fi$cal federali$m
The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the corner stone of the national government relations with state and local governments
Block grant
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services
Categorical grant
Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or “categories” of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as non-discrimination provisions.
Project: Given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications
Formula: Distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations
Mandate
Requirements that direct state or local governments to provide additional services under threat of penalties or as a condition of receipt of a federal grant
Funded:
Unfunded:
McCulloch v Maryland
In 1819 Supreme Court decision that established the supremacy of the national government over state governments. The court, led by chief justice John marshal how that Congress had certain implied powers in addition to the powers enumerated in the constitution
Concurrent powers
Powers shared between federal and state
Enumerated powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in this constitution; for Congress, including the powers listed in article 1, section 8, for example, to coin money and regulate its value and impose taxes
Implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the constitution, in accordance with the statement in the constitution that Congress has the power to “make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution“ the powers enumerated on article one
Reserved-revenue sharing powers
U.S v Lopez
Federal gun free school zones act of 1990 made by Congress and exceeded congresses constitutional authority to regulate commerce guns in a school zone well it had nothing to do with commerce
