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
