Unit 1 IDs

Question 0

Democracy

Answer 0

A form of government in which the people govern, either directly or through elected representatives.

Question 1

Public Policy

Answer 1

Decisions by government to pursue particular courses of action.
The exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society.

Question 2

Direct Democracy

Answer 2

A form of government in which the people govern. Citizens meet and make decisions on public policy issues.

Question 3

Representative Democracy

Answer 3

A form of government in which the people govern. Citizens elect officials who make decisions on public policy issues.

Question 7

Traditional Democratic Theory

Answer 7

Government depends on the consent of the governed, which may be directly or through elected representatives.

Question 8

Pluralist Theory

Answer 8

Interest groups compete in the political arena, each promoting it’s own policy preferences through organized efforts. Conflict among groups may require bargaining and compromise.

Question 9

Constitutionalism

Answer 9

The idea that there are lawful limits on the power of the government.

Question 10

Social Contract

Answer 10

A voluntary agreement between the government and the governed the government is then obliged to act within the confines of the agreement.

Question 11

Natural Rights

Answer 11

Basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons.

Basic rights that a government cannot deny.

Question 12

Articles of Confederation

Answer 12

The first national constitution of the United States that created a weak central government lasting from 1781-1789. Replaced by the current Constitution.

Question 13

Virginia Plan

Answer 13

A constitutional proposal for a strong congress with two chambers, both of which would be based on numerical representation, thus granting more power to the larger states. Madison’s plan for a bicameral legislature that chooses the executive and judicial branches.

Question 14

New Jersey Plan

Answer 14

A constitutional proposal for a strengthened congress but one I. Which each state would have a single vote, thus granting smaller states the same legislative power as a larger state.

Question 15

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Answer 15

The agreement at the Constitutional Convention to create a two chamber congress with the House apportioned by population and the Senate apportioned equally by state.

Question 16

Three-Fifths Compromise

Answer 16

A compromise worked out at the 1787 Convention between northern states and southern states. Each slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person for purposes of federal taxation and congressional apportionment.

Question 17

Federalists

Answer 17

Proponents of the Constitution during debate over ratification. Supported a strong Central Government and expanded legislative powers.

Question 18

Antifederalists

Answer 18

Opponents of the Constitution during debate over ratification. Said the Constitution gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the states and it lacked a Bill of Rights.

Question 19

Bill of Rights

Answer 19

First 10 amendments of the constitution which include unalienable rights to all citizens.

Question 20

Limited Government

Answer 20

A government that is subject to strict limits on its lawful uses of power, and hence, on it’s ability to deprive people of their liberty.

Question 21

Separation of Powers

Answer 21

Division of the powers of government among separate institutions or branches. There are three branches, each with its own powers and duties and each independent of, and equal to, the other.

Question 22

Checks and Balances

Answer 22

Each branch of government has powers and rule over other branches to check the spread of tyranny and make sure one branch has restraints on the other two branches, and that one branch is equal to the other.

Question 23

Tyranny of the Majority

Answer 23

The potential of a majority to monopolize power for its own gain to the detriment of minority’s rights and interests.

Question 24

Federalism

Answer 24

A division of governmental powers between national governments and state governments. Authority is divided between two sovereign levels of government: national and regional.

Question 25

Amendments

Answer 25

A revision or a change to a bill, law, or constitution.

Question 26

Formal Amendment Process

Answer 26

Written changes to the Constitution.

Adding to, changing the wording of, or deleting language from the Constitution.

Question 27

Informal Amendment Process

Answer 27

Changes to the Constitution that do not involve actually changing the wording of the Constitution.

Question 28

Delegated Powers

Answer 28

Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution.

Question 29

Implied Powers

Answer 29

The federal government’s constitutional authority to take action that is not expressly authorized by the Constitution but that supports actions through the “Necessary and Proper Clause”.

Question 30

Inherent Powers

Answer 30

Powers that exist for the national government because that government is sovereign.

Question 31

Concurrent Powers

Answer 31

Powers shared by the federal and state governments.

Question 32

Reserved Powers

Answer 32

The powers granted to the states under the 10th amendment to the Constitution.
Powers belonging specifically to the states and the people because they were not delegated to the national government and not denied to the states.

Question 33

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 33

The authority granted to congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for the implementation of its enumerated powers. Also called the Elastic Clause.

Question 34

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 34

States are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states. Such as marriage licenses, birth certificates, and wills.

Question 35

Supremacy Clause

Answer 35

Article VI of theConstitution which makes national law all other laws passed by states. National law becomes supreme over state law when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits.

Question 36

Dual Federalism

Answer 36

A doctrine, or belief, based on the idea that a precise separation of national powers and state powers is both possible and desirable.

Question 37

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 37

Where national, state, and local governments work together. Cooperation between them is called “marble cake” federalism.

Question 38

Devolution

Answer 38

The passing down of authority from the national government to the state and local governments.

Question 39

Fiscal Federalism

Answer 39

The national government’s patterns of spending, taxation, and providing grants to influence state and local governments.

Question 40

Grants-in-aid

Answer 40

Programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to the state local governments to be used for specific projects and programs.

Question 41

Categorical Grants

Answer 41

Federal grants-in-aid to states and localities that can be used only for designated projects.

Question 42

Block Grants

Answer 42

Federal grants-in-aid that permit state and local officials to decide how the money will be spent within a general area, such as health or education.

Question 43

Revenue Sharing

Answer 43

Giving money back to state and local governments with no strings attached. Started with the Johnson administration and abolished with Reagan.

Question 44

Mandates

Answer 44

Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments to comply with federal rules and regulations.

Question 45

Elite Theory

Answer 45

A small number of powerful elite form an upper class, which rules in its own self interest.

Question 46

Bureaucratic Theory

Answer 46

A hierarchal structure and standardized procedures of modern governments allow bureaucrats, who carry out the day to day workings of government, to hold the real power over public policy issues.

Question 47

Hyperpluralism

Answer 47

Democracy is a system of many groups having so much power and strength in government that it gets pulled in numerous directions, at the sometime causing gridlock and ineffectiveness.