Unit One Vocab Flashcards
Checks and Balances
Authority shared by three branches of the government
Great Compromise
Plan to have popularly elected House based on state population and a state selected senate with two members from each state
Republic
A government in which elected representatives make the decisions
Referendum
Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature
Political Participation
All the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. The most common, but the only, means of political participation in a democracy is voting. Other means include protest and civil disobedience.
Political Efficacy
The citizens’ faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs
Pluralist View or Theory
the belief that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy
Elite View or Theory
The view that the government is dominated by a few head leaders, most of which are not a part of the government
Direct (participatory) Democracy
A government where most citizens participate in the democracy directly
Representative Democracy
A government where leaders make decisions by winning an election with popular vote
Block Grants
a grant from the federal government that a local/state government can allocate to a wide range of services. It is generally broad with what it can be used for, have few strings attached.
Mandates
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants
Devolution
is the transfer of certain powers from one entity to another. It’s an effort to reduce federal government powers by transferring some responsibilities to the state governments. Through devolution, the states gain responsibility for matters that were previously handled at the federal level.
Habeus Corpus
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge
Initiative
Proccess that permits voters to put legislative measures directly onto the ballot
