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Introduction to American Politics > Vocabulary (Chapters 8-14) > Flashcards

Vocabulary (Chapters 8-14) Flashcards

1
Q

party organization

A

A specific political party’s leaders and workers at the national, state and local level

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2
Q

party in government

A

The group of officeholders who belong to a specific political party and were elected as candidates of that party

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3
Q

party in the electorate

A

The group of citizens who identify with a specific political party

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4
Q

party system

A

Periods in which the names of the major political parties, their supporters, and the issues dividing them have remained relatively stable.

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5
Q

Party principle

A

The idea that a political party exists as an organization distinct from its elected officials or party leaders

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6
Q

Spoils system

A

Andrew Jackson–The practice of rewarding party supporters with benefits like federal government positions

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7
Q

What are the party systems?

A

First (1789-1828): Federalists, Democratic-Republicans
Second (1829) Democrats, Whigs, key issues of tariffs and slavery
Third (1857) Democrats, Republicans, key issues of slavery and industrialization
Fourth (1897) Democrats, Republicans, key issues of immigration
Fifth (1933) Democrats, Republicans, key issues of size and scope of federal government
Sixth (1969-present) Democrats, Republicans (civil rights, social issues, foreign policy)

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8
Q

Realignment

A

A change in the size or composition of the party coalitions or in the nature of the issuees that divide the parties. Realignments typically occurr within an election cycle or two, but they can also be longer

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9
Q

National committee

A

An American political party’s principal organization, comprising party representatives from each state

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10
Q

PACs`

A

An interest group or a division that can raise money to contribute to campaigns or spend on ads in support of a candidate. The amount a PAC can receive from each of its donors and the amount it can spend on federal electioneering are strictly limited

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11
Q

527 organizations

A

A tax-exempt group formed primarily to influence elections through voter mobilization efforts and to issue ads that do not directly endorse or oppose a candidate. Unlike PACs, 527 organizations are not subject to contribution limits and spending caps

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12
Q

issue ownership

A

The theory that voters associate certain issues or positions with certain parties (like Democrats and support for government-provided health insurance)

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13
Q

caucus (democrats)

A

The organization of Democrats within the House and Senate that meet to discuss and debate the party’s positions on various issues in order to reach a consensus and to assign leadership positions

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14
Q

conference (Republicans)

A

The organization of Republicans within the House/Senate that meet to discuss and debate the party’s various views…

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15
Q

Party ID

A

A citizen’s loyalty to a specific political party

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16
Q

primary election

A

A ballot vote in which citizens select a party’s nominee for the general election

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17
Q

caucus (electoral)

A

A local meeting in which party members select a party’s nominee for the general election

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18
Q

party platfrom

A

A set of objectives outlining the party’s issue positions and priorities. Candidates are not required to support their party’s platform

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19
Q

unified government

A

A situation in which one party holds a majority of the seats in congress and president

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20
Q

divided government

A

when the house, senate and pres are not controlled by the same party

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21
Q

Duverger’s Law

A

The priniciple that in a democracy with single-member districts and plurality voting, only two parties’ candidates will have a realistic chance of winning political office

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22
Q

Single member district

A

An electoral system in which every elected official rprersents a geographically defined area and each area elects one rep

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23
Q

plurality voting

A

A voting system in whcih the candidate who receives the most votes wins, regardless if not more than half

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24
Q

open primary

A

A primary election where any registered voter can participate

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25
Q

semi-closed

A

Any registered member of the party or independent register can vote

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26
Q

closed primary

A

only registered members of the party can vote

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27
Q

general election

A

The election in which voters cast ballots for House members, senators, and president/vp

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28
Q

majority voting

A

A voting system where you need at least 50%, if no candidate wins then there’s a run off between the top 2

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29
Q

runoff election

A

Under a majority voting system, second election only held if no candidate wins the majority

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30
Q

proportional allocation

A

The practice of determining the number of convention delegates allottted to each candidate based on the percentage of the popular vote

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31
Q

winner-take-all

A

During the presidential primaries, the practice of assigning all of a given state’s delegates to the candidate who receives the most popular vote–some republican primaries use this system

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32
Q

electoral college

A

the body that votes to select America’s president and VP based on popular vote in each state. Each candidate nominates a slate of electors who are selects to attend the meeting of the college if their candidate wins the most votes in a state or district

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33
Q

electoral votes

A

votes cast by members of the electoral college

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34
Q

GOTV (“get out the vote”)

A

A campaign’s effotst to make sure its supports vote on election day

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35
Q

Federal Election Committee

A

The government agency that enforces and regulates election laws, made up of six presidential appointees, of whom no more than 3 can be of the same party

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36
Q

hard money

A

donations that are used to help elect or defeat a specific candidate

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37
Q

soft money

A

contributions that can be used for voter mobilization or to promote policy proposal as long as these efforts are not tied to a candidate

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38
Q

issue voters

A

people who are well informed about their own policy preferences and knowledgable about the candidates and who use all of this information when they decide how to vote

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39
Q

voting cues

A

pieces of info about a candidate that are readily available, easy to interpret, and lead a citizen to decide to vote for a particular candidate

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40
Q

coattails

A

the ability of a popular president to generate additional support for candidates affiliated with their party. Weak or nonexistent in most American elections

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41
Q

Interest groups

A

An organization of people who share common political interest and aim to influence public policy by electioneering and lobbying, testifying in hearings and drafting legislation

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42
Q

lobbying

A

efforts to influence public policy through contact with public officials on behalf of an interest group

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43
Q

pluralism

A

a view that identifies interest groups as the most important American political actors

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44
Q

interest group states

A

a government in which most policy decisions are determined by the influence of interest groups

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45
Q

Interest groups are proliferating because..

A

Large size and widespread influence of government

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46
Q

centralized groups

A

Interest groups that have an HQ. These group’ lobbying decisions are made at the HQ by group leaders (AARP, NRA)

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47
Q

confederations

A

Interest groups made up of several independent organizations that provide much of their funding and hold most of the power

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48
Q

Invisible grassroots movement

A

Hold meetings or public protests, endorse candidates, run a wbesite with one or two people. The.y all lack formal dues-paying members and a formal organizational structure

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49
Q

revolving door

A

the movement of individuals from government positions to nobs with interest groups or lobbying firms, vice versa

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50
Q

mass associations

A

Interest groups that have a large number of dues-paying individuals

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51
Q

peak associations

A

interest groups whose members are businesses or other organizations rather than individuals, like BIPAC

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52
Q

collective action problem

A

A situation in which the members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individuals is better off refusing to cooperate and reaping benefits from those who do the work

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53
Q

free riding

A

relying on others to contribure while failing to participate, yet still benefitting

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54
Q

selective incentives

A

benefits that can motivate participation because they are available only to those who participate

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55
Q

solidary benefits

A

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working with like-minded people, even if the group’s efforts do not achieve the desired impact.

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56
Q

purposive benefits

A

Satisfaction derived from the experience of working toward a desired policy goal, even if the goal is not achieved.

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57
Q

coercion

A

A method of eliminating nonparticipation or free riding by potential group members by requiring participation, as in many labor unions.

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58
Q

material benefits

A

Benefits that are provided to individuals for joining a group, such as a coffee mug or a T-shirt, that are distinct from the collective benefits provided by the group.

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59
Q

inside strategies

A

the tactics employed within DC by interest groups seeking to achieve their policy goals

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60
Q

outside strategies

A

the tactics employed outside DC by interest groups seeking to achieve their political goals

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61
Q

direct lobbying

A

attempts by interest group staff to influence policy by speaking with elected officials or burreaucrats

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62
Q

grassroots lobbying

A

a lobbying strategy that relies on participation by group members

63
Q

astroturf lobbying

A

Any lobbying method initiated by an interest group that is designed to look like the spontaneous, independent participation of many individuals

64
Q

salience

A

the level of familiarity with an interest group’s goals in the general population. Interest groups are more likely to success when their request has low salience, or attracts little public attention

65
Q

bicameralism

A

the system of having two chambers within one legislative body, like the House and Senate in the US Congress

66
Q

pork barrel

A

legislative appropriations that benefit constituents, created with the aim of helping local representatives win reelection.

67
Q

descriptive representation

A

representation in which a member of Congress shares the characteristics (such as gender, race, religion, or ethnicity) of his or her constituents

68
Q

substantive representation

A

representation in which a member of Congress serves constituents’ interests and shares their policy concerns

69
Q

trustee

A

one of the two models of substantive representation; a member of congress who represents consituents while sometimes voting against the majority over moral concerns

70
Q

delegate

A

a congressperson who loyally represents constituents direct interests

71
Q

politico

A

a congerssperson who acts as a delegate on issues that constituents care about and a a trustee on more complex issues

72
Q

electoral connection

A

the idea that congressional behavior is centrally motivated by members’ desire for reelection

73
Q

casework

A

Assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents in solving problems with the federal bureaucracy or addrerssing other specific concerns

74
Q

incumbency advantage

A

The relative infrequency with which members of Congress are defeated in their attempts for reelection.

75
Q

The Home Style

A

shapes the way members allocate resources, the way they present themselves to the district

76
Q

redistricting

A

Re-drawing the geographic boundaries of legislative districts. This happens every 10 years to ensure that districts remain roughly equal in population.

77
Q

apportionment

A

The process of assigning the 435 seats in the House to the states based on increases or decreases in state population

78
Q

gerrymandering

A

Attempting to use the process of re-drawing district boundaries to benefit a political party, protect incumbents, or change the proportion of minority voters in a district.

79
Q

gridlock

A

an inability to enact legislation because of partisan conflict within Congress or between congress and the pres

80
Q

universalism

A

the norm that when benefits are divided up, they should be awarded to as many districts and states as possible

81
Q

logrolling

A

A form of reciprocity in which members of Congress support bills that they otherwise might not vote for in exchange for other members’ votes on bills that are very important to them.

82
Q

earmarks

A

Federally funded local projects attached to bills passed through Congress.

83
Q

specialization

A

dedicating career to becoming an expert on a certain issue (John Lewis, civil rights)

84
Q

seniority

A

the informal congressional norm of choosing the member who has served the longest on a particular committee to be the committee chair

85
Q

majority leaderr

A

the elected head of the party holding the majority of seats in Senate

86
Q

whip system

A

an organization of house leaders who work to disseminate information and promote party unity in voting on legislation. the whip takes a head count party members on votes and communicate to leaders

87
Q

minority leader

A

the elected head of the party

88
Q

president pro tempore

A

A largely symbolic position usually held by the most senior member of the majority party in the Se. Formal duties if pres and vp aren’t there

89
Q

roll call votes

A

A recorded vote on legislation; members may vote yes, no, abstain, or present.

90
Q

party vote

A

A vote in which the majority of one party opposes the position of the majority of the other party.

91
Q

party unity

A

party unity

The extent to which members of Congress in the same party vote together on party votes.

92
Q

standing committee

A

committees that are a permanent part of the House or Senate structure, holding more importance and authority than other committees

93
Q

select committees

A

committees in the House or Senate created to address a specific issue for one or two terms, serve to collect info, draw attention

94
Q

joint committees

A

committees that contain members of both House and Senate, but have limited authority, gathers info and provides estimates

95
Q

conference committees

A

Temporary committees created to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation that has passed through both chambers.

96
Q

distributive theory

A

The idea that members of Congress will join committees that best serve the interests of their district and that committee members will support one another’s legislation.

97
Q

informational theory

A

The idea that having committees in Congress made up of experts on specific policy areas helps ensure well-informed policy decisions

98
Q

How a bill becomes a law

A

A member of Congress introduces the bill.

  1. A subcommittee and committee craft the bill.
  2. Floor action on the bill takes place in the first chamber (House or Senate).
  3. Committee and floor action takes place in the second chamber.
  4. conference committee works up disputes
  5. conference committee version is given final approval on the floor of each chamber
  6. pres signs or vetos
  7. if bill vetos, 2/3 vote in both chambers
99
Q

markup

A

One of the steps through which a bill becomes a law, in which the final wording of the bill is determined.

100
Q

veto

A

The president’s rejection of a bill that has been passed by Congress. A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.

101
Q

pocket veto

A

The automatic death of a bill passed by the House and Senate when the president fails to sign the bill in the last 10 days of a legislative session.

102
Q

omnibus legislation

A

Large bills that often cover several topics and may contain extraneous, or pork-barrel, projects.

103
Q

cloture

A

A procedure through which the Senate can limit the amount of time spent debating a bill (cutting off a filibuster) if a supermajority of 60 senators agree.

104
Q

filibusterr

A

A tactic used by senators to block a bill by continuing to hold the floor and speak—under the Senate rule of unlimited debate—until the bill’s supporters back down.

105
Q

hold

A

An objection to considering a measure on the Senate floor.

106
Q

reconciliation

A

Reconciliation allows for expedited consideration of certain tax, spending, and debt limit legislation. The main advantage of the procedure is that reconciliation legislation is not subject to filibusters in the Senate, and therefore may be passed with simple majorities in the House and Senate.

107
Q

closed rules (House)

A

Conditions placed on a legislative debate by the House Rules Committee prohibiting amendments to a bill.

108
Q

open rules

A

Conditions placed on a legislative debate by the House Rules Committee allowing relevant amendments to a bill.

109
Q

modified rules

A

Conditions placed on a legislative debate by the House Rules Committee allowing certain amendments to a bill while barring others.

110
Q

What did the 17th amendment do?

A

allow for direct election of senators

111
Q

oversight

A

congress overseeing the implementation of the law to make suer that burreaucracy interprets it as Congress intended

112
Q

power of the purse

A

cut off funding to an agnecy

113
Q

fire alarm oversight

A

members wait until there is a crisis before action

114
Q

head of government

A

the president has the authority of the executive branch

115
Q

head of state

A

the president represents the country symbolically and politically

116
Q

recess appointment

A

Selection by the president of a person to be an ambassador or the head of
a department while the Senate is
not in session, thereby bypassing Senate approval. Unless approved
by a subsequent Senate vote, recess appointees serve only to the end of the congressional term.

117
Q

executive orders

A

Proclamations made by the president that change government policy without congressional approval.

118
Q

commander in chief

A

The Constitution makes the president the commander in chief of America’s military forces but gives Congress the power to declare war.

119
Q

executive agreement

A

An agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government, which acts as a treaty but does not require Senate approval.

120
Q

state of the union

A

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and to recommend policies.

121
Q

executive privilege

A

The right of the president to keep executive branch conversations and correspondence confidential from the legislative and judicial branches.

122
Q

cabinet

A

15 executive department heads who implement the president’s agenda in their respective positions

123
Q

unilateral action (presidential)

A

Any policy decision made and

acted upon by the president and presidential staff without the explicit approval or consent of Congress

124
Q

unitary executive theory

A

The idea that the vesting clause of the Constitution gives the president the authority to issue orders and policy directives that cannot be undone by Congress.

125
Q

going public

A

a president’s use of speeches and other public communications to appeal directly to citizens about what issues the president would like the house and senate to act on

126
Q

bureaucracy

A

the vast network of agencies that makes up the executive branch

127
Q

civil servants

A

employees within the government

128
Q

regulation

A

a rule that allows the government to exercise control over individuals and corporations by restricting certain behaviors, written by bureaucrats

129
Q

notice-and-comment procedure

A

A step in the rule-making process in which proposed rules are published in the Federal Register and made available for debate by the general public.

130
Q

state capacity

A

the knowledge, personnel and institutions needed to implement effectively policies

131
Q

problem of control

A

in ensuring that when bureaucrats implement policies they follow these officials’ intentions but still have enough discretion to use their expertise.

132
Q

regulatory capture

A

A situation in which bureaucrats favor the interests of the groups or corporations they are supposed to regulate at the expense of the general public.

133
Q

red tape

A

Excessive or unnecessarily complex regulations imposed by the bureaucracy, why gov stuff takes so long

134
Q

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

A

Rules that lower-level bureaucrats must follow when implementing policies.

135
Q

Office of Management and Budget

A

An office within the EOP that
is responsible for creating the president’s annual budget proposal to Congress, reviewing proposed rules, and performing other budget-related tasks.

136
Q

independent agencies

A

government offices or orgs that provide gov services and are not a part of an executive department

137
Q

budget maximizers

A

Bureaucrats who seek to increase funding for their agency whether or not that additional spending is worthwhile, blamed for growth in government

138
Q

turkey farms

A

Agencies to which campaign workers and donors can be appointed in reward for their service because
it is unlikely that their lack of qualifications will lead to bad policy.

139
Q

police patrol oversight

A

A method of oversight in which members of Congress constantly monitor the bureaucracy to make sure that laws are implemented correctly.

140
Q

fire alarm oversight

A

A method of oversight in which members of Congress respond to complaints about the bureaucracy or problems of implementation only as they arise rather than exercising constant vigilance.

141
Q

original jurisdiction

A

The authority of a court to handle a case first, as in the Supreme Court’s authority to initially hear disputes between two states. However, original jurisdiction for the Supreme Court is not exclusive; it may assign such a case to a lower court.

142
Q

Marbury v Madison

A

John Marshall was appointed chief justice 1801, Marbury v Madison (1803) gave the SCOTUS judicial review

143
Q

judicial review

A

The Supreme Court’s power to strike down a law or an executive branch action that it finds unconstitutional.

144
Q

plaintiff

A

brings the case

145
Q

defendant

A

the person or party who is being charged/sued with a crime

146
Q

class-action lawsuits

A

a case brought by a group of individuals on behalf of themselves and others in the general public who are in similar circumstances

147
Q

standing

A

Legitimate justification for bringing a civil case to court.

148
Q

senatorial courtesy

A

A norm in the nomination of district court judges in which the president consults with his or her party’s senators from the relevant state in choosing the nominee.

149
Q

moootness

A

The irrelevance of a case by the time it is received by a federal court, causing the Supreme Court to decline to hear the case.

150
Q

solicitor general

A

A presidential appointee in the Justice Department who conducts all litigation on behalf of the federal government before the Supreme Court and supervises litigation in the federal appellate courts.

151
Q

attitudinalist approach

A

A way of understanding decisions of the Supreme Court based on the political ideologies of the justices.

152
Q

judicial restraint

A

The idea that the Supreme Court should defer to the democratically elected executive and legislative branches of government rather than contradicting existing laws.

153
Q

judicial activism

A

The idea that the Supreme Court should assert its interpretation of the law even if it overrules the elected executive and legislative branches of government.

Introduction to American Politics (3 decks)

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