Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
126 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Elite Theory
|
In political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state's democratic elections process.
|
|
|
Electoral College
|
constitutional mechanism by which Presidents are chosen |
|
|
Due Process Clause
|
Serves as a safeguard from arbitrary denial of life liberty & Property by outside sanction of law
|
|
|
Distributive Taxation
|
taxation policies intended to promote the interests of all classes equally |
|
|
Discretional spending
|
forms of federal government spending that congress can modify or eliminate in any given year including education, environment , military spending
|
|
|
Dealignment
|
a decline in voter attachment to parties & in clarity of party coalitions |
|
|
Cold War
|
The Cold War was a state of political and military tension after World War II between powers in the Western Bloc and powers in the Eastern Bloc nearly 1/2 century waged through espionage financial warfare, and arms build up |
|
|
Coat tail effects
|
potential benefit that successful presidential candidates over to Congressional candidates of the same party
|
|
|
Closed Primary
|
an election that requires voters to declare their party affiliation in advance
|
|
|
Civil Service reform 1978
|
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, reformed the civil service of the United States federal government,The Act abolished the U.S. Civil Service Commission and distributed its functions primarily among three new agencies: the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).
|
|
|
Civil Rights Act 1968
|
The Civil Rights Act of 1968, is a landmark part of legislation in the United States that provided for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or national origin and made it a federal crime to “by force or by threat of force, injure, intimidate, or interfere with anyone … by reason of their race, color, religion, or national origin.”
|
|
|
Civil Rights Act 1964
|
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public.
|
|
|
Citizens United Vs Federal Electoral Comittee 2010 |
constitutional law case dealing with the regulation of campaign spending by organizations. The United States Supreme Court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by a nonprofit corporation. The principles articulated by the Supreme Court in `extended to for-profit corporations, labor unions and other associations.
|
|
|
Caucus
|
a method of choosing party members attend local meetings at which they choose delegates committed to a particular candidate |
|
|
Categorical Grant
|
grants, issued by the United States Congress, which may be spent only for narrowly defined purposes. Categorical grants are the main source of federal aid to state and local government, can be used only for specific purposes and for helping education or categories of state and local spending.
|
|
|
Cabinet departments
|
Those federal agencies that qualify as major administrative organizations of the executive branch
|
|
|
Bureaucratic drift
|
the tendency for bureaucratic agencies to create policy that deviates from the original mandate. The difference between a bureaucracy's enactment of a law and the legislature's intent is called bureaucratic drift.
|
|
|
Bureacracy
|
A bureaucracy is "a body of non-elective government officials" and/or "an administrative policy-making group". Historically, bureaucracy was government administration managed by departments staffed with nonelected officials. Today, bureaucracy is the administrative system governing any large institution.
|
|
|
Budget Surplus
|
the amount by which governments revenue exceeds its spending in a given fiscal year |
|
|
Budget Deficet
|
The amount of money spent by the U.S. government beyond which it collects in taxes and other revenue in a single year |
|
|
Buckley Vs Valeo 1976
|
ruling that spending money to influence elections is protected 1st amendment speech and prohibited limitations on independent expenditure or personal money spent |
|
|
Elite Theory
|
The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state's democratic elections process.
|
|
|
Brown Vs The Board of education
|
Handed down on May 17, 1954, the Warren Court's unanimous decision stated that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." As a result, racial segregation was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. This ruling paved the way for integration
|
|
|
Block Grants
|
a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent, in contrast to a categorical grant, which has stricter and specific provisions on the way it is to be spent.
|
|
|
Black Codes / Jim Crow Laws
|
laws used by southern states that required segregation of blacks and whites |
|
|
Battle ground states
|
states identified as offering either majority party candidate a chance for victory in the electoral college
|
|
|
Australian ballot
|
an official ballot printed at public expense on which the names of all the candidates and proposals appear and which is distributed only at the polling place and marked in secret
|
|
|
Americans with disabilities act
|
became law in 1990. The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public.
|
|
|
Alexis De Tocqueville
|
French political thinker best known for "Democracy in America" |
|
|
Affirmative action
|
programs laws or practices designed to remedy past discriminatory hiring practices in Govt contracting & school admission |
|
|
Administrative Law
|
a law that relates to the authority of administrative agencies promulgated by those agencies |
|
|
Administrative Discretion
|
The Freedom of agencies to decide how to implement a vague or ambiguous law passed by congress |
|
|
Equal protection laws.
|
The Equal Protection Clause is part of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The clause, which took effect in 1868, provides that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction "the equal protection of the laws".
|
|
|
Expansionism
|
Doctrine that favors a country expanding its own territory and influence
|
|
|
Federal Election Commission
|
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States
|
|
|
Federal Register
|
The Journal that publishes regulations that implement federal programs |
|
|
Federal Reserve System
|
is the central banking system of the United States. It was created on December 23, 1913, with the enactment of the Federal Reserve Act, largely in response to a series of financial panics, particularly a severe panic in 1907
|
|
|
Federal Reserve board
|
The governing body of the Federal Reserve System. The seven members of the board of governors are appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Read more: Federal Reserve Board (FRB) Definition
|
|
|
Field poll/ Straw poll
|
A straw poll or straw vote is an ad-hoc or unofficial vote. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups. In meetings subject to rules of order, impromptu straw polls often are taken to see if there is enough support for an idea to devote more meeting time to it
|
|
|
fifth party era 1932-1964
|
The Fifth Party System refers to the era of American national politics that began with the New Deal in 1932 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
|
|
|
First Party Era 1789-1824
|
the political party system existing in the United States between roughly 1792 and 1824.[1] It featured two national parties competing for control of the presidency, Congress, and the states: the Federalist Party, created largely by Alexander Hamilton, and the rival Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party formed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
|
|
|
Fiscal Policy
|
Decisions by the federal Government that relate to raising revenue through taxation and spending the revenue that is generated |
|
|
Flat Taxation
|
a tax policy that draws money from all entities at the same proportion to there income
|
|
|
Fourth Party Era
|
is the term used in political science and history for the period in American political history from about 1896 to 1932 that was dominated by the Republican Party, excepting the 1912 split in which Democrats held the White House for eight years. American history texts usually call it the Progressive Era.
|
|
|
focus group
|
a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept
|
|
|
frontloading
|
the recent trend of states moving their primaries and caucuses to earlier in the year to attract greater attention from the candidates and media |
|
|
General election
|
A general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen |
|
|
Government Corporations
|
units in the federal bureaucracy set up to run like private companies that depend on revenue from citizens to provide their services
|
|
|
Grassroots lobying
|
is lobbying with the intention of reaching the legislature and making a difference in the decision-making process.
|
|
|
Griswald v Connecticut
|
Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution protected a right to privacy. The case involved a Connecticut "Comstock law" that prohibited any person from using "any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception
|
|
|
gross domestic product
|
an estimate of the total money value of al the goods and services produced in the United States
|
|
|
Hard Money
|
Donations made directly to political candidates and their campaigns that must be declared with the name of the doner
|
|
|
incumbent
|
the holder of an office or post
|
|
|
independent agencies
|
a department that focuses on a narrower set of issues than do higher status cabinet departments |
|
|
Independent campaign expedentures
|
political donations to pac's or individuals spend to support campaigns but do not directly contribute to campaigns
|
|
|
inflation
|
the overall upward price movement of goods and services in an economy normally measured by the consumer price index
|
|
|
inside lobbying
|
Appealing directly to lawmakers and legislative staff either in meetings, by providing research and information, or by testifying at committee hearings
|
|
|
interest groups
|
an organization of people with shared goals that tries to influence public policy through a variety of activities
|
|
|
Intermediate Scrutiny
|
in U.S. constitutional law, is the second level of deciding issues using judicial review. The other levels are typically referred to as rational basis review (least rigorous) and strict scrutiny (most rigorous).
|
|
|
Internationalism
|
Doctrine that favors active participation of the nation in collective arrangements that secure the political independence and territorial boundaries of other contries
|
|
|
invisible primary
|
The period between when a candidate announces their bid for public office and when the actual primaries take place
|
|
|
Iron Triangle
|
In United States politics, the iron triangle comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.
|
|
|
Isolationism
|
foreign policy doctrine that opposes intervention in distant wars and involvement in permanent military alliances
|
|
|
Laissez-faire Economics
|
policy of minimum governmental interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society.
|
|
|
Lemon Vs Kurtzman / Lemon Tset
|
Lemon test refers to the process of determining as to when a law has the effect of establishing religion Lemon v. Kurtzman 1973 |
|
|
Lobbyists
|
a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators:
|
|
|
Manifest destiny
|
In the 19th century, Manifest Destiny was a widely held belief in the United States that American settlers were destined to expand throughout the continent
|
|
|
Material benefits
|
tangible rewards that people gain through membership of an interest group
|
|
|
Merit system
|
1.a system of appointing and promoting civil servants on the basis of their ability rather than their political connections
|
|
|
Miller Test/ Miller V California 1973
|
(also called the Three Prong Obscenity Test) is the United States Supreme Court's test for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled obscene, in which case it is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and can be prohibited
|
|
|
Monetary Policy
|
Regulation of the money supply and interest rates by a central bank such as the federal reserve board in order to control inflation and stabilize the currancy |
|
|
Monroe Doctrine
|
U.S, foreign policy that proclaimed north and south America unavailable for future colonization by any European power and that any such colonization would be viewed as an act of war
|
|
|
Motor voter law
|
the federal law mandating that when an individual applies or renews a state drivers license the state must also provide the individual with voter registration materials |
|
|
Multi party system
|
A multi-party system is a system in which multiple political parties across the political spectrum run for national election |
|
|
Notice-and-comment procedures
|
Notice-and-comment rulemaking is a common rulemaking procedure under which a proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and is open to comment by the general public.
|
|
|
National Debt
|
total sum of the federal governments outstanding debt obligations |
|
|
neutral competence
|
one type of organization that is formed for government and based on skills of bureaucracy but it does not get involved in politics.
|
|
|
New World Order
|
President George H.W. Bush's description of the post cold war world in which nations would work together for the purpose of securing a collective peace
|
|
|
New York Times V. sullivan
|
case that established the actual malice standard, which has to be met before press reports about public officials can be considered to be defamation
|
|
|
New York times v United states
|
was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court on the First Amendment. The ruling made it possible for the New York Times and Washington Post newspapers to publish the then-classified Pentagon Papers without risk of government censorship or punishment.
|
|
|
Non discretionary spending
|
In the United States, discretionary spending refers to spending set on a yearly basis by decision of Congress
|
|
|
Normal Vote
|
the percentage of voters that can be expected with reasonable certainty to cast a vote for each of the two major political parties
|
|
|
Open Primary
|
an election that allows voters to choose on the day of the primary election the party in which they to vote
|
|
|
outliers
|
the amount of money a government agency will actually spend during the fiscal year
|
|
|
Pacifism
|
Doctrine of foreign relations that refuses to sanction any military conflict and opposes all war making
|
|
|
Party in Government
|
A party in government consists of all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a party
|
|
|
Party in the electorate
|
people who vote for the candidates from one given party.
|
|
|
Party in the organization
|
the workers and activists who make up the party's formal organizations structure |
|
|
Plessy v ferguson
|
Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of "separate but equal".
|
|
|
Pluralism
|
The theory that the public policy largely results from a variety of interest groups competing with one another to promote laws the benefit members of their respective groups |
|
|
preemptive doctrine
|
Doctrine of war making that reserves the right of the U.S. military to use advance strikes to stop rogue states from developing weapons of mass destruction |
|
|
primary election
|
A primary election is an election that narrows the field of candidates before an election for office. Primary elections are one means by which a political party or a political alliance nominates candidates for an upcoming general election or by-election.
|
|
|
procedural due process
|
Principle required by the Constitution that when the state or federal government acts in such a way that denies a citizen of a life, liberty, or property interest, the person must first be given notice and the opportunity to be heard.
|
|
|
progressive taxation
|
is a tax in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases.
|
|
|
proportional voting
|
a system of electing a national legislature in which the percentage of the vote that a party receives is reflected In the number of seats that the party occupies |
|
|
purposive benefits
|
rewards that do not directly benefit the individual member but benefit society as a whole |
|
|
push polling
|
an ostensible opinion poll in which the true objective is to sway voters using loaded or manipulative questions.
|
|
|
rational basis review
|
Rational basis is the most lenient form of judicial review, as both strict scrutiny and intermediate scrutiny are considered more stringent. Rational basis review is generally used when in cases where no fundamental rights or suspect classifications are at issue.
|
|
|
realignment
|
describing a dramatic change in the political system
|
|
|
recession
|
an economic slowdown characterized by high unemployment reduced productivity or other negative economic factors |
|
|
redistributive taxation
|
taxation policies that aim to provide a social safety net to meet the minimum physical needs' of the students |
|
|
regressive taxation
|
a tax that charges individuals the same regardless of income |
|
|
roe v wade
|
Court on the issue of abortion, that a right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment extended to a woman's decision to have an abortion
|
|
|
schneck v united states 1919
|
States Supreme Court decision concerning enforcement of the Espionage Act of 1917 during World War I.
|
|
|
Second Party Era 1828-1856
|
periodization to designate the political party system operating in the United States from about 1828 to 1854, after the First Party System ended
|
|
|
Sherbert test/ sherbert v warner
|
Sherbert test is a type of test adopted by the courts when determining on granting or denying of unemployment compensation on basis of religeon |
|
|
sixth party era 1968- present
|
System continues in some form to the present.
|
|
|
social capitol
|
the social connectedness of a community or the extent to which individuals are socially integrated into their community |
|
|
soft money
|
money not donated directly to a candidates campaign but rather to a political advocacy group or political party for party building activities |
|
|
Solidarity benefits
|
satisfaction that individuals receive from interacting with like minded individuals
|
|
|
split ticket voting
|
a split ticket refers to an election in which the voter has chosen candidates from different political parties when multiple offices are being decided by a single election
|
|
|
Spoils system
|
the post selection practice of rewarding loyal supporters of the winning candidates and party with appointive offices
|
|
|
straight ticket voting
|
Straight-ticket voting or straight-party voting is the practice of voting for every candidate that a political party has on a general election ballot.
|
|
|
strict scrutiny
|
a legal standard set in Brown v Board of education for cases related to racial discrimination that tends to invalidate almost all state laws that segregate racial groups |
|
|
substantive due process
|
principle which allows federal courts to protect certain rights deemed fundamental from government interference under the authority of the due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution
|
|
|
supply side economics
|
Supply-side economics is a macroeconomic theory which argues that economic growth can be most effectively created by investing in capital, and by lowering barriers on the production of goods and services.
|
|
|
Third parties
|
The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties
|
|
|
Third Party Era 1860-1892
|
a period in the history of political parties in the United States from 1854 until the mid-1890s that featured profound developments in issues of American nationalism, modernization, and race.
|
|
|
Title IX 1972
|
the section of the federal educational amendments law of 1972 that prohibits the exclusion of women from any educational activity or educational program receiving financial assistance from federal government |
|
|
tracking poll
|
an opinion poll in which the same people are asked questions periodically to give an indication of changes in opinion
|
|
|
unit rule
|
the system in 48 states by which the candidate who wins the most votes among popular votes cast for president in a state receives all electoral votes from that state also known as winner take all system |
|
|
united states v carolene products co 1938
|
The case is best known for its famous "Footnote Four", in which the Court established the system of heightened scrutiny for laws targeting "discrete and insular minorities",
|
|
|
Voter turnout
|
The number of people who turn out to vote as a percentage of all those eligible to vote
|
|
|
Voting rights act of 1965
|
The federal law that invalidated literacy tests and property requirements and required select states and cities to apply for permission to the justice department to change their voting laws as consequence millions of African Americans were effectively re enfranchised in the south |
|
|
War Powers resolution
|
federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress. The Resolution was adopted in the form of a United States Congress joint resolution.
|
|
|
welfare state
|
social system in which state assumes a considerable degree of responsibility for citizens in matters of healthcare employment education and retirement income
|
