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145 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Common goods |
Goods that all people may use but that are of limited supply |
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Democracy |
A form of government where political power rests in the hands of the people |
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Direct democracy |
A form of government where people participate directly in making government decisions instead of choosing representatives to do this for them |
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Elite theory |
claims political power rests in the hands of a small, elite group of people |
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Government |
the means by which a society organizes itself and allocates authority in order to accomplishcollective goals
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Ideology |
the beliefs and ideals that help to shape political opinion and eventually policy |
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Intense prefrences |
beliefs and preferences based on strong feelings regarding an issue that someoneadheres to over time |
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latent preferences |
beliefs and preferences people are not deeply committed to and that change over time |
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majority rule |
a fundamental principle of democracy; the majority should have the power to makedecisions binding upon the whole |
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minority rights |
protections for those who are not part of the majority |
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monarchy |
a form of government where one ruler, usually a hereditary one, holds political power |
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oligarchy |
a form of government where a handful of elite society members hold political power |
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partisanship |
strong support, or even blind allegiance, for a particular political party |
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pluralist theory |
claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people |
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political power |
influence over a government’s institutions, leadership, or policies |
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politics |
the process by which we decide how resources will be allocated and which policies governmentwill pursue |
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private goods |
goods provided by private businesses that can be used only by those who pay for them |
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public goods |
goods provided by government that anyone can use and that are available to all withoutcharge |
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representative democracy |
a form of government where voters elect representatives to make decisionsand pass laws on behalf of all the people instead of allowing people to vote directly on laws |
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social capital |
connections with others and the willingness to interact and aid them |
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toll good |
a good that is available to many people but is used only by those who can pay the price to doso |
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totalitarianism |
a form of government where government is all-powerful and citizens have no rights |
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Anti-Federalists |
those who did not support ratification of the Constitution |
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Articles of Confederation |
the first basis for the new nation’s government; adopted in 1781; created analliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government |
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bicameral legislature |
a legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress |
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Bill of Rights |
the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; most were designed to protectfundamental rights and liberties |
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checks and balances |
a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power byanother branch; requires the different parts of government to work together |
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confederation |
a highly decentralized form of government; sovereign states form a union for purposessuch as mutual defense |
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Declaration of Independence |
a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimedtheir independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British king |
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enumerated powers |
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I,Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coinmoney, and conduct foreign affairs |
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federal system |
a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and anational government |
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Federalists |
those who supported ratification of the Constitution |
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Great Compromise |
a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a twohouseCongress; representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equalrepresentation of states in the Senate |
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natural rights |
the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government maytake away |
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New Jersey Plan |
a plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote |
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republic |
a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch,and is exercised by elected representatives |
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reserved powers |
any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the nationalgovernment; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government |
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separation of powers |
the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government |
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social contract |
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governedso long as the government protects their natural rights |
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supremacy clause |
the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to lawspassed by state legislatures |
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The Federalist Papers |
a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison,and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution |
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Three-Fifths Compromise |
a compromise between northern and southern states that called for countingof all a state’s free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation andrepresentation in Congress |
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unicameral legislature |
a legislature with only one house, like the Confederation Congress or thelegislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan |
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veto |
the power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress |
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Virginia Plan |
a plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower housebased on each state’s population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lowerhouse |
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bill of attainder |
a legislative action declaring someone guilty without a trial; prohibited under theConstitution |
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block grant |
a type of grant that comes with less stringent federal administrative conditions and providerecipients more latitude over how to spend grant funds |
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categorical grant |
a federal transfer formulated to limit recipients’ discretion in the use of funds andsubject them to strict administrative criteria |
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concurrent powers |
shared state and federal powers that range from taxing, borrowing, and making andenforcing laws to establishing court systems |
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cooperative federalism |
a style of federalism in which both levels of government coordinate their actionsto solve national problems, leading to the blending of layers as in a marble cake |
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creeping categorization |
a process in which the national government attaches new administrativerequirements to block grants or supplants them with new categorical grants |
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devolution |
a process in which powers from the central government in a unitary system are delegated tosubnational units |
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dual federalism |
a style of federalism in which the states and national government exercise exclusiveauthority in distinctly delineated spheres of jurisdiction, creating a layer-cake view of federalism |
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elastic clause |
the last clause of Article I, Section 8, which enables the national government “to make allLaws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying” out all its constitutional responsibilities |
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ex post facto law |
a law that criminalizes an act retroactively; prohibited under the Constitution |
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federalism |
an institutional arrangement that creates two relatively autonomous levels of government,each possessing the capacity to act directly on the people with authority granted by the nationalconstitution |
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full faith and credit clause |
found in Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, this clause requires statesto accept court decisions, public acts, and contracts of other states; also referred to as the comity provision |
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general revenue sharing |
a type of federal grant that places minimal restrictions on how state and localgovernments spend the money |
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immigration federalism |
the gradual movement of states into the immigration policy domaintraditionally handled by the federal government |
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new federalism |
a style of federalism premised on the idea that the decentralization of policies enhancesadministrative efficiency, reduces overall public spending, and improves outcomes |
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nullification |
a doctrine promoted by John Calhoun of South Carolina in the 1830s, asserting that if astate deems a federal law unconstitutional, it can nullify it within its borders |
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privileges and immunities clause |
found in Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, this clause prohibitsstates from discriminating against out-of-staters by denying such guarantees as access to courts, legalprotection, and property and travel rights |
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race-to-the-bottom |
a dynamic in which states compete to attract business by lowering taxes andregulations, often to workers’ detriment |
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unfunded mandates |
federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and localgovernments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation |
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unitary system |
a centralized system of government in which the subnational government is dependenton the central government, where substantial authority is concentrated |
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venue shopping |
a strategy in which interest groups select the level and branch of government theycalculate will be most receptive to their policy goals |
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writ of habeas corpus |
a petition that enables someone in custody to petition a judge to determinewhether that person’s detention is legal |
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blue law |
a law originally created to uphold a religious or moral standard, such as a prohibition againstselling alcohol on Sundays |
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civil liberties |
limitations on the power of government, designed to ensure personal freedoms |
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civil rights |
guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities |
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common-law right |
a right of the people rooted in legal tradition and past court rulings, rather than theConstitution |
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conscientious objector |
a person who claims the right to refuse to perform military service on thegrounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion |
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double jeopardy |
a prosecution pursued twice at the same level of government for the same criminalaction |
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due process clause |
provisions of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that limit government power todeny people “life, liberty, or property” on an unfair basis |
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economic liberty |
the right of individuals to obtain, use, and trade things of value for their own benefit |
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eminent domain |
the power of government to take or use property for a public purpose aftercompensating its owner; also known as the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment |
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establishment clause |
the provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government fromendorsing a state-sponsored religion; interpreted as preventing government from favoring some religiousbeliefs over others or religion over non-religion |
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exclusionary rule |
a requirement, from Supreme Court case Mapp v. Ohio, that evidence obtained as aresult of an illegal search or seizure cannot be used to try someone for a crime |
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free exercise clause |
the provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from regulatingreligious beliefs and practices |
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Miranda warning |
a statement by law enforcement officers informing a person arrested or subject tointerrogation of his or her rights |
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obscenity |
acts or statements that are extremely offensive by contemporary standards |
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Patriot Act |
a law passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks that broadened federal powers tomonitor electronic communications; the full name is the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and StrengtheningAmerica by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act) |
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plea bargain |
an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor in which the defendant pleadsguilty to the charge(s) in question or perhaps to less serious charges, in exchange for more lenientpunishment than if convicted after a full trial |
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prior restraint |
a government action that stops someone from doing something before they are able to doit (e.g., forbidding someone to publish a book he or she plans to release) |
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probable cause |
legal standard for determining whether a search or seizure is constitutional or a crimehas been committed; a lower threshold than the standard of proof needed at a criminal trial |
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right to privacy |
the right to be free of government intrusion |
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search warrant |
a legal document, signed by a judge, allowing police to search and/or seize persons orproperty |
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selective incorporation |
the gradual process of making some guarantees of the Bill of Rights (so far)apply to state governments and the national government |
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self-incrimination |
an action or statement that admits guilt or responsibility for a crime |
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Sherbert test |
a standard for deciding whether a law violates the free exercise clause; a law will be struckdown unless there is a “compelling governmental interest” at stake and it accomplishes its goal by the“least restrictive means” possible |
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symbolic speech |
a form of expression that does not use writing or speech but nonetheless communicatesan idea (e.g., wearing an article of clothing to show solidarity with a group) |
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undue burden test |
a means of deciding whether a law that makes it harder for women to seek abortionsis constitutional |
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affirmative action
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the use of programs and policies designed to assist groups that have historically beensubject to discrimination
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American Indian Movement (AIM)
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the Native American civil rights group responsible for theoccupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1973
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black codes
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laws passed immediately after the Civil War that discriminated against freed slaves andother blacks and deprived them of their rights
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Brown v. Board of Education
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the 1954 Supreme Court ruling that struck down Plessy v. Ferguson anddeclared segregation and “separate but equal” to be unconstitutional in public education |
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Chicano
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a term adopted by some Mexican American civil rights activists to describe themselves andthose like them
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civil disobedience
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an action taken in violation of the letter of the law to demonstrate that the law isunjust
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comparable worth
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a doctrine calling for the same pay for workers whose jobs require the same level ofeducation, responsibility, training, or working conditions
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coverture
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a legal status of married women in which their separate legal identities were erased
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de facto segregation |
segregation that results from the private choices of individuals
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de jure segregation
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segregation that results from government discrimination
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direct action
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civil rights campaigns that directly confronted segregationist practices through publicdemonstrations
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disenfranchisement
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the revocation of someone’s right to vote
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equal protection clause
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a provision of the Fourteenth Amendment that requires the states to treat allresidents equally under the law |
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Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
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the proposed amendment to the Constitution that would haveprohibited all discrimination based on sex
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glass ceiling
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an invisible barrier caused by discrimination that prevents women from rising to thehighest levels of an organization—including corporations, governments, academic institutions, andreligious organizations
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grandfather clause
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the provision in some southern states that allowed illiterate whites to vote becausetheir ancestors had been able to vote before the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified
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hate crime
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harassment, bullying, or other criminal acts directed against someone because of bias againstthat person’s sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, ethnicity, or disability
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intermediate scrutiny
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the standard used by the courts to decide cases of discrimination based on genderand sex; burden of proof is on the government to demonstrate an important governmental interest is atstake in treating men differently from women
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Jim Crow laws
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state and local laws that promoted racial segregation and undermined black voting rightsin the south after Reconstruction
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literacy tests
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tests that required the prospective voter in some states to be able to read a passage of textand answer questions about it; often used as a way to disenfranchise racial or ethnic minorities
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Plessy v. Ferguson |
the 1896 Supreme Court ruling that allowed “separate but equal” racial segregationunder the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
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poll tax
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annual tax imposed by some states before a person was allowed to vote |
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rational basis test
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the standard used by the courts to decide most forms of discrimination; the burden ofproof is on those challenging the law or action to demonstrate there is no good reason for treating themdifferently from other citizens
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Reconstruction
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the period from 1865 to 1877 during which the governments of Confederate states werereorganized prior to being readmitted to the Union
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Stonewall Inn
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a bar in Greenwich Village, New York, where the modern Gay Pride movement beganafter rioters protested the police treatment of the LGBT community there
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strict scrutiny
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the standard used by the courts to decide cases of discrimination based on race, ethnicity,national origin, or religion; burden of proof is on the government to demonstrate a compellinggovernmental interest is at stake and no alternative means are available to accomplish its goals
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Title IX
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the section of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972 that prohibits discrimination in educationon the basis of sex
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Trail of Tears
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the name given to the forced migration of the Cherokees from Georgia to Oklahoma in1838–1839
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understanding tests
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tests requiring prospective voters in some states to be able to explain the meaning ofa passage of text or to answer questions related to citizenship; often used as a way to disenfranchise blackvoters
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white primary
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a primary election in which only whites are allowed to vote |
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amendatory veto
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a veto that allows a governor to send a bill back to the legislature with a messagerequesting a specific amendment
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charter
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a document that provides a framework and detailed account of local government responsibilitiesand areas of authority
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commission system
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an elected commission that serves as the governing body within a given county
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consecutive term limits
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caps allowing a member of the legislature to serve for only a specified period oftime in either the state house or senate and forcing a wait before the member can run again
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council-administrator system
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an elected council that appoints an administrator to oversee the operationof the county government
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council-elected executive system
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a county government in which voters elect both the members of thecouncil and the executive
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council-manager system
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a structure of government in which elected members of the city council appointa city manager to carry out administrative functions
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delegate legislator
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a legislator who represents the will of those who elected him or her to office and actsin their expressed interest, even when it goes against a personal belief about what is ultimately in theconstituency’s best interest
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Dillon’s Rule |
a legal principle that holds state power and actions above those of local governments anddeclares state governments to be sovereign relative to local governments
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expressed powers
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those powers specifically provided to the Congress and the president in the U.S.Constitution
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formal powers
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those powers a governor may exercise that are specifically outlined in the stateconstitution or state law
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home rule
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principle that provides local governments some degree of independence from the stategovernment, typically detailed in a charter
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implied powers
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those powers not specifically detailed in the U.S. Constitution but inferred as necessaryto achieve the objectives of the national government
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individualistic political culture
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a culture that views the government as a mechanism for addressingissues that matter to individual citizens and for pursuing individual goals
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lifetime ban
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a rule that members can serve only one time in the state legislature for the number of yearsallotted and may not run again
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line-item veto
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a state governor’s ability to strike out a line or individual portions of a bill while lettingthe remainder pass into law
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mayor-council system
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a structure of government in which both city council members and the mayor areelected by voters
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moralistic political culture
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a culture that views the government as a means to better society and promotethe general welfare
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pardon
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a governor’s action to absolve someone of blame for a crime and secure his or her release fromprison
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reduction veto
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a governor’s authority to reduce the amount budgeted in a piece of legislation
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term limits
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rules that restrict the length of time a member can serve in the state legislature
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traditionalistic political culture |
a culture that views the government as necessary to maintaining theexisting social order or the status quo
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trustee |
an officeholder who believes he or she was elected to exercise judgment and to know best byvirtue of having the time and expertise to study and understand an issue
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