American National Government Exam 1 Flashcards

Front 1

Block grants

Back 1

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent. (page 79)

Front 2

Categorical grants

Back 2

congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law. (page 74)

Front 3

Commerce clause

Back 3

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power 'to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States and with the Indian Tribes'; the Supreme Court interpreted this clause in favor of national power over the economy. (page 70)

Front 4

Concurrent powers

Back 4

authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes. (page 64)

Front 5

Cooperative federalism

Back 5

a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals. Also known as 'intergovernmental cooperation.' (page 76)

Front 6

Devolution

Back 6

a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments. (page 75)

Front 7

Dual federalism

Back 7

the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state government. (page 68)

Front 8

Expressed powers

Back 8

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II). (page 63)

Front 9

Federalism

Back 9

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central government and regional governments. (page 63)

Front 10

Federal system

Back 10

a system of government in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government, such as states. (page 63)

Front 11

Full faith and credit clause

Back 11

provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state. (page 65)

Front 12

General revenue sharing

Back 12

the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula. Revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments. (page 80)

Front 13

Grants-in-aid

Back 13

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government. (page 73)

Front 14

Home rule

Back 14

power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to allow that government to manage its own affairs. (page 66)

Front 15

Implied powers

Back 15

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers. (page 63)

Front 16

Necessary and proper clause

Back 16

provision from Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution providing Congress with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers. (page 63)

Front 17

New Federalism

Back 17

policy of Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants. (page 80)

Front 18

Police power

Back 18

power reserved to the government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens. (page 64)

Front 19

Preemption

Back 19

the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack. (page 77)

Front 20

Privileges and immunities clause

Back 20

provision, from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special treatment. (page 64)

Front 21

Reserved powers

Back 21

powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states. (page 64)

Front 22

States' rights

Back 22

the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War. (page 72)

Front 23

Unfunded mandates

Back 23

regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government. (page 78)

Front 24

Unitary system

Back 24

a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government. (page 63)

Front 25

The term laissez-faire means:

Back 25

Leave alone

Front 26

Is this statement true or false?

Americans values often conflict with each other in practice.

Back 26

True

Front 27

What statement about the census is most accurate?

a.The census has always categorized people in one of five racial groups: Native Americans, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and whites.

b.Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity has changed significantly throughout American history.

c.The census has always counted every person living within the boundaries of the United States regardless of race or ethnicity.

d. The census has never categorized people by race or ethnicity.

e.The current census does not allow people to identify themselves as a member of more than one racial group.

Back 27

b.Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity has changed significantly throughout American history.

Front 28

True or false:

The average age of Americans has fallen.

Back 28

False

Front 29

How is a decline in political efficacy likely to matter for the health of American democracy?

Back 29

Leads to decline in political participation and withdrawal from political life

Front 30

How does the US constitution create a system that under represents urban areas?

Back 30

It provides each state with two senators regardless of population

Front 31

To the Ancient Greeks, citizenship meant:

Back 31

participating in public affairs

Front 32

Which of the following is an instrument of direct democracy?

a. initiatives

b. the electoral college

c. the Senate

d. litigation

e. the House of Representatives

Back 32

a. initiatives

Front 33

Today the federal government is:

Back 33

an enormous institution that enacts a large number of programs touching on nearly every aspect of American life

Front 34

The first prerequisite to increasing political efficacy is:

Back 34

increasing political knowledge

Front 35

Political apathy among Americans hurts which core political value?

Back 35

democracy

Front 36

Direct democracy is best defined as

Back 36

a system that allows citizens to vote directly for laws and policies

Front 37

What are the three core values in American Politics?

Back 37

liberty, equality, and democracy

Front 38

What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government?

a. the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution

b. legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote

c. debt relief for the poor and the right of citizens to hold office

d. the growth in ethnic and religious diversity

e. the right of revolution and the spread of socialism

Back 38

b. legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote

Front 39

The key group in Europe that pushed for limited government was:

Back 39

the bourgeoisie

Front 40

The Bill of Rights were designed to protect

Back 40

liberty

Front 41

The National Origins quota system

Back 41

allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries

Front 42

After 9/11, George Bush oversaw the creation of

Back 42

Homeland Security

Front 43

Is this an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government?

Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political campaigns, and running for office.

Back 43

No

Front 44

What is popular sovereignty

Back 44

The belief that political authority should rest with the people themselves

Front 45

Amendment

Back 45

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution. (page 52)

Front 46

Antifederalists

Back 46

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 48)

Front 47

Articles of Confederation

Back 47

America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789. (page 33)

Front 48

Bicameral

Back 48

having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral. (page 40)

Front 49

Bill of Rights

Back 49

the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 40)

Front 50

Checks and balances

Back 50

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. Major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments. (page 40)

Front 51

Confederation

Back 51

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government. (page 34)

Front 52

Elastic clause

Back 52

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the necessary and proper clause), which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws 'necessary and proper' to carry them out. (page 43)

Front 53

Electoral college

Back 53

the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president. (page 40)

Front 54

Expressed powers

Back 54

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II). (page 43)

Front 55

Federalism

Back 55

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central (national) government and regional (state) governments. (page 41)

Front 56

Federalist Papers

Back 56

a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution. (page 48)

Front 57

Federalists

Back 57

those who favored a strong national government and supported the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 47)

Front 58

Great Compromise

Back 58

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population. (page 38)

Front 59

Judicial review

Back 59

the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803). (page 44)

Front 60

Limited government

Back 60

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. (page 51)

Front 61

New Jersey Plan

Back 61

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population. (page 37)

Front 62

Separation of powers

Back 62

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making. (page 41)

Front 63

Supremacy clause

Back 63

Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties 'shall be the supreme law of the land' and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision. (page 44)

Front 64

Three-Fifths Compromise

Back 64

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, five slaves would count as three free persons. (page 39)

Front 65

Tyranny

Back 65

oppressive and unjust government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority. (page 49)

Front 66

Virginia Plan

Back 66

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that provided for a system of representation in the national legislature based upon the population of each state. (page 37)

Front 67

Affirmative action

Back 67

government policies or programs that seek to address past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of these groups with access to educational and employment opportunities. (page 130)

Front 68

Bill of Rights

Back 68

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 91)

Front 69

Bills of attainder

Back 69

laws that declare a person guilty of a crime without a trial. (page 93)

Front 70

Brown v. Board of Education

Back 70

the 1954 Supreme Court decision that struck down the 'separate but equal' doctrine as fundamentally unequal. This case eliminated state power to use race as a criterion for discrimination in law and provided the national government with the power to intervene by exercising strict regulatory policies against discriminatory actions. (page 116)

Front 71

Civil liberties

Back 71

areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering. (page 91)

Front 72

Civil rights

Back 72

obligation imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies and of other private citizens. (page 92)

Front 73

clear and present danger test

Back 73

test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a 'clear and present danger' to society. (page 100)

Front 74

De facto

Back 74

literally, 'by fact'; practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the United States today. (page 117)

Front 75

De jure

Back 75

literally, 'by law'; legally enforced practices, such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s. (page 117)

Front 76

Double jeopardy

Back 76

the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. (page 109)

Front 77

Due process of law

Back 77

the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state governments. (page 94)

Front 78

Eminent domain

Back 78

the right of government to take private property for public use. (page 111)

Front 79

Equal protection clause

Back 79

provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens 'the equal protection of the laws.' This clause has served as the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups. (page 114)

Front 80

Establishment clause

Back 80

the First Amendment clause that says that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' This law means that a 'wall of separation' exists between church and state. (page 97)

Front 81

Exclusionary rule

Back 81

the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. (page 108)

Front 82

Ex post facto laws

Back 82

laws that declare an action to be illegal after it has been committed. (page 93)

Front 83

Fifteenth Amendment

Back 83

one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed voting rights for African American men. (page 114)

Front 84

Fighting words

Back 84

speech that directly incites damaging conduct. (page 105)

Front 85

Fourteenth Amendment

Back 85

one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed equal protection and due process. (page 114)

Front 86

Free exercise clause

Back 86

the First Amendment clause that protects a citizen's right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses. (page 98)

Front 87

Grand jury

Back 87

the jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence. (page 109)

Front 88

Habeas corpus

Back 88

a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention. (page 93)

Front 89

Libel

Back 89

a written statement, made in 'reckless disregard of the truth,' that is considered damaging to a victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 103)

Front 90

Miranda rule

Back 90

the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona (1966), that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel. (page 110)

Front 91

Prior restraint

Back 91

an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship. In the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances. (page 103)

Front 92

Right to privacy

Back 92

the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail free access to birth control and abortions. (page 112)

Front 93

Selective incorporation

Back 93

the process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments. (page 95)

Front 94

separate but equal rule

Back 94

doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be considered equal. (page 115)

Front 95

Slander

Back 95

an oral statement, made in 'reckless disregard of the truth,' which is considered damaging to the victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 103)

Front 96

speech plus

Back 96

speech accompanied by conduct such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Protection of this form of speech under the First Amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order. (page 102)

Front 97

Strict scrutiny

Back 97

test, used by the Supreme Court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights, that places the burden of proof on the government rather than on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional. (page 100)

Front 98

Thirteenth Amendment

Back 98

one of three Civil War amendments; abolished slavery. (page 114)

Front 99

Agents of socialization

Back 99

social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values. (page 144)

Front 100

Attitude (or opinion)

Back 100

a specific preference on a particular issue. (page 141)

Front 101

Bandwagon effect

Back 101

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner. (page 160)

Front 102

Conservative

Back 102

today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements. Conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens' freedom. (page 149)

Front 103

Democracy

Back 103

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials. (page 143)

Front 104

Equality of opportunity

Back 104

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential. (page 142)

Front 105

Gender gap

Back 105

a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men. (page 145)

Front 106

Liberal

Back 106

today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform; extensive governmental intervention in the economy; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment. (page 148)

Front 107

Libertarianism

Back 107

a political ideology that emphasizes freedom and voluntary association with small government. (page 00)

Front 108

Liberty

Back 108

freedom from government control. (page 142)

Front 109

Marketplace of ideas

Back 109

the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete. (page 150)

Front 110

Median voter theorem

Back 110

a proposition predicting that when policy options can be arrayed along a single dimension, majority rule will pick the policy most preferred by the voter whose ideal policy is to the left of half of the voters and to the right of exactly half of the voters. (page 00)

Front 111

Political ideology

Back 111

a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government. (page 147)

Front 112

Political socialization

Back 112

the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based. (page 144)

Front 113

Probability sampling

Back 113

a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent. (page 00)

Front 114

Public opinion

Back 114

citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events. (page 141)

Front 115

Public-opinion polls

Back 115

scientific instruments for measuring public opinion. (page 154)

Front 116

Push polling

Back 116

a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion. (page 160)

Front 117

Random digit dialing

Back 117

a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of ten-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample. (page 154)

Front 118

Sample

Back 118

a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population. (page 154)

Front 119

Sampling error

Back 119

polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample. (page 155)

Front 120

Selection bias

Back 120

polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions. (page 159)

Front 121

Social desirability effect

Back 121

the effect that results when respondents in a survey report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear rather than what they believe. (page 157)

Front 122

Socialism

Back 122

a political ideology that emphasizes social ownership or collective government ownership and strong government. (page 00)

Front 123

Values (or beliefs)

Back 123

basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events. (page 141)

Front 124

Collective goods

Back 124

benefits, sought by groups, that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers. (page 247)

Front 125

Free riders

Back 125

those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them. (page 247)

Front 126

Grassroots mobilization

Back 126

a lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position. (page 258)

Front 127

Informational benefits

Back 127

special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join. (page 247)

Front 128

Institutional advertising

Back 128

advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization. (page 257)

Front 129

Interest group

Back 129

individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies. (page 243)

Front 130

Iron triangle

Back 130

the stable, cooperative relationships that often develop among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups. Not all of these relationships are triangular, but the iron triangle is the most typical. (page 254)

Front 131

Lobbying

Back 131

a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation or other public policy by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature. (page 253)

Front 132

Material benefits

Back 132

special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join. (page 247)

Front 133

Membership association

Back 133

an organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects. (page 246)

Front 134

New Politics movement

Back 134

a political movement that began in the 1960s and '70s, made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences. The New Politics movement strengthened public interest groups. (page 251)

Front 135

Pluralism

Back 135

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation. (page 243)

Front 136

Political action committee (PAC)

Back 136

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns. (page 244)

Front 137

Purposive benefits

Back 137

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group. (page 248)

Front 138

Solidary benefits

Back 138

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness raising. (page 247)

Front 139

Staff organization

Back 139

type of membership group in which a professional staff conducts most of the group's activities. (page 246)

Front 140

Ballot initiative

Back 140

a proposed law or policy change that is placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote. (page 225)

Front 141

Caucus

Back 141

face-to-face meetings at which voters enrolled in a party choose a nominee. (page 000)

Front 142

Closed primary

Back 142

a primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to primary day. (page 224)

Front 143

Divided government

Back 143

the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress. (page 210)

Front 144

Electoral college

Back 144

the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president. (page 226)

Front 145

Electoral realignment

Back 145

the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force; in the United States, this has tended to occur roughly every 30 years. (page 208)

Front 146

527 committees

Back 146

nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit advocacy groups. (page 238)

Front 147

General election

Back 147

a regularly scheduled election involving most districts in the nation or state, in which voters select officeholders; in the United States, general elections for national office and most state and local offices are held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years (every four years for presidential elections). (page 225)

Front 148

Incumbent

Back 148

a candidate running for re-election to a position they he or she already holds. (page 200)

Front 149

Majority party

Back 149

the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate. (page 201)

Front 150

Minority party

Back 150

the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate. (page 201)

Front 151

Mobilization

Back 151

the process by which large numbers of people are organized for political activity. (page 219)

Front 152

Multiple-member district

Back 152

an electorate that selects all candidates at large from the whole district; each voter is given the number of votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled. (page 000)

Front 153

Nomination

Back 153

the process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office. (page 201)

Front 154

Open primary

Back 154

a primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election. (page 225)

Front 155

Party identification

Back 155

an individual voter's psychological ties to one party or another. (page 212)

Front 156

Political action committee (PAC)

Back 156

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns. (page 000)

Front 157

Political parties

Back 157

organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices. (page 199)

Front 158

Primary elections

Back 158

elections to select a party's candidate for the general election. (page 229)

Front 159

Proportional representation

Back 159

a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote. (page 211)

Front 160

Recall

Back 160

a procedure to allow voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire by circulating petitions to call a vote. (page 000)

Front 161

Referendum

Back 161

the practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. (page 225)

Front 162

Socioeconomic status

Back 162

status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige. (page 216)

Front 163

Suffrage

Back 163

the right to vote; also called franchise. (page 216)

Front 164

Third parties

Back 164

parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties. (page 210)

Front 165

Turnout

Back 165

the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote. (page 216)

Front 166

Two-party system

Back 166

a political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control of the government. (page 208)