American Politics

Front 1

Federalism

Back 1

a system of government where by a nation is comprised of certain parts (states) each retaining a certain jurisdiction

Front 2

Federalist Papers

Back 2

letters to the editor of a NY newspaper that served as rationale for a federalist government under the constitution

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Politics

Back 3

fight for resources

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Constitutionalism

Back 4

idea that basic set of fundamental principles set down on paper and approved the people would create the government

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Articles of confederation

Back 5

first written principles to create a government. No ability to tax, regulate interstate commerce, create or organize an army, or to make amendments. No central government

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Relate the federalist papers to class context.

Back 6

- served as a rationale for a federalist government

- influenced people that mattered and public opinion

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Shays Rebellion

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Rebellion of farmers that highlighted the weaknesses of the American government under the Articles of Confederation; such as the inability to form an army.

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tyranny

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the accumulation of all powers into one set of hands

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Relate tyranny to class context.

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People were afraid with the creation of a strong central government there would be tyranny. So the founders defined it as such and developed the "separation of powers" so that the circumstances would never arise.

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Separation of Powers

Back 10

Dividing the powers of government, executive, judicial, and legislative into three separate branches of government to control human nature by ambition counteracting ambition

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faction

Back 11

a group of people united by some common purpose or interest

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bicameralism

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two houses in the legislature

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random selection

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a sample will be representative of a population if everyone within the population has an equal chance of being selected

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Level of significance

Back 14

range of error around best guess measure by taking the square root (x(100-X0/n)

Front 15

ideology

Back 15

set of principles that individuals ascribe to, often with great conviction that guides attitudes on specific policy issues

Front 16

Relate faction to class context.

Back 16

founders defined so that they could counter with federalism. Fear of factions, because they were afraid of the majority taking advantage of the minority. Solved with bicameralism.

Front 17

Relate bicameralism to class context.

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formed to control the effects of factions. By the house being popularly elected they were dependent on the people and the senate being elected by the state legislature and given longer terms to ensure wiseness.

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Why were the founding fathers realists?

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smart about protecting their own interests

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Federalist Paper #10 - James Madison

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- factions

- must control the effects (must consider minority parties)

- regular vote

- union breaks up and controls factions, but democracy does not because of a large republic

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Federalist Paper #51 - (Madison/Hamilton)

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Break the government up into several parts so that ambition will counteract ambition

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Federalist Paper #57 -(Madison/Hamilton)

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- Constitutions aim to elect virtuous leaders who stay virtuous

- by limited # of terms and popular election which leads to dependence on people

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Federalist Paper #62 - Madison

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argument in support of the senate because it ensures equality of representation (2 per state) and stability (elected every 6 years)

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Federalist Paper #70 - Hamilton

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Argument for executive in the hands of one versus a multitude

Front 24

Culture War is written by _____.

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Fiorina, Abrams, and Pope

Front 25

define a culture war

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The phenomena that in the 20th century economic issues have been replaced by cultural/moral ones

Front 26

Argument of Cultural War

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That the nation is not in fact polarized, but rather voters are usually median or in between the two extremes.


people adhere to political parties based on beliefs more


parties are more aligned with religious groups

Front 27

The author of Misreading the public: the case of the Holocaust Poll is ___________.

Back 27

Moore and Newport

Front 28

The main argument of Misreading the public: the case of the Holocaust Poll

Back 28

methods in a survey will effect results

Front 29

Author of "Is Popular Rule Possible? Polls, Political Psychology, and Democracy"

Back 29

Bartels

Front 30

argument of "Is Popular Rule Possible? Polls, Political Psychology, and Democracy"

Back 30

aim of democracy is unrealistic as people have attitudes not opinions, however political theorists have logically consistent preferences.

Front 31

Author(s) of "The Meaning of Equality in America"

Back 31

Verba and Orren

Front 32

Main argument of "The Meaning of Equality in America"

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Americans support equality in theory but not in practice, because there is no static definition of equality.


- economic overlaps with political "equality"

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Self-Interest Rightly Understood

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the idea that an individual helps others to help himself - Tocqueville

Front 34

Argument of "Democracy in America"

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Democratic nations prefer equality to liberty


individualism strong, but can turn into selfishness with Democratic revolutions

political equality generates social equality

associations formed to get things accomplished

self-interst rightly understood

Front 35

Author of "Return of the Voter: Voter Turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election"

Back 35

McDonald

Front 36

Argument of "The Return of the Voter: Voter Turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election"

Back 36

Presidential voting rates increased from 1996 to 2008 because of heightened voter mobilization and voting reforms ( i.e. mail in ballots, early voting, automatic registration)

Front 37

Author of "Unequal Participation: Democracy's Unresolved Dilemma"

Back 37

Lijphart

Front 38

Argument of "Unequal Participation: Democracy's Unresolved Dilemma"

Back 38

Compulsory Voting would ensure a more equal outcome that did not favor elitists (wealthy/educated) in elections and the resulting policies.

Front 39

Author of "The Impact of the Voting Rights Act on Black Representation in Southern State Legislatures"

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Grofman and Handley

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Argument of "The Impact of the Voting Rights Act on Black Representation in Southern State Legislatures"

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Voting Rights Act of 1965 brought black representatives into the legislature because of sections 2 & 5 which allowed for litigation and the formation fo single versus multi-member districts.

Front 41

Define Section 2 of the voting Rights Act

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prohibits voting practices that discriminate against a certain race

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Define section 5 of the voting rights act

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Any changes in voting policies in covered districts (according to the voting rights act) must be approved by the federal government

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Covered Jurisdictions

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district where voter turnout is lass then 50% because a literacy test is in place, literacy tests also deemed illegal

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Examiners

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(Voting Rights Act) Federal government will send down federal employees to supervise registration and to ensure nothing “funny” is occurring in the South

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Preclearnce Provision

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(Voting Rights Act) if there are any changes in voting laws they need to be confirmed by the federal government from the Justice Department

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gerApply gerrymander/cracking/packing/stacking/annexation to classroom context

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All were employed by Southerners as barriers against blacks voting after the voting rights act passage in 1965

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Author of "A Theory of Critical Elections"

Back 47

V.O. Key

Front 48

Argument of " A Theory of Critical Elections"

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voters reveal their opinions in elections and some elections are more defining and can lead to realignment by coalitions switching parties or being redefined

Front 49

Author of " Abortion: Evidence of an Issue Evolution"

Back 49

Adams

Front 50

Argument of " Abortion: Evidence of An Issue Evolution"

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Issue of abortion caused an issue revolution where people pick political parties based on issue and the issue has had fundamental and lasting changes to parties

Front 51

cues

Back 51

Signals that elites give to the masses

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Author if "In Defense of Negative Campaigning"

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Mayer

Front 53

Argument of "In Defense of Negative Campaigning"

Back 53

Negative Campaigning is a necessary and legitimate part of an election:

-- provides info on flaws of candidates

--keeps candidates honest

--clues a voter in on a candidates character

-- cannot be left to the media to take over

Front 54

Author of "15,000 Journalists in Search of....Parties?"

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Frankel

Front 55

Argument of "15,000 Journalists in Search of....Parties?"

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conventions no longer have any significance.

-- news does not capture meaningful parts of convention and it is not captivating

--TV defines politics, it should be more informative and inclusive

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Author of "The No News Conventions"

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Schudson

Front 57

Argument of "The No News Conventions"

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Politics bigger concept than what appears in the media. Media portrays important policy decisions, but politics is also ritual and rhetoric, as in the past. Both are abandon in conveying convention to a TV audience.

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Author of "The Methods Behind the Madness"

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Shaw

Front 59

Argument of "The Methods Behind the Madness"

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Candidate strategy is systematic and a function of electoral votes, TV and advertising costs, competitiveness, the interaction between competitiveness and electoral votes, and the interaction between competitiveness and cost of TV advertising.


This is similar between both parties

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Author if "Myth of the Presidential Mandate"

Back 60

Dahl

Front 61

Argument of "The Presidential Mandate"

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That a mandate to emphasize a winning candidates policies, programs, and a new direction does not exist, because voters do not have definitive views and are not always in majority favor or candidates policies. Mandate arose because of the nominating process becoming more centered on issues and the people.

Front 62

liberalism

Back 62

(left) supporting government as an agent of change, room for improvement and positive change, equality of opportunity, and equality of result

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conservatism

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(right) government is best that governs least, laissez faire economic policies, reluctance to disturb existing order, favor liberty over equality of result

Front 64

diffuse support

Back 64

fundamental support for basic institutions (freedom, the constitution)

Front 65

specific support

Back 65

support for individual people

Front 66

In US is there more diffuse or specific support?

Back 66

Diffuse

Front 67

Political Culture

Back 67

a set of widely held beliefs, values, and norms concerning the relationship of citizens to their government and to one another in matter affecting public affairs

Front 68

principle-implementation gap

Back 68

difference between supporting values and putting them into practice --> caused by the conflict of people attaining liberties simultaneously

Front 69

paradox of tolerance

Back 69

asked to tolerate statements/people that are calling for abolition of freedoms

Front 70

egalitarianism

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ability of eradicating inequality among people

Front 71

Just Desserts Principle

Back 71

if you do not work hard you get what you deserve

Front 72

Anti-authoritarianism

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mistrust/cynicism of authority

Front 73

populism

Back 73

a sense that politics and politicians should be attuned to the needs and the sensibilities of the people; antipathy for all things "big"

Front 74

Populist style

Back 74

politicians representing the common man

Front 75

purging rolls

Back 75

if you do not vote for several elections you will be purged

Front 76

deadwood

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uninformed voter, so that there vote does not matter

Front 77

24th amendment

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elimination of the poll tax

Front 78

Define disenfranchise in class context.

Back 78

Whites in the South were trying to take the vote away from blacks, which provoked the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Front 79

Ways in which whites attempted to disenfranchise blacks in the south

Back 79

intimidation, white primary, poll tax, literacy tests, grandfather clause, good character clause, understanding provision

Front 80

Smith v. Allwright (1944)

Back 80

abolished the white primary

Front 81

Literacy Tests

Back 81

tests at the polls to deprive blacks of the right to vote

Front 82

sociotropic voting

Back 82

Looking at the state of the economy and judging the incumbent based on that for your vote

Front 83

Progressivist Fallacy

Back 83

notion that politics is about issues

Front 84

Define Progressivist Fallacy in class context

Back 84

notion that reporters have today instead of thinking that politics is about ritual and rhetoric according to Micheal Schudson in "The "No News" Conventions"

Front 85

Money Primary

Back 85

time between a candidates nomination the the first primary where they are fundraising and vying for attention to come out on top

Front 86

front loaded

Back 86

earlier events take on increasing importance (as in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primaries)

Front 87

McGovern-Fraser Commission

Back 87

Reform in the selection of delegates for the Democratic party, but the Republican party followed in suit.

Every party member allowed to participate in primary/caucus

Some delegates vote binding to a particular candidate

Voting procedures cannot discriminate against anyone

Front 88

Understanding provision

Back 88

To override literacy tests and keep blacks out of polls

Front 89

Theories as to why people vote (or do not)

Back 89

rational choice, minimize regret, alienation, social psychology, and structural

Front 90

Rational Choice Theory

Back 90

Look at the world in terms of costs/benefits, so that if benefits outweigh costs then you will vote

Front 91

Minimize regret theory

Back 91

Vote so that if your desired candidate loses you do not feel guilty

Front 92

Alienation Theory

Back 92

Do not vote because they think they do not have a stake in the government and distrust the government.

Front 93

Social Psychology Theory

Back 93

social stigma to vote (e.g. because your husband does or does not)

Front 94

Structural Theory

Back 94

structural impediments to voting, so that those who can overcome impediments vote and those who cannot do not vote

Front 95

Mississippi Freedom Summer

Back 95

Summer in 1964

Front 96

gerrymandering

Back 96

drawing of districts in a certain way as to discriminate against a population (e.g. blacks in south) as to keep them form being a majority

Front 97

annexation

Back 97

to add territory into an existing voting district

Front 98

packing

Back 98

put all of a population in one district, so that they do not dilute another

Front 99

cracking

Back 99

splitting up districts so that a demographic cannot make up a majority

Front 100

stacking

Back 100

ballot stuffing --> vote for people that did not in fact vote to attain more votes

Front 101

realignment

Back 101

a large scale sustained shift in partisanship causing a new partisan balance, often leading to a new majority and a new minority party

Front 102

critical elections

Back 102

define new era, new partisanship power

Front 103

normal elections

Back 103

maintain the status quo

Front 104

deviating elections

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result of a short term force leading to the defeat of a majority party

Front 105

caucus

Back 105

meeting of a political party