American Terms And Theory Terms

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Articles of confederation

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served as the first US constitution

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Civil Rights Act 1964

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Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or natural origin; ended unequal application of voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools, at the workplace, and by facilities that served the general public

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Delegated powers

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Set forth in the constitution, the authoritative capacity of Congress; the powers that the constitution says that Congress has, with restrictions from the Bill of Rights

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Divided government

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when one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both of the US congress; leads to congressional gridlock

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Federal Election Campaign Act

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limited the disclosures of contributions to federal campaigns

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federalism

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a system of government in which territory is controlled by two levels of government. generally an overarching national government governs an issue that affects the entire country and smaller subdivisions govern issues of local concern

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Fillibuster

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Parliamentary procedure where debate is extended, allowing one of more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal

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Fiscal Policy

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the use of government revenue collection (mainly taxes) and expenditure (spending) to influence the economy

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Monetary Policy

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the process by which a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability

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14th Amendment, 1868

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grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" which included former slaves recently freed; forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty, or property" without due process of law or to deny "any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"

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Gerrymandering

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manipulating the boundaries so as to favor one party or class

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implied powers/necessary and proper

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powers of U.S. government which have not been explicitly granted by the Constitution but that is implied by the necessary and proper clause to be delegated for the purpose of carrying out the enumerated power

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Jeffersonian Democracy

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believed in a republic as a form of government and equality of political opportunity, with priority for the yeoman farmer, planter and plain folk; antagonistic to the aristocratic elitism of merchants and manufacturers, distrusted factory workers, and were on the watch for supporters of the British system of government; devoted to principles of Republicanism, especially civic duty and opposition to privilege, aristocracy, and corruption.

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Judicial Review

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legislative and/or executive actions are subjuct to this by the judiciary; it can annul acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with higher authority; an example of checks and balances

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Medicare

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funded by the federal government; an insurance program that primarily covers seniors over the age of 65 and older and disabled individuals who qualify for social security (need based)

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Medicaid

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funded by state governments; an assistance program that covers low- to no-income families and individuals (income based)

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Participatory Democracy

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direct democracy; everyone can vote; no restrictions on voting behavior

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Pluralist Democracy

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more than one center of power; democracies are by definition pluralist as democracies allow freedom of association

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Republic

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a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected president rather than monarch

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Reserved Powers

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powers which are not enumerated (written down/assigned); the framers assign all other subjects that may arise after the document is enacted to one of tow orders of the government (State of Federal)

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Social Security Act 1935

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an act to provide for the general welfare by enabling several states to make more adequate provisions for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children... etc.

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Supremacy Clause

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The Constitution, federal statutes, and treates are the law of the land; highest form of law in the US legal system; mandates that all state judges must follow federal law when a conflict arises between federal law and state constitution/law

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Voting Rights Act 1965

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prohibits racial discrimination in voting

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Absolutism

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political doctrine and practice of unlimited, centralized authority and absolute sovereignty, as vested especially in a monarch or dictator; the ruling power is not subject to regularized challenge or check by any other agency, be it judicial, legislative, religious etc.

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Authoritarianism

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concentrates power in the hands of a leader or small elite that is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people; exercise power arbitrarily and without regard to existing bodies of law

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Bourgeoisie

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wealthy, upper class

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Proletariat

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wage earners

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classical conservatism

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organic whole should be heirarchical with those suited best for leadership to be on top; government should chose by a limited electorate with special rights, responsibilities, and privilages; humanitarian--leadership role includes responsibility to the care of welfare; stability is paramount

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classical liberalism

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securing freedom and limiting government

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classical socialism

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state runs the economy for the workers, who will eventually be able to run the economy by themselves

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democratic evolutionary socialism

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capitalism will eventually be a product of socialism, in a way that is not violent

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Dictatorship of the Proletariat

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refers to a state in which the working class has control of political power; what exists between capitalism and communism

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Neoliberalism

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advocates support for great economic liberalization, privatization, free trade, open markets, deregulation, and reductions in government spending in order to enhance the role of the private sector in the economy

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Enlightment

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a cultural movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition; scientific approach to advance knowledge rather than tradition and faith; a revolution in human thought

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Fascism

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exalts nation and often race above the individual; stands for centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader; severe economic and social regimentation and forcible suppression of opposition

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Liberal Democracy

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a form of government in which representative democracy operates by protecting the rights of the individual and are generally enshrined in law; characterized by fair, free, and competitive elections, separation of powers, rule of law, civil rights etc.

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Modern liberalism

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free/equal; keynesian economics

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Natioanlism

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a belief, creed, of political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation

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natural rights

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rights not contingent upon the laws, customs, or beliefs of any particular culture or government, and therefore universal and inalienable

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negative freedom

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freedom from

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positive freedom

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freedom to

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new left

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1960s and 1970s political movement to bring reform on issues such as gay rights, abortion, gender roles, and drugs; Hippie movement and anti-war college-campus protest movements

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new right

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neoliberalism and neoconservatism; privatization of the economy, strong military, and to spread democracy

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social contract theory

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individuals have consented, either explicitly or tacitly, to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the ruler of magistrate in exchange for protection of their remaining rights

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social darwinism

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those that are strong will see their wealth and power increase while the weak will see their wealth and power decrease

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trustee representation

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the politician has sufficient autonomy to deliberate and act in favor of the greater common good and national interest, even it if means going against the short-term interests of their own constituencies

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delegate representation

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the politician acts only as a mouthpiece for the wishes of its constituency and has no autonomy from the constituency

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utilitarianism

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a theory of normative ethics holding the proper course of action that maximizes the total benefit and reduces suffering or the negatives