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254 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Representative Democracy |
A govt. in which leaders make decisions by winning a competitive struggle for the popular vote. |
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Direct democracy |
A govt. in which all or most citizens participate directly. |
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Democracy |
The rule of many. |
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Pluralist view |
Competition among all affected interests shapes public policy. |
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The Power Elite |
A relatively small, loosely knit group of people who tend to dominate American policymaking. **Theory created by Wright Mills |
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Bureaucratic view |
A govt. that is dominated by appointed officials. |
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Power elite view |
A govt. dominated by a few top leaders, most of whom are outside of the government. |
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Marxist view |
A govt. dominated by capitalists. |
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Elite |
People who possess a disproportionate share of some sort of resource. Examples: Money, power, etc. |
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Legitimacy |
Political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution. |
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Authority |
The right to use power. |
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Power |
The ability of one person to get another person to act in accordance with the first person's intentions. |
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Amendment |
A new provision in the Constitution that has been ratified by the states. |
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Unalienable |
A human right based on nature or God. |
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Articles of Confederation |
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War. |
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Constitutional Convention |
1787: a meeting in Philadelphia that produced a new constitution. |
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Shay's Rebellion |
1787: where ex-revolutionary war soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high tax and interest rates. |
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Virginia Plan |
Proposal to created a strong national government. |
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Republic |
A government in which elected representatives make the decisions. |
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New Jersey Plan |
Proposal to make a weak national government. |
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Great Compromise |
A plan to have a popularly elected house based on state population and a state-selected Senate with two members for each state. |
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Checks & Balances |
Authority shared by 3 branches of government |
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Federalism |
A government authority shared by national and state governments. |
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Reserved Powers |
Powers given to state government alone. |
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Enumerated Powers |
Powers given to the national government alone. |
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Concurrent Powers |
Powers shared by national and state governments. |
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Antifederalists |
Those who favor a weaker national government. |
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Faction |
A group with a distinct political interest. |
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Separation of Powers |
Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government. |
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Coalition |
An alliance of factions. |
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Habeas Corpus |
An order to produce an arrested person before a judge. |
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Ex Post Facto Law |
A law that makes an act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed. |
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Bill of Attainder |
A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime. |
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Bill of the Rights |
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution. |
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Line-item Veto |
An executives ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the Legislature. |
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Devolution |
The effort to transfer responsibility for many public programs and services from the federal government to the states. |
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Block Grants |
Money from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington. |
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"Necessary and Proper" Clause |
A section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it by the Constitution. |
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Nullification |
The doctrine that a state can declare null and void that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution. |
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Dual Federalism |
Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme in its sphere, the states are supreme in theirs, and the two spheres should be kept separate. |
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Police Power |
State power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals. |
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Initiative |
Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot. |
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Referendum |
Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by the legislature. |
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Recall |
Procedure whereby voters can removed an elected official from office. |
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Grants-in-aid |
Money given by the national government to the states. |
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Categorical Grants |
Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport. |
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Revenue Sharing |
Federal sharing of a fixed percentage of its revenue with the states. |
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Conditions of Aid |
Terms set by the national government that the states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds. |
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Mandates |
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants. |
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Bicameral Legislature |
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts. |
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Filibuster |
An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action to the bill. |
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Marginal Districts |
Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote |
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Safe Districts |
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more. |
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Conservative Coalition |
An alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats |
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Majority Leader |
The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate. |
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Minority Leader |
The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate. |
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Whip |
A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking. |
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Party Polarization |
A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators. |
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Caucus |
An association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest. |
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Standing Committees |
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area. |
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Select Committees |
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose. |
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Joint Committees |
Committees on which both senators and representatives serve. |
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Conference Committees |
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill. |
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Public Bill |
A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern. |
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Private Bill |
A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters. |
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Simple Resolution |
An expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body. |
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Concurrent Resolution |
An expression of opinion within the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president. |
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Joint Resolution |
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president. |
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Multiple Referral |
A congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees. |
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Sequential Referral |
A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to second committee after the first is finished acting. |
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Discharge Petition |
A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor. |
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Closed Rule |
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on the debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor. |
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Open Rule |
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor. |
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Restrictive Rule |
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not other to be made into a bill on the floor. |
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Quorum |
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress. |
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Quorum Call |
A roll call in either house of Congress to see whether the minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present. |
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Cloture Rule |
A rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate. |
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Double-tracking |
A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business. |
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Voice Vote |
A congressional voting procedure in which members shout 'yay' in approval or 'nay' in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills. |
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Division Vote |
A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted. |
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Teller Vote |
A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the 'yays' first and the 'nays' second. |
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Roll-call Vote |
A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering 'yay' or 'nay' to their names. |
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Pork-barrel Legislation |
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return. |
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Franking Privilege |
The ability of members to mail letter to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage. |
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Blog |
Series, or log, of discussion items on a page of the World Wide Web |
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Sound Bite |
A radio or video clip of someone speaking |
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Equal Time Rule |
An FCC rule that if a broadcaster sells time to one candidate, it must sell equal time to other candidates |
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Trial Balloon |
Information leaked to the media to test public reaction to a possible policy |
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Loaded Language |
Words that imply a value judgment, used to persuade a reader without having made a serious argument |
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Routine Stories |
Media stories about events that are regularly covered by reporters |
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Feature Stories |
Media stories about events that, though public, are bit regularly covered by reporters |
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Insider Stories |
Media stories about events that are not usually made public |
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Selective Attention |
Paying attention only to those news stories with which one already agrees |
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Adversarial Press |
The tendency of the national media to be suspicious of officials and eager to reveal unflattering stories about them |
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Background |
A public official's statement to a reporter that is given on condition that the official not be named |
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Public Opinion |
How people think or feel about particular things |
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Poll |
A survey of public opinion |
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Random Sample |
Method of selecting from a population in ehcoj each person has an equal probability of being selected |
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Sampling Error |
The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time |
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Exit Polls |
Polls based on interviews conducted on Election Dat with randomly selected voters |
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Political Socialization |
Process by which background traits influence one's political views |
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Elite |
People who have a disproportionate amount of a valued resource |
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Gender Gap |
Difference in political views between men and women |
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Political ideology |
A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue |
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Political Elites |
Persons with a disproportionate share of political power |
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Interest Group |
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy |
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Incentive |
Something of value one cannot get without joining an organization |
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Solitary Incentives |
The social rewards that lead people to join political organizations (sense of pleasure, status, or companionship) |
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Material Incentives |
Money or things valued in monetary terms |
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Purposive Incentive |
A benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle |
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Ideological Interest Groups |
Political organizations that attract members by appealing to their political convictions or principles |
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Public-Interest Lobby |
A political organization whose goals will principally benefit nonmembers |
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Social Movement |
A widely shared demand for change in some aspect of the social or political order |
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Political Cue |
A signal telling a legislator what values are at stake in a vote, and how that issue fits into his or her own political views on party agenda |
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Ratings |
Assessments of a representative's voting record on issues important to an interest group |
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Divided Government |
One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress |
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Unified Government |
The same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress |
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Gridlock |
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government |
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Electoral College |
The people chosen to cast each state's votes in a presidential election. Each state can cast one electoral vote for each senator and representative it has. The District of Colombia has three electoral votes, even though it cannot elect a representative or senator. |
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Pyramid Structure |
A President's subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff |
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Circular Structure |
Several of the President's assistants report directly to him |
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Ad Hoc Structure |
Several subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the President on different matters |
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Cabinet |
The heads of the fifteen executive branch departments of the federal government |
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Bully Pulpit |
The President's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public |
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Veto Message |
A message from the President to Congress stating that he will not sign a bill it has passed. Must be produced within ten days of the bill's passage |
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Pocket Veto |
A bill fails to become a law because the President didn't sign it within ten days before Congress adjourns |
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Line Item Veto |
An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature |
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Legislative Veto |
The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power |
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Impeachment |
Charges against a President approved by the majority of the House of Representatives |
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Lame Duck |
A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection |
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Bureaucracy |
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials |
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Laissez-faire |
An economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce |
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Discretionary Authority |
The extent to which appointed bureaucrats and make policies that are not spelled out in advanced by laws |
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Competitive Service |
The government offices to which people are appointed in the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection media |
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Name Request Job |
A job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified |
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Iron Triangle |
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group |
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Issue Network |
A network of people in Washington, DC-based interest groups, on congrssional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies |
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Authorization Legislation |
Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency |
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Appropriation |
A legislative grant of money to finance a government program of agency |
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Trust Funds |
Funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget |
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Committee Clearance |
The ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law |
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Legislative Veto |
The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it had taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power |
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Red Tape |
Complex bureaucratic rules and procedure that just be followed to get something done |
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Political Party |
A group that seeks to elect candidates to a public office |
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Mugwumps / Progressives |
Republican faction (1890-1910), composed of reformers who opposed patronage |
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Critical or Realignment Period |
When a major or lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition, supporting one or both parties |
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Split Ticket |
Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election |
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Straight Ticket |
Voting for candidates who are all of the same party |
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Office-bloc Ballot |
A ballot listing all candidates of a given office under the name of that office; also called a "Massachusetts" ballot |
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Party-column Ballot |
A ballot listing all the candidates of a given party together under the name of that party; also called an "Indiana" ballot |
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National Convention |
A meeting of party delegates held every four years |
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National Committee |
Delegates who run party affairs between national conventions |
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Congressional Campaign Committee |
A party committee in Congress that provides funds to members and would-be members |
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National Chairman |
Day-to-day party manager elected by the national committee |
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Superdelegates |
Party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses |
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Political Machine |
A party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage |
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Ideological Party |
A party that values principled stands in issues above all else |
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Solidary Incentives |
The social rewards (pleasure, status, companionship) that lead people to join political conventions |
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Sponsored Party |
A local or state political party that is largely supported by another organization in the community |
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Personal Following |
The political support provided to a candidate on the basis of personal popularity and networks |
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Two-Party System |
An electoral system with dominant parties that compete in national elections |
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Plurality System |
An electoral system in which the winner is the person who gets the most votes, even if he or she does not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections |
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Caucus |
A meeting of party members to select delegates backing one or another primary candidate |
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Retrospective Voting |
Voting for a candidate bc u like their past actions in office |
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Perspective Voting |
Voting for a candidate bc you favor his ideas for handlings issues |
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527 Organizations |
Internal revenue: raise and spend money to advance political causes |
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Soft Money |
Funds obtained by political parties that are spent on political activities such as get out the vote drives, but not on behalf individuals |
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Independent Expendatures |
Spending by PACs corporations or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently |
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Run Off Primary |
Second primary election held when no candidate wins a majority of votes in the first primary |
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Blanket Primary |
Primary election in which each voter may vote for candidates from both parties |
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Open Primary |
Primary election where voters may choose which party to vote as they enter the polling place |
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Closed Primary |
A primary election in which voting is limited to already registered party members |
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Incumbent |
The person already holding an elective office |
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Coattails |
The alleged tendency of candidates to win more votes in an election because of the prescience at the top of the ticket of a better known candidate, such as the president |
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PACs |
A committee set up by a labor union, corporation, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations |
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Malpportionment |
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population |
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Position Issues |
An issue in which the public is divided and rival candidates [ ] adopt different policy positions |
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General Election |
An election to choose which candidate will hold office |
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Primary Election |
An election to see choose candidates for office |
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Valence Issue |
An issue about which the public is united and rival candidates and political parties adopt similar positions in hopes that each will be though to better represent those widely shared beliefs |
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Gerrymandering |
Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts in bizzare or unusual shapes to favor one party |
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Sophomore Surge |
An increase in the votes congressional committees usually get when they first run for reelection |
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Judicial Review |
The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional |
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Strict Constructionist Approach |
The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution |
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Activist Approach |
The view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the Constitution and apply them to modern circumstances |
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Constitutional Court |
A federal court authority by Article 3 of the constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior and prevents their salaries from being reduced. They are the Supreme Court and appellate and district courts created by Congress |
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District Courts |
The lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here |
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Courts of appeals |
Federal court that hear appeal from district courts; no trials |
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Legislative courts |
Courts created by congress for specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of Article 3 of the constitution |
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Litmus test |
An examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge |
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Federal question cases |
Cases concerning the Constitution, federal laws, or treaties |
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Diversity cases |
Cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal courts |
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Writ of certiorari |
An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review |
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In forma pauperis |
A method whereby a poor person can have his or her case heard in a federal court without charge |
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Fee shifting |
A rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins |
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Plaintiff |
The party that initiates the lawsuit |
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Standing |
A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit |
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Sovereign immunity |
The rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the governments consent |
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Class action suit |
A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated |
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Brief |
A written statement by an attorney tha summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it |
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Amicus curiae |
A brief submitted by a "friend of the court" |
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Per curiam opinion |
A brief, unsigned court opinion |
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Opinion of the court |
A signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court |
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Concurring opinion |
A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons |
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Dissenting opinion |
A signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view |
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Stare decisis |
Allowing prior rulings to control the current case: "let the decision stand" |
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Political question |
An issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches decide |
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Remedy |
A judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong |
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Dual sovereignty |
Doctrine Definition: A maxim of law which allows the double prosecution of a person by more than one state for the same crime, where both states have jurisdiction for the prosecution, and notwithstanding the double jeopardy rule. Related Terms: Double Jeopardy. |
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Political Structure |
A coherent way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out |
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Civic Duty |
A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs |
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Civic competence |
A belief that one can affect government policies |
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Class consciousness |
A belief that you are a member of an economic group whose interests are opposed to people in other such groups |
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Orthodox |
A belief that morality and religion ought to be of decisive importance |
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Progressive |
A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion |
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Political efficacy |
A belief that you can take part in politics or that the government will respond to the citizenry |
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Internal efficacy |
The ability to understand and take part in politics |
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External efficacy |
The willingness of the state to respond to the citizenry |
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Voting age population |
Citizens who are eligible to vote after reaching the minimum age requirement |
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Registered voters |
People who are registered to vote |
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Literacy test |
A requirement that citizens pass a literacy test in order to register to vote |
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Poll tax |
A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote |
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Grandfather clause |
A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirement to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867 |
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White primary |
The practice of keeping blacks from voting in the southern states' primaries through arbitrary use of the registration requirements and intimidation |
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Australian ballot |
A government printed ballot of uniform dimensions to be cast in secret that mang states adopted around 1890 to reduce voting fraud associated with party printed ballots cast in public |
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Activists |
People who tend to participate in all forms of politics |
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Due process of law |
Denies the government the right, without due process, to deprive people of life, liberty, and property |
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Equal protection of the law |
A standard of equal treatment that must br observed by the government |
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Selective incorporation |
Court cases that apply Bill of Rights to states |
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Freedom of expression |
Right of people to speak, publish, and assemble |
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Freedom of religion |
People shall be free to exercise their religion, and government may not establish a religion |
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Prior restraint |
Censorship of a publication |
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Clear and present danger test |
Law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions |
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Libel |
Writing that falsely injures another person |
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Symbolic speech |
An act that conveys a political message |
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Free exercise clause |
First amendment requirement that law cannot prevent free exercise of religion |
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Establishment clause |
First amendment ban on laws "respecting an establishment of religion" |
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Wall of separation |
Court ruling that government cannot be involved with religion |
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Exclusionary rule |
Improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial |
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Search warrant |
A judge's order authorizing a search |
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Probable cause |
Reasonable cause for issuing a search warrant or making am arrest; more than mere suspicion |
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Good faith exception |
An error in gathering evidence sufficiently minor that it maybe be used in a trial |
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Civil rights |
The rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences |
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Suspect classifications |
Classifications of people on the basis of their race or ethnicity |
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Strict scrutiny |
A supreme court test to see if a law denies equal protection because it does not serve a compelling state interest and is not narrowly tailored to achieve that goal |
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Separate but equal doctrine |
The doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson that African Americans could constitutionally be kept in separate but equal facilities |
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De jure segregation |
Racial segregation that is required by law |
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De facto segregation |
Racial segregation that occurs in schools, not as a result of the law, but as a result of patterns of residential settlement |
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Civil disobedience |
Opposing a law one considers unjust by peacefully disobeying it and accepting the resultant punishment |
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Police powers |
State power to effect laws promoting health, safety, and morals |
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Affirmative action |
Programs designed to increase minority participation in some institution by taking positive steps to appoint more minority group members |
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Equality of result |
Making certain that people achieve the same result |
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Reverse discrimination |
Using race of sex to give preferential treatment to some people |
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Equality of opportunity |
Giving people an equal chance to succeed |
