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71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
comparative method
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a learning approach based on studying the differences and similarities among similar units of analysis (such as states)
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variance
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the difference between units of analysis on a particular measure
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sociodemographics
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the characteristics of a population, including size, age, and ethnicity
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political culture
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the attitudes and beliefs broadly shared in a polity about the role and responsibility of government
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moralistic
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a political culture that views politics and government as the means to achieve the collective good
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individualistic
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a political culture that views politics and government as just another way to achieve individual goals
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traditionalistic
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a political culture that views politics and government as dominated by elites
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laboratories of democracy
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a term used for the states that emphasizes their ability to engage in different policy experiments without interference from the federal government
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devolution
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the process of taking power and responsibility from the federal government and giving it to state and local governments
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federalism
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political system in which national and regional governments share powers and are considered independent equals
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unitary systems
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political systems in which power is concentrated in a central government
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confederacy
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a political system in which power is concentrated in regional governments
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representative government
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a form of government in which citizens exercise power indirectly by choosing representatives to legislate on their behalf
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enumerated powers
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grants of authority explicitly given by the Constitution
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national supremacy clause
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the constitutional clause stating that federal law takes precedence over all other laws
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preemption
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the process of the federal government overriding areas regulated by state law
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exclusive powers
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powers given by the Constitution solely to the federal government
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concurrent powers
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powers that both federal and state government can exercise. these include right to tax, borrow, and spend
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implied powers
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broad, but undefined, powers given to the federal government by the Constitution
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general welfare clause
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an implied power giving congress the authority to provide for the "general welfare"
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necessary and proper clause
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an implied power giving congress the right to pass all laws considered "necessary and power" to carry and the federal government's responsibility as defined by the constitution
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full faith and credit clause
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requires states to recognize each other's public records and acts as valid
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privileges and immunities clause
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prohibits states from discriminating against citizens of other states
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bill of rights
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the first ten amendments to the constitution that set limits on the power of the federal government and set out the rights of individuals and the states
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tenth amendment
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guarantees a broad, but undefined, set of powers be reserved for the states and the people
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fourteenth amendment
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prohibits states from depriving individuals of the rights and privileges of citizenship and requires states to provide due process and equal protection guarantees
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dual federalism
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the idea that state and federal governments have separate and distinct jurisdictions and responsibilites
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states rights
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the belief that states should be free to make their own decisions with little interference from the federal government
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compact theory
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the idea that the constitution represents an agreement among sovereign states to form a common government
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nullification
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the process of a state rejecting a federal law and making it invalid within state borders
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secession
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the process of a government or political jurisdiction withdrawing from a political system or alliance
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nation-centered federalism
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the belief that the nation is the basis of the federal system and that the federal government should take precedence over the states
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state-centered federalism
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the belief that states are the basis of the federal system and that state governments should take precedence over the federal government
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cooperative federalism
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the notion that it is impossible for state and national governments to have separate and distinct jurisdictions and that both levels of government must work together
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grants-in-aid
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cash appropriations given by the federal government to the states
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centralized federalism
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the notion that federal government should take the leading role in setting national policy, with state and local governments to help implement the policies
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categorical grants
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federal grants-in-aid given for specific programs that leave states and localities with little discretion on how to spend the money
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general revenue sharing grants
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federal grants-in-aid given with few constraints, leaving states and localities almost complete discretion over how to spend the money
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crosscutting requirements
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constraints that apply to all federal grants
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crossover sanctions
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federal requirements mandating that grant recipients pass and enforce certain laws or regulations as a condition of receiving funds
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unfunded mandates
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federal laws that direct state action but provide no financial support for that action
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new federalism
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the belief that states should receive more power and authority and less money from the federal government
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block grants
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federal grants-in-aid given for general policy areas that leave states and localities with wide discretion on how to spend the money within the designated policy area
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ad hoc federalism
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the process of choosing a state-centered or nation-centered view of federalism on the basis of political or partisan convenience
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interstate commerce clause
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the constitutional clause that gives congress the right to regulate interstate commerce. this clause has been broadly interpreted to give congress a number of implied powers
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sovereign immunity
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the right of a government to not be sued without its consent
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direct democracy
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the means for citizens to make laws themselves, rather than relying on elected represenatives
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electorate
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individuals who can vote
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judicial federalism
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the idea that the courts determine the boundaries of state-federal relations
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dual constitutionalism
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a system of government in which people live under two sovereign powers. in the US this is the government of their state of residence and the federal government
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natural, or higher, law
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a set of moral and political rules based on divine law and binding on all people
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constitutional amendments
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proposals to change the constitution, typically enacted by a supermajority of the legislature or through a statewide referendum
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appropriation bills
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laws passed by legislatures authorizing the transfer of money to the executive branch
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colonial charters
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legal documents drawn up by the british crown that spelled out how the colonies were to be governed
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unicameral legislatures
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legislatures that possess only one chamber. nebraska is currently the only state with one
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separation of powers
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the principle that government should be divided into separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities
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bicameral legislatures
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legislatures that possess two chambers, typically a house of representatives, or assembly, and a senate
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the franchise
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the right to vote
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jim crow laws
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measures passed in the last decade of the nineteenth century that sought to legally and systematically separate blacks from whites
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constitutional convention
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an assembly convened for the express purpose of amending or replacing a constitution
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ratification
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a vote of the entire electorate to approve a constitutional change, referendum, or ballot initiative
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ballot initiatives
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process through which voters directly convey instructions to the legislature, approve a law, or amend the constitution
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referendums
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procedures that allow the electorate to either accept or reject laws passed by the legislatures
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constitutional revision commissions
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expert committees formed to assess a constitution and suggest changes
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judicial review
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the power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the constitution
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reconstruction
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the period following the civil war when the southern states were governed under the direction of the union army
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model constitution
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an expert-approved generic or "ideal" constitution that is sometimes used by states as a yardstick against which they can measure their existing constitutions
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line-item veto
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the power to reject a portion of a bill while the rest remains intact
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special districts
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entities created by state legislatures that enjoy some attributes of government
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municipal charter
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a document that establishes operating procedures for local governments
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home rule
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a form of self-governance granted to towns and cities by the state
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