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71 Cards in this Set

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