Government Ap Flashcards

Front 1

Pluralism

Back 1

Several groups exist, and their consensus based decisions allow for policy that everyone enjoys.

Front 2

Elitism

Back 2

A few elite (wealthy) people control policy decisions

Front 3

Hyperpluralism

Back 3

Too many groups exist with too many conflicting opinions for there to ever be a consensus, so policy decisions never arise.

Front 4

Montesquieu

Back 4

Separation of Powers- Spirit of the Laws

Front 5

Virginia Plan

Back 5

States get votes depending on population

Front 6

New Jersey Plan

Back 6

States get votes equally

Front 7

Great Compromise

Back 7

Established a bicameral legislature which gives one house (the HOR) votes by population and Senate votes equally

Front 8

Factions/Tyranny of the Majority

Back 8

If a few people (the minority) are economically at an ADVANTAGE, the majority will tyranize them and prevent them fully exercising their rights, etc.

Front 9

Beard's Thesis

Back 9

The basis of the constitution was "economic determinism" which was that the founders had an economic interest in the outcome of the constitution and frame dit to beneift themselves.

Front 10

Methods of Amending the Constitution (formal)

Back 10

2/3 of the Congress and Senate can go to 3/4 of the state legislature or 3/4 of the national convention

or 2/3 of the national convention can go to 3/4 of the state legislature or 3/4 of the national convention

Front 11

Methods of Amending the Constitution (informal)

Back 11

1. Presidential decision (the abridgment of rights during a war)
2. Judicial interpretation
3. Actions of Congress
4. Political Parties
5. Technology and the Media

Front 12

Dual, Cooperative, and Competitive Federalism

Back 12

Dual- They have their own separate spheres
Cooperative- share money for jointly enacte dpolicies
Comepttive- fight for citizenry support and financial aid

Front 13

External v. Internal Efficacy

Back 13

External- the belief that the government will respond to one's concerns and problems

Internal - the belief that on is capable of understanding and affecting public policy

Front 14

Referendum

Back 14

a state-level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature

Front 15

Initiative

Back 15

a process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on petitions calling for such a referendum

Front 16

Realigning Elections

Back 16

Elections in which minority parties overthrow the majority parties

Three significant ones:
a) 1860- Southern states were split amongst the Democrats and Abraham Lincoln came out on top leading the Republicans

b) 1896- Significant in terms of the tactics employed by McKinley and Bryan. McKinley spent a lot of money. While Bryan, for the first time, made it a point to campaign especially heavily in highly contested states.

c) 1932- FDR overthrew Hoover's stale tactics and put in place his New Deal Policies.

Front 17

Iowa Caucus & New Hampshire Primary

Back 17

The Iowa Caucus has traditionally been the first indication of which candidate would win its party’s nomination. New Hampshire’s primary election is also extremely significant in determining how well a candidate will do in the presidential elections. Candidates who do well or don’t do well receive immediate media attention (along with those chosen from the Iowa Caucus), and the combined effect makes Iowa and New Hampshire significant states in the presidential election overall.

Front 18

Soft Money

Back 18

Political contributions earmarked for party-building expenses at the grass roots level. Unlike money that goes to the campaign of a particular candidate, such party donations are not subject to contribution limits.

Front 19

Political Action Committee (PACs):

Back 19

Funding vehicles that were created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms. Corporations, unions, or special interest groups can create a PAC and register with the Federal Election Commission which will meticulously monitor its expenditures

Front 20

Iron Triangle

Back 20

The method by which bureaucracy functions with the inclusion of interest groups, legislators, and the executive branch.
Example: The bureaucracy does interest groups special favors through low regulation, etc. Special interest groups then electorally support Congress which then gives funding and political support to the bureaucracy.

Front 21

Incumbency Effect

Back 21

The explanation for why incumbents usually win elections. This is because their policies are already well known, the way they vote is already well-known, and they have a well established and loyal following.

Front 22

Pork Barrel

Back 22

The list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions in the district of a member of Congress

Front 23

Oversight

Back 23

The act of Congress regulating programs implemented by the executive branch through the use of federal agencies, policies, and programs

Front 24

Budget Control and Impoundment Act of 1974

Back 24

Requires both branches of congress to vote approval of presidential requests to terminate programs through withholding funds.

Front 25

Richard Neustadt- power of persuasion

Back 25

Essentially, in his book Presidential Power, Neustadt argues that the president is actually very weak within the American government since everything the President wants to implement can be overturned or must be approved by Congress first. Neustadt argues that as a result of this institutionalized barrier system, the President must rely on personal persuasion, public prestige, and professional reputation to get things done.

Front 26

Chief of Staff

Back 26

This is the appointed person whose job is to serve as aide to the President in terms of managing the role of others within the White House Office as well as managing the influence that outsiders have on the President. He has been dubbed, “the second most powerful man in the country”, and his role has been established also as the “gatekeeper”.

Front 27

National Security Council

Back 27

This is one of the policymaking bodies which exists within the Executive Office of the President. It is an office that was created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisors. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and the secretary of defense. It is managed by the president’s national security advisor whose job is to provide the president with information and policy advice as well as coordinate departmental activities bearing on national security.

Front 28

Office of Management and Budget

Back 28

Another of the policymaking bodies located within the Executive Office, the OMB grew out of the Bureau of the Budget which consisted of a handful of political appointees and hundreds of skilled professionals. The OMB performs both managerial and budgetary functions for the purpose of preparing the president’s budget.

Front 29

Council of Economic Advisors

Back 29

The third of the policymaking bodies which exists within the executive office, the CEA is a three member body appointed by the president to advise him on economic policy.

Front 30

Executive Orders

Back 30

These are regulations originating from the executive branch. These are one method that the president can use to control the bureaucracy. They have the stature of law.

Front 31

Reprieve, Pardon, Commutation, Clemency, Amnesty

Back 31

reprieve- the holding back of punishment

pardon- pardoning the crime and the penalties associated with it

commutation- Takes place when the executive branch lessens the sentence for a criminal act. Unlike a pardon, this does not pardon the crime, and commutations are often conditional and related to good behavior.

Clemency: Clemency is the lessening of a sentence without pardoning the crime itself. It is a type of reprieve.

Amnesty: This takes place when the Supreme Power pardons and forgets the act as well as the penalties. It is more than a pardon altogether in the sense that it erases all legal remembrance of the crime as well.

Front 32

Presidential Powers (Legislative)

Back 32

The president’s power to present information on the state of the union to Congress, recommend legislation to Congress, Convene both house of Congress on extraordinary occasions, adjourn Congress if the House and Senate cannot agree on adjournment, and veto legislation (although this may be overruled by Congress with a two-thirds vote in each of the houses).

Front 33

Presidential Powers
(Diplomatic/Foreign Powers)

Back 33

The president is essentially responsible for the United States’ interactions with foreign countries. He appoints representatives, consuls, and ambassadors to other countries, chooses whether or not to recognize other countries, is responsible for Americans outside the United States, and participates in summit conferences.

Front 34

Presidential Powers
(Judicial Powers)

Back 34

Judicially, the President can grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment). He can also nominate federal judges, who are confirmed by a majority of the senate.

Front 35

Presidential Powers
(Commander in Chief)

Back 35

As a commander in chief the president has civilian control of the military. This includes appointing high ranking military personnel, declaring war, and utilizing war powers. War Powers include declaring wars and being subject to legislative vetoes which allow the Congress to override a presidential decision. The War Powers Act, established during Nixon’s presidency, was created to ensure that the president took Congress’ opinions in establishing military agendas, and also that he would have to withdraw troops within 60 days of putting out troops unless approved otherwise by Congress.

Front 36

Presidential Powers
(Executive)

Back 36

As an executive, the President has the ability and the obligation to manage national affairs through the management of domestic rules and regulation. The president also has the ability to issue executive orders.

Front 37

Presidential Powers
(Economic)

Back 37

Economically, the president has the ability to make judgments about budget allocations and expenditures (through his policymaking bodies at the Executive Office, Council of Economic Advisors, and Office of Management and Budget)

Front 38

Presidential Powers
(Party Leader)

Back 38

As a party leader, the president supports the party of which he is a part and often uses this to endorse other candidates for Congress and local offices. Additionally, as a part of the idea of “presidential coattails”, some Congressmembers can be elected because individuals like the president and the Congress members in question belong to the same party as the President.

Front 39

Solicitor General v. Attorney General

Back 39

The solicitor general argues cases on behalf of the United States in front of the United States Supreme Court. However, the Attorney General is present in each court and voices the Presidents' opinion on the case (somewhat like an amicus curaie brief)

Front 40

Civil Rights v. Civil Liberties

Back 40

Civil liberties are not expressly stated in the Constitution but they guard against discriminatory behavior. Civil liberties are protected by the Bill of Rights.

Front 41

Stare Decisis

Back 41

A Latin phrase meaning, “let the decision stand”. The vast majority of cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principle.

Front 42

Writ of Certiorari

Back 42

a formal document issued from the Supreme Court to a lower federal or state court that calls up a case.

Front 43

Certificate

Back 43

the process by which the lower courts can ask the Supreme Court to certify a legal matter.