Government Chapters 1-3

Front 1

democracy

Back 1

form of government that places ultimate political authority in the hands of the people. There are two forms-direct democracy and representative democracy.

Front 2

elite and class theory

Back 2

a theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule

Front 3

government

Back 3

the institution and processed through which public policies are made for a society

Front 4

gross domestic product

Back 4

the sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation

Front 5

hyperpluralism

Back 5

a theory of gov't and politics contending that groups are so strong that the gov't is weakened.

Front 6

linkage institution

Back 6

political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. include elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media

Front 7

majority rule

Back 7

fundamental principle of the traditional democratic theory. choosing among alternatives requires that the majority's desire be respected

Front 8

minority rights

Back 8

principle of traditional democratic theory that guarantees rights to those who do not belong to majorities

Front 9

policy agenda

Back 9

issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at any given point in time

Front 10

political culture

Back 10

an overall set of values widely shared within a society

Front 11

policy gridlock

Back 11

a condition that occurs when no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy---nothing gets done

Front 12

policymaking institution

Back 12

the branches of gov't such as the legislature, the executive, and the judicial, charged with taking action on political issues

Front 13

policymaking system

Back 13

the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. political issues shape policy which impacts people and causes more interest, problems and concerns

Front 14

politics

Back 14

the process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue

Front 15

policy impacts

Back 15

effects a policy has on people and problems

Front 16

political issue

Back 16

an issue that arises when people disagree on a problem and how to fix it

Front 17

political participation

Back 17

all the activities such as voting, protest, or civil disobedience used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue

Front 18

pluralist theory

Back 18

a theory of gov't and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies

Front 19

public goods

Back 19

items such as clean air and clean water that everyone must share

Front 20

public policy

Back 20

a choice that government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to some problem

Front 21

representation

Back 21

a basic principle of the traditional democratic theory that describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers

Front 22

single-issue groups

Back 22

groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics (distinguishes them from traditional interest groups)

Front 23

3/5 Compromise

Back 23

allowed the southern states to count a slave as 3/5 of a person

Front 24

anti-federalists

Back 24

opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption. they argued for states' rights and a Bill of Rights

Front 25

articles of confederation

Back 25

the first Constitution of the U.S., adopted in 1777 and enacted in 1781 which established a legislative branch but no executive or judicial branches with most of the power resting within the state legislatures

Front 26

bills of attainder

Back 26

a law passed by a legislature that allows a prisoner to be punished without a trial. this is prohibited by the constitution

Front 27

bill of rights

Back 27

1st ten amendments to the constitution

Front 28

checks and balances

Back 28

features of the constitution that limit gov'ts power by requiring that power be balanced among the different governmental institutions

Front 29

confederal system

Back 29

a political system that spreads the power among many sub-units such as states and has a weak central gov't

Front 30

connecticut compromise (great compromise)

Back 30

compromise reached at the constitutional convention that created the bicameral congress with the house of representatives based on the u.s. population, and the senate, in which each state has two representatives

Front 31

consent of the governed

Back 31

the idea that gov't derives its authority by sanction of the people

Front 32

constitution

Back 32

a nation's basic law. it creates political institutions, divides powers in gov'ts, and often offers guarantees to citizens. can be written or unwritten

Front 33

declaration of independence

Back 33

document approved on july 4, 1776 that stated the colonies grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence

Front 34

electoral college

Back 34

people selected by each state legislature to formally cast their ballots for the presidency

Front 35

equal rights amendment

Back 35

a constitutional amendment proposed by Congress in 1972 stating that "equality of rights" would not be denied to anyone regardless of sex. the proposal failed to be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislature

Front 36

ex post facto laws

Back 36

a law that punishes a person for acts that were not illegal or not as punishable when the act was committed.

Front 37

factions

Back 37

interest groups arising from the unequal distribution of property or wealth that James Madison attacked in "Federalist No. 10." Madison's response was to create a federalist republic that would divide the powers of the factions (today they are political parties)

Front 38

federalism

Back 38

division of governmental powers between a central gov't and the states

Front 39

federalists

Back 39

supporters of the u.s. constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption, and they argued for a strong central gov't

Front 40

federalist papers

Back 40

a collection of 85 articles written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison that defended the constitution in detail

Front 41

judicial review

Back 41

power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and the executive are in compliance with u.s. constitution

Front 42

limited government

Back 42

the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens

Front 43

marbury v madison

Back 43

1803 case that established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of congress (judiciary act of 1789)

Front 44

natural rights

Back 44

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. this concept was central to John Locke's theories about government

Front 45

new jersey plan

Back 45

the proposal at the constitutional convention that called for equal representation of each state in congress, regardless of the state's population

Front 46

popular sovereignty

Back 46

basic principle that the power to govern belongs to the people and that gov't must be based on the consent of the governed

Front 47

ratification

Back 47

formal approval of the constitution by the states

Front 48

republic

Back 48

a form of gov't in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws

Front 49

separation of powers

Back 49

feature of the constitution that requires each of the 3 branches of gov't to be independent of each other. judicial, legislative, and executive

Front 50

shay's rebellion

Back 50

a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers to block foreclosure proceedings

Front 51

social contract

Back 51

an agreement between rulers and citizens

Front 52

state of nature

Back 52

a belief by John Locke that people are naturally free and equal but that freedom led to inequality and chaos

Front 53

unitary government

Back 53

a way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central gov't --there are two forms: authoritarian and parliamentary

Front 54

u.s. constitution

Back 54

the document ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of u.s. gov't and the tasks these institutions perform

Front 55

virginia plan

Back 55

the proposal at the constitutional convention that called for representation of each state in congress in proportion to that state's share of the u.s. population

Front 56

writ of habeas corpus

Back 56

a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody

Front 57

block grants

Back 57

federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

Front 58

categorical grants

Back 58

federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or "categories" of state and local spending---comes with strings attached

Front 59

concurrent powers

Back 59

powers that both the state and national government hold such as levying taxes or maintaining judicial systems

Front 60

cooperative federalism

Back 60

a system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly. "marble cake federalism"

Front 61

"creeping categorization"

Back 61

when block grants become more categorical

Front 62

cross-cutting requirements

Back 62

when the federal gov't influences state policy where it requires that the federal grant must be extended to all activities supported by federal funds. ex: if a university discriminates in athletics, it will lose federal funds in all areas

Front 63

cross-over sanctions

Back 63

applied by the federal government in which federal funds in one program to influence state and local policy in another one. ex: reagan withheld money for highway construction until states raised the drinking age to 21

Front 64

devolution

Back 64

transferring responsibility for policies from the federal gov't to state and local governments

Front 65

dual federalism

Back 65

a system of gov't in which both the states and the national gov't remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. "layer cake federalism"

Front 66

elastic clause

Back 66

another name for Article I, Sect 8, Clause 18, or the necessary and proper clause

Front 67

enumerated powers

Back 67

powers of the federal gov't that are specifically addressed in the constitution; for congress.

article I, section 8

Front 68

extradition

Back 68

a legal process where an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed--article IV

Front 69

fiscal federalism

Back 69

pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system

Front 70

formula grants

Back 70

federal categorical grants distributed according to a formula specified in legislation or in administrative regulations

Front 71

full faith and credit clause

Back 71

found in article IV that requires each state to recognize the official documents and civil judgements of other states

Front 72

gibbons v ogden

Back 72

1824 landmark case that allowed the supreme court to interpret the Commerce clause allowing Congress to regulate virtually every form of commercial activity

Front 73

implied powers

Back 73

powers of the federal gov't that go beyond enumerated powers

Front 74

intergovernmental relations

Back 74

the workings of the federal system-the entire set of interactions among national, state, and local governments

Front 75

loose construction

Back 75

the view that the constitution should be broadly interpreted

Front 76

mandates

Back 76

a rule that tells states what they must do in order to comply with federal guidelines and are often tied to federal grants. if the rules do not have money attached then they are called unfunded mandates

Front 77

mcculloch v maryland

Back 77

1819 supreme court case that established the supremacy of the national gov't over state gov'ts. upheld the right of congress' implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers provided by the constitution

Front 78

nullification

Back 78

right of a state to declare null and void a federal law that in the state's opinion, violated the constitution

Front 79

privileges and immunities

Back 79

a clause in article IV giving citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states.

Front 80

project grants

Back 80

federal categorical grants given for specific purposes and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications

Front 81

reserved powers

Back 81

powers held by the states themselves--guaranteed by the 10th amendment

Front 82

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Back 82

established procedure to be followed in carrying out a given operation or in a given situation

Front 83

state compacts

Back 83

states working together with each other to solve problems across state lines such as environmental or civil defense

Front 84

strict construction

Back 84

the view that states that the powers of the national government should be narrowly construed and sharply limited

Front 85

supremacy clause

Back 85

article VI of the constitution , which makes the constitution , national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws

Front 86

10th amendment

Back 86

states that powers not given to the u.s. by the constitution, nor prohibited by the constitution to the states, are reserved to the states

Front 87

united states v. lopez

Back 87

1995 case in which the court ruled that congress had exceeded its authority when it banned possession of guns within 1000 feet of any school--declared unconstitutional because it had nothing to do with the commerce clause.